November 2014 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 7. UNITED STATES NAVY NEWS
USS North Dakota Commissioned By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Subma- rine Force Atlantic Public Affairs
GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- USS North Dakota (SSN 784) offi cially became the Navy’s newest addition to the submarine force following a commissioning ceremony held Oct. 25, at Naval Submarine Base New London.
North Dakota is the 11th Virginia-class attack submarine to join the fl eet, and the fi rst of eight Block III Virginia-class subma- rines to be built. The Block III submarines are being built with new Virginia Payload Tubes designed to lower costs and increase missile-fi ring payload possibilities. The 10 current Virginia-class subma- rines have 12 individual 21-inch diameter vertical launch tubes able to fi re Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMS). The Block III submarines being built will have two-larger 87-inch diameter tubes able to house six TLAMS each.
Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the 30th Chief of Naval Operations, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. He enthusiastically wel- comed North Dakota to the fl eet and remind- ed the crew of the important role they will play in protecting the nation’s security while executing his standing operating orders of: Warfi ghting First, Operate Forward and Be Ready.
Hundreds of citizens from North Da- kota, including the governor and senators, attended the commissioning ceremony. As the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, the subma- rine can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities. North Dakota will be a fl exible, multi-mission platform
designed to carry out the seven core compe- tencies of the submarine force: anti-subma- rine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of special operations forces, strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and mine warfare. The submarine is 377 feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. It will operate for 33 years without ever refu- eling.
Capt. Douglas Gordon is North Dako-
ta’s fi rst commanding offi cer. He leads a crew of about 136 offi cers and enlisted per- sonnel. While born in Indianapolis, Indiana, he refers to Carrollton, Georgia, as home. He enlisted in the Navy and attended Nuclear Power School prior to being released from active duty to attend Auburn University on an NROTC scholarship. Gordon graduated from Auburn University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineer- ing.
Ironically the only native North Dako- tan assigned to the submarine is the ship’s senior enlisted advisor or chief of the boat, Master Chief Electronics Technician (Sub- marines/Diver) Timothy Preabt. He grew up in Williston, N.D., but moved to Mandan, N.D., and graduated from Mandan High School in 1989. Katie Fowler, wife of retired Vice
Adm. Jeffrey L. “Jeff” Fowler, a native of Bismarck, N.D., serves as the submarine’s sponsor. She broke the traditional cham- pagne bottle against the boat’s sail during the christening ceremony in November 2013. Virginia-class submarines are built un- der a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., and Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Virginia.
The launching of the USS DETROIT at Marinette Marine Shipyard in Marinette, WI.
Construction on North Dakota began March 2009; the submarine’s keel was authenticated during a ceremony on May 11, 2012; and the submarine was christened during a ceremony Nov. 2, 2013. North Dakota is the second Navy ship, and fi rst submarine, to be named in honor of
the people of “The Peace Garden State.” The other ship was the Delaware-class battleship BB-29, which was commissioned April 11, 1910 and decommissioned Nov. 22, 1923.
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