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USS North Dakota News
Boat Sponsor visits USS ND
Katie Fowler, the sponsor of the USS North Dakota recently visited the facility where the boat is being assembled. She was accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Jeff Fowler, superintendant at the Naval Academy and North Dakota native.
During her tour, Katie was shown pieces of the USS North Dakota and even touched the hull of the vessel that will someday bear the name of our great state.
To see photos of her tour to the facility, please click here.
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The Anatomy of a Fast-attack Nuclear Sub
Here is an interesting article about the Virginia Class Submarine, the type of submarine the USS North Dakota will be upon completion. Enjoy!
The Anatomy of a Fast-attack Nuclear Sub
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First Virginia Class Payload Tube Increases Force's Versatility
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Program Executive Office Submarines' Virginia-class Program Office marked a substantial milestone May 15 with the delivery of the first Virginia payload tube (VPT).
Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), the VPT arrived at GDEB's Virginia-class shipbuilding partner Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Newport News (NGSB-NN) facility for inclusion in Pre-Commissioning Unit North Dakota's (SSN 784) bow. As part of a teaming arrangement, NGSB-NN builds all Virginia-class bows while GDEB constructs all of the VPTs.
As the lead submarine being built under the third, or Block III contract, North Dakota will be the first Virginia-class submarine equipped with VPTs.
Unlike the first 10 Virginia-class submarines that housed 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles in individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes, all Virginia-class submarines beginning with North Dakota will utilize two, 87.5-inch diameter, 35-plus ton tubes to house and launch the same number of missiles.
"The VPTs allow us to carry the same number of missiles as VLS-equipped Los Angeles- and Virginia-class submarines in a more economical way," said Virginia-class Program Manager Capt. Michael Jabaley.
"Two VPTs are less expensive to build and maintain than 12 VLS tubes, and when we couple those savings with the new large aperture bow array, we save forty million per ship beginning with SSN 788, the first of two ships we start building in fiscal year (FY) 2012," Jabaley concluded.
In addition to acquisition and life cycle savings, the VPTs provide the submarine force with greater payload flexibility.
"The VPTs provide commonality with the SSGN tubes, so payloads developed for one can go into the other," said Rear Adm. William Hilarides, Program Executive Officer, Submarines. "This affords the submarine force incredible flexibility and versatility to the far future."
In summarizing the Virginia Class' recent accomplishments, Hilarides said that, "The Navy / industry team promised to reach its cost and schedule goals, and we are making good on each and every one of them."
On May 3, Pre-Commissioning Unit Missouri (SSN 780) reached pressure hull complete only 64 weeks after the delivery of the first hull section to the shipyard - 19 weeks earlier than USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) and less than half the time required for USS Virginia (SSN 774). Further, New Hampshire became the third Virginia-class submarine to conduct an operational deployment prior to undergoing its post-shakedown availability.
"We, the Navy-industry team, promised to reach certain cost and schedule goals, and we are making good on each and every one of them," said Hilarides.
For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.
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First Virginia Class Payload Tube Arrives for Installation
NAVSEA News Wire
May 21, 2009 (WASHINGTON) - Program Executive Office Submarines' Virginia Class Program Office marked a substantial milestone May 15 with the delivery of the first Virginia Payload Tube (VPT).
Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), the VPT arrived at GDEB's Virginia Class shipbuilding partner Northrop Grumman Shipbuiding's Newport News (NGSB-NN) facility for inclusion in Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) North Dakota's (SSN 784) bow. As part of a teaming arrangement, NGSB-NN builds all Virginia Class bows while GDEB constructs all of the VPTs.
As the lead submarine being built under the third, or Block III contract, North Dakota will be the first Virginia Class submarine equipped with VPTs. Unlike the first 10 Virginias that housed 12 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles in individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes, all Virginias beginning with North Dakota will utilize two, 87.5-inch diameter, 35-plus ton tubes to house and launch the same number of missiles.
"The VPTs allow us to carry the same number of missiles as VLS-equipped Los Angeles and Virginia Class submarines in a more economical way," said Virginia Class Program Manager Capt. Michael Jabaley. "Two VPTs are less expensive to build and maintain than 12 VLS tubes, and when we couple those savings with the new Large Aperture Bow Array, we save $40 million per ship beginning with SSN 788, the first of two ships we start building in fiscal year (FY) 2012,"
Jabaley concluded.
In addition to acquisition and life cycle savings, the VPTs provide the Submarine Force with greater payload flexibility. "The VPTs provide commonality with the SSGN tubes, so payloads developed for one can go into the other," said Rear Adm. William Hilarides, Program Executive Officer, Submarines. "This affords the submarine force incredible flexibility and versatility to the far future."
The delivery of the first VPT is one of several recent Virginia Class accomplishments. On Dec. 22, 2008, the Navy awarded the eight-ship Block III contract that increases production to two ships per year starting in FY 2011 and realizes the program's cost reduction goals of $2 billion/ship (FY05$) starting with the two FY 2012 ships.
Since then, the program completed its Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation in March 2009, and celebrated PCU California's (SSN 781) Keel Laying ceremony on May 1. On May 3, PCU Missouri (SSN 780) reached pressure hull complete only 64 weeks after the delivery of the first hull section to the shipyard - 19 weeks earlier than USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) and less than half the time required for USS Virginia (SSN 774). Further, New Hampshire became the third Virginia Class submarine to conduct an operational deployment prior to undergoing its Post-Shakedown Availability.
In summarizing the Virginia Class' recent accomplishments, Hilarides said that, "The Navy / industry team promised to reach its cost and schedule goals and we are making good on each and every one of them."
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USS North Dakota Nets New Technology
According to a recent report in Defence Watch, the USS North Dakota (SSN-784) will be the first Virginia-class submarine to get newly designed payload tubes.
The two new large diameter Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT) will replace 12 vertical launch tubes, Virginia Class Program Manager Capt. Michael Jabaley told reporters at the Navy League Sea Air Space symposium. The tubes are designed to hold a variety of payloads that include the Multiple All-up Rounds Canister designed to carry six Tomahawk cruise missiles.
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Dear North Dakota Sub Club Leaders,
The attached picture was taken this past Wednesday in Bancroft Hall at the Naval Academy. The sponsor of our ship - Katie Fowler - is absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the sponsor for OUR ship, and now HER ship. I was there with my old friend Darrell Williams as the guest of Vice Admiral Jeff Fowler, USN, the Superintendent of the Naval Academy. We were met by Mrs. Fowler at their lovely and spacious old home on the Naval Academy grounds. I greeted her as our sponsor and she was so gracious to us. Admiral Fowler joined us and took us to lunch with the entire Brigade of Midshipmen at Bancroft Hall, which is surely the largest dining hall in America. We joined Midshipman 4th Class Mark Munson for lunch at a table among the tables assigned to his company. Mark is the son of Mark Munson who graduated with Jeff from Bismarck High School and who went to the Naval Academy with Jeff. Mark served on active duty and then joined the Naval Reserve from which, like me, he retired as a Captain. Midshipman Munson's godfather is Admiral Fowler.
That evening we had dinner in the home of Admiral and Mrs. Fowler along with several Midshipman leaders, several retired admirals and the speaker for that evening's address to the 49th Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference, Professor Nicholas Negroponte. He spoke that evening of the "One Laptop Per Child" initiative of which he is the chairman. It was a special coincidence that the wife of one of the admirals was the president of the Society of Ship Sponsors, of which Katie Fowler is now a proud member.
We are looking forward toward having Katie with us every step of the way, with the added bonus of having her husband with us as well.
Sincerely,
Bob Wefald, Working Committee Chair
North Dakota Sub Club
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Congratulations North Dakota
Secretary Winter has decided that SSN-784 will be named the USS North Dakota!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the efforts to convince the Navy to name this submarine after our great state.
So, now that we have a boat, where do we go from here? Committees are forming to begin the work for the commissioning of the USS North Dakota, scheduled to take place in 2012. If you would be interested in volunteering to keep the USS North Dakota afloat, please contact the Chamber at 701-223-5660 or send us an e-mail.
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