USS Illinois (SSN-786)

USS Illinois (SSN-786)
Illinois on 30 August 2016
History
Name: USS Illinois
Namesake: The state of Illinois
Awarded: 22 December 2008[1]
Builder: Electric Boat
Laid down: 2 June 2014[1][2]
Launched: 8 August 2015[1]
Sponsored by: Michelle Obama[2]
Christened: 10 October 2015[3]
Acquired: 27 August 2016[4]
Commissioned: 29 October 2016[5]
Homeport: Groton, Connecticut[1]
Motto: Nemo Magis Fortiter ("None more brave")
Status: in active service
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Virginia-class submarine
Displacement: 7800 tons light, 7800 tons full
Length: 114.9 meters (377 feet)
Beam: 10.3 meters (34 feet)
Draft: 9.8 meters (32 feet)
Propulsion: S9G reactor
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h)[6]
Range: Essentially unlimited distance; 33 years
Complement: 134 officers and men[6]

USS Illinois (SSN-786) is a Virginia-class submarine built by Electric Boat, a division of General Dynamics. Illinois is the third of the Block III Virginia-class subs, which feature a revised bow, including some technology from Ohio-class SSGNs.[7] The submarine was delivered to the United States Navy on 27 August 2016 and was commissioned at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, on October 29, 2016.[4][5]

Commanders

CDR Jess Porter,[8] CDR Neil Steinhagen

Chiefs of the Boat

1. HMCM(SS) David DiPietro 2. MMACS(SS) John W. White Jr. (Current)

History

The contract to build Illinois was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with Electric Boat on 22 December 2008, to be built at the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, CT. The first group of sailors reported for duty with the submarine's Pre-Commissioning Unit in June 2013.[9]

Construction formally began with a keel laying ceremony that took place on 2 June 2014 in Groton, Connecticut. First Lady Michelle Obama served as the ship's sponsor.[10] Illinois was christened by Michelle Obama on 10 October 2015.[3]

Illinois was launched on 8 August 2015.[1] The submarine finished its alpha sea trials on 2 August 2016.[11] General Dynamics Electric Boat delivered Illinois to the Navy on 27 August 2016.[4] The vessel was commissioned in Groton on 29 October 2016.[4][12] Michelle Obama, as the sponsor, attended the ceremony, is considered to be an honorary member of the crew, and in line with her interest in supporting military families intends to be involved with the Illinois crew and their families.[13]

Ship's crest

The Official ship's crest was designed by Christopher Durdle of Roseville, IL and accepted by the Navy at an unveiling ceremony at the Union League Club of Chicago on 2 April 2015. First Lady Michelle Obama congratulated the contest finalists and crew via video at the ceremony.[14][15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Illinois (SSN 786)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 McDermott, Jennifer (2 June 2013). "First lady helps lay keel for new submarine". Navy Times. Associated Press.
  3. 1 2 "Navy sub 'Illinois' christened by Michelle Obama". Chicago Tribune. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 LaGrone, Sam (29 August 2016). "Attack Boat Illinois Delivers Early to Navy". USNI News. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. 1 2 "USS Illinois Joins the Fleet" (Press release). United States Navy. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  6. 1 2 "The US Navy – Fact File". United States Navy. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  7. ↑ "Virginia Block III: The Revised Bow". Defense Industry Daily. 21 December 2008.
  8. ↑ "Cmdr. Jess Porter Prospective Commanding Officer Pre-Commissioning Unit Illinois (SSN 786)". Commander, Submarine Group 2. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  9. ↑ Prunera, Jeff (25 June 2013). "First Sailors Report to PCU Illinois". Navy News Service (Press release). NNS130625-14.
  10. ↑ "Remarks by the First Lady at the Keel Laying Ceremony for the PCU ILLINOIS" (Press release). The White House : Office of the First Lady. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "USS Illinois successfully completes alpha sea trials".
  12. ↑ "Navy to Commission Submarine Illinois" (Press release). United States Navy. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Michelle Obama: 'Beyond proud' at Navy submarine ceremony, NavyTimes.com, 29 October 2016, accessed 31 October 2016
  14. ↑ "Students Compete to Design USS Illinois Crest". NBC Chicago.
  15. ↑ "Creative crests for crew". Commercial News.

Further reading

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