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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski.

North Carolina (SSN-777)
Commissioning

Radio Call Sign: November - Delta - Kilo - Delta

To Additional Pages

Keel Laying - Construction
Active Service

Virginia Class Attack Submarine: Named on 11 December 2000. Keel laid as USS North Carolina (SSN-777) 22 May 2004 at Northrup Grumman Newport News, Virginia. Launched & commissioned on 21 April 2007. Commissioned by the US Navy, 3 May 2008 in Wilmington, NC.

Specifications:Power Plant: One S9G pressurized water reactor, 29.84MW (40,000hp), one shaft with pumpjet propulsor, Improved Performance Machinery Program Phase III one secondary propulsion submerged motor. Displacement, 7,800 tons submerged. Length: 377 feet. Draft: 32 feet. Beam: 34 feet. Speed: 25+ knots submerged. Depth: Greater than 800 feet. Horizontal Tubes: Four 21" Torpedo Tubes, Vertical Tubes: 12 Vertical Launch System Tubes, Weapons: 38 weapons, including: Vertical Launch System Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, Mk 48 ADCAP Heavyweight Torpedoes, Advanced Mobile Mines, Unmanned Undersea Vehicles, Special Warfare: Dry Deck Shelter. Advanced SEAL Delivery System. Sonars: Spherical active/passive arrays. Light Weight Wide Aperture Arrays. TB-16, TB-29, and future towed arrays. High-frequency chin and sail arrays. Countermeasures: 1 internal launcher (reloadable 2-barrel) 14 external launchers. Crew: 113 officers and men.

Size	Image Description	Contributed By/ Source
94k	North Carolina (SSN-777) Christening Wallpaper.	Photo courtesy of northropgrumman.com. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
247k	The North Carolina (SSN-777) is rolled out prior to her christening ceremony on 6 April 2007.	U.S. Navy photo # O-0000X-005 courtesy of Northrop Grumman.
38k	Workers sweep yellow pollen off the black surface of the hull of the sub in preparation for the boat's christening.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Buddy Norris, dailypress.com/Daily Press via thesubreport.com.
56k	Politicians, shipyard workers and Navy personal came together Saturday morning, 21 April 2007 at Northrop Grumman Newport News to christen the North Carolina (SSN-777).	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Rob Ostermaier, dailypress.com/Daily Press via thesubreport.com.
24k	A bottle of American sparkling wine awaits the christening of North Carolina (SSN-777) the morning of 21 April 2007.	Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News.
34k	The platform guests chairs were adorned with American flags and North Carolina (SSN-777) hats. Everyone attending the christening received a "snack pack" with water, fruit and granola bars.	Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News.
37k	Master Chief Musician Jeffrey C. Myers conducts the United States Navy Band Ceremonial Band. Ship's Sponsor Linda Anne Rich Bowman thanked the band in her remarks. "Our glorious band is from Washington, D.C.," she said. "You make our ceremonies complete and put music to sweet freedom's song."	Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News.
36k	Mike Petters recognized the crew of Pre-Commissioning Unit North Carolina (SSN-777) during his remarks. "Today, we christen their ship, and we are proud to be building it for them," he said. "We have formed a true partnership with these men -- because while we build the ship, they work side-by-side with us, training, testing and eventually taking this ship to sea."	Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News.
35k	Mike Petters recognized veterans from the battleship North Carolina (BB-55) and a group of submarine veterans during his remarks.	Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News.
27k	Ashley Britt, the daughter of Stanley Britt, the Newport News employee who welded Linda Anne Rich Bowman's initials at the keel-laying, presents a dozen roses to Ship's Sponsor after the christening.	Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News.
218k	Northrop Grumman Newport News workers get the bow cover for the commissioning of the North Carolina (SSN-777) ready on 21 April 2007.	Photo # DCS07-156-15 courtesy of Northrop Grumman Newport News.
50k	Part of the crowd wait for the commissioning of the North Carolina (SSN-777).	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman.
342k	Approximately 2,500 people sit in attendance of the christening ceremony for the Navy's newest submarine, North Carolina (SSN-777). The view is from the top of the Module Outfitting Facility.	U.S. Navy photo # O-0000X-002 by John Whalen, courtesy of Northrop Grumman.
158k	Sponsor Linda Anne Rich Bowman Christens the submarine North Carolina (SSN-777) during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard as Commander, Submarine Force Adm. John J. Donnelly and Northrop Grumman Newport News President Mike Petters look on 21 April 2007.	U.S. Navy photo # 0000X-001 courtesy of Northrop Grumman.
443k	The North Carolina (SSN-777) is launched at Newport News.	Photo # DCS07-303-164 by Ricky Thompson, courtesy of Northrop Grumman.
233k	The North Carolina (SSN-777) is launched at Newport News.	Photo # DCS07-304-042 by John Whalen, courtesy of Northrop Grumman.
163k	Cmdr. Mark Davis, prospective commanding officer of the North Carolina (SSN-777) and Bob Meyer, Northrop Grumman Newport News construction manager, *Virginia-Class* program, cut cake in celebration of crew move aboard and the first meal prepared in the ship's galley.	U.S. Navy photo # 189-4418 courtesy of northropgrumman.com.
300k	The submarine North Carolina (SSN-777) left for its first set of sea trials on Wednesday, December 12 from Northrop Grumman Newport News.	Photo # 189-4532 by Chris Oxley, courtesy of northropgrumman.com.
158k	The submarine North Carolina (SSN-777) returned to Northrop Grumman Newport News following the successful completion of its initial sea trials.	Photo # 189-4542 by John Whalen, courtesy of northropgrumman.com.& submitted by Bill Gonyo.
314k	The submarine North Carolina (SSN-777) flies a broom atop its sail to signify a clean sweep of the ship's initial sea trials.	Photo # 121407D by John Whalen, courtesy of northropgrumman.com.& submitted by Bill Gonyo.
331k	Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News delivered the fourth submarine of the *Virginia class, North Carolina* (SSN-777), to the Navy on 21 Feb. 2009 following the successful completion of its third and final round of builder's sea trials.	Photo # DCS07-901-395 by John Whalen, courtesy of northropgrumman.com.
116k	Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News representatives Becky Stewart, vice president, Submarine Program (left), and Matt Mulherin, vice president, Programs (right), presented Capt. Mark Davis, prospective commanding officer of the pre-commissioning unit North Carolina (SSN-777) (center), with a ceremonial key to signify delivery of *North Carolina* to the Navy, 22 Feb. 2009.	Photo # DCS08-380-29 by Ricky Thompson, courtesy of northropgrumman.com.
270k	Crewmembers assigned to Pre-commissioning Unit North Carolina (SSN-777) stand at attention as the National Ensign is raised during morning colors in Wilmington, N.C. on 30 April 2009. She is set to be commissioned and brought to life May 3.	U.S. Navy photo # N-7705S-020 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Todd A. Schaffer, courtesy of navy.mil.
339k	Sailors perform a 19 gun salute during arrival honors for North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole 3 May 2009 during commissioning of the Navy's newest *Virginia class* nuclear attack submarine North Carolina (SSN-777). *North Carolina* will be homeported in Groton, Conn., as a member of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.	U.S. Navy photo # N-8655E-004 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelvin Edwards, courtesy of navy.mil.
64k	The Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter addresses guests at the Commissioning of North Carolina (SSN-777), 3 May 2009.	U.S. Navy photo # N-5549O-169 by 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien, courtesy of navy.mil.
161k	Crew members break the commissioning pennant aboard the nuclear attack submarine North Carolina (SSN-777).	U.S. Navy photo # N-7441H-007 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Roadell Hickman, courtesy of navy.mil.
443k	Submarine veterans, retired *Battleship North Carolina* Alumni and some 6,000 attendees witness the commissioning of the nuclear attack submarine North Carolina (SSN-777).	U.S. Navy photo # N-7441H-007 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelvin Edwards, courtesy of navy.mil.
499k	Submarine veterans, retired *Battleship North Carolina* Alumni and some 6,000 attendees witness the commissioning of the newest *Virginia class* nuclear attack submarine North Carolina (SSN-777).	U.S. Navy photo # N-7441H-002 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelvin Edwards, courtesy of navy.mil.