NNS to Christen Submarine John Warner on Saturday

On Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, Newport News Shipbuilding will christen the nation’s newest submarine John Warner (SSN 785) during a ceremony on-site where the ship is being constructed.

The ceremony will be attended by Senator John Warner, Ship’s Sponsor Jeanne Warner, Navy personnel and thousands of shipbuilders.

John Warner (SSN 785) is the 12th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the sixth to be delivered to the U.S. Navy by Newport News Shipbuilding.

While other Virginia-class submarines have been named after U.S. states, SSN 785 holds the distinction of being the first to be named after a person—a man who has served his country throughout his entire adult life as a Navy enlisted sailor, a Marine lieutenant, Secretary of the Navy and a U.S. Senator. The Navy announced that SSN 785 would be named USS John Warner five days after Senator Warner retired.

The 4,000 Newport News-shipbuilders working on John Warner (SSN 785) include engineers, riggers, welders, coatings specialists, electricians and many more job descriptions. Working in partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat, NNS is responsible for building the ship’s bow and stern sections, as well as the Auxiliary Machinery Room (AMR) and the habitability and weapons modules.

Using expertise from building attack submarines over four decades, Newport News Shipbuilding is one of two builders of the nation’s newest attack submarine—the Virginia-class, the most advanced submarines in the world. Designed to meet the Navy’s requirements in a post-Cold War era, they use advanced technologies to increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth. The 377-foot-long submarines are capable of submerged speeds of more than 25 knots and can stay submerged for up to three months at a time.

The event will be webcast live on NNS website.