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USS California (SSN-781)
Wikipedia | 2012-11-27 15:22
|
California pierside at Naval Submarine Base New London in January 2012. |
|
| Career | |
| Name: | California |
| Namesake: | The state of California |
| Awarded: | 14 August 2003 |
| Builder: | Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 1 May 2009 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. Donna Willard |
| Christened: | 6 November 2010 |
| Launched: | 14 November 2010 |
| Commissioned: | 29 October 2011 |
| Homeport: | Naval Submarine Base New London |
| Motto: |
Silentium Est Aureum ("Silence Is Golden") |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2012 |
| Badge: |
 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Virginia-class submarine |
| Displacement: | 7800 tons light, 7900 tons full |
| Length: | 114.9 meters (377 feet) |
| Beam: | 10.3 meters (34 feet) |
| Propulsion: | S9G reactor |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range: | Essentially unlimited distance; 33 years |
| Test depth: | greater than 800 feet (250 meters) |
| Complement: | 134 officers and men |
USS California (SSN-781), is the eighth Virginia-class submarine, and the eighth United States Navy ship named for the state of California. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding (then called Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.) in Newport News, Virginia, on 14 August 2003. Construction began in December 2006. California's keel was laid down on 1 May 2009. She was christened on 6 November 2010, sponsored by Donna Willard, wife of Admiral Robert F. Willard.[4] She was launched eight days later, on 14 November 2010.
California is the first Virginia-class submarine built with the advanced electromagnetic signature reduction system; although it will be retrofitted into older submarines of the class.
California was delivered to the Navy on 7 August 2011, eight and a half months ahead of schedule.
The $2.3 billion ship was commissioned on 29 October 2011 in Norfolk, Virginia, with Dana Nelson in command and a crew of 134.
