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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

New Hampshire (SSN-778)
Keel Laying / Launching

To Additional Pages

Commissioning
Service

Virginia Class Attack Submarine: Named USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), 6 August 2004; Construction began in January 2004 at General Dynamic / Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Keel laid on 1 May 2007. Launched 21 Feb. 2009. Christened USS New Hampshire (SSN-778) on 21 June 2009. Commissioned 25 Oct. 2009 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

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
380k	Quonset Point, RI., Jan. 19, 2006, Electric Boat, Quonset Point employee, shows Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honorable, Dr. Donald C. Winter a piece of sheet metal he is fabricating for use aboard one of the new U.S. Navy Submarines being built by Electric Boat. SECNAV is in the northeast for a tour to familiarize himself with the construction, operation and maintenance of the U.S. Navy's Submarine Fleet.	U.S. Navy photo # N-2568S-171 by Chief Journalist Craig P. Strawser, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
62k	A hull section of the nuclear attack submarine New Hampshire (SSN-778) floats on a barge docked at the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton on 02/07/07. The section, which includes the bow, weapons module and sail of the submarine, was assembled at Northrop Grumman Newport News of Virginia and floated to Groton, where all the hull sections undergo final assembly. The *New Hampshire* is scheduled for christening in 2009 and commissioning into the Navy's fleet in 2009.	Photo courtesy of theday.com via subreport.com.
30k	During a keel laying ceremony for New Hampshire (SSN-778) held at Electric Boat's Quonset Point, R.I., facility, welder Kevin Cullen inscribed the initials of Ship Sponsor Cheryl McGuinness on a steel plate that will be affixed in the submarine. In the photo, Cullen displays his work to Mrs. McGuinness.	Photo courtesy of gdeb.com.
23k	Ship sponsor Cheryl McGuinness, center, and Electric Boat President John P. Casey, left, watch as Kevin Cullen welds McGuinness's initials into a steel plate during a keel-laying ceremony for the submarine New Hampshire (SSN-778) at Electric Boat's Quonset Point facility in North Kingstown, R.I. on 1 May 2007.	Photo by Sean D. Elliot, courtesy of theday.com via subreport.com.
52k	New Hampshire's (SSN-778) Pressure Hull Completed July 2007.	Photo courtesy of gdeb.com.
56k	Electric Boat workers pass the *Virginia-class* nuclear submarine New Hampshire (SSN-778) 7 Aug. 2007, after a press conference about the completion of the submarine's pressure hull at the Groton shipyard.	Photo by John Shishmanian, courtesy of the Norwich Bulletin.
247k	One of the pre-assembled portions of the pre-commissioned unit (PCU) New Hampshire (SSN-778) goes for a walk at General Dynamics Electric Boat facilities, 17 October, 2007.	Photo # DCS07-60-60 by Ricky Thompson, courtesy of nn.northropgrumman.com / Northrop Grumman.
266k	Departing for Electric Boat from Newport News.	Photo # DCS07-63-38 by Ricky Thompson, courtesy of nn.northropgrumman.com / Northrop Grumman.
91k	Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead talks with Cmdr. Mike Stevens, right, commanding officer of the pre-commissioned unit PCU New Hampshire (SSN-778) of Electric Boat by Robert Gallo, while touring General Dynamics Electric Boat facilities. Roughead visited Electric Boat on 21 Feb. 2009 to enhance his understanding of the shipbuilding industry.	U.S. Navy photo by # N-8273J-049 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones.
269k	Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead observes the precommissioned unit PCU New Hampshire (SSN-778) touching water for the first time while touring General Dynamics Electric Boat facilities.	U.S. Navy photo by # N-8273J-034 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones.
103k	Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, right, re-enlists Chief Electronics Technician Mike Justice aboard the pre-commissioned unit (PCU) New Hampshire (SSN-778) at General Dynamics Electric Boat facilities.	U.S. Navy photo by # N-8273J-044 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones.
424k	Congressman Joseph Courtney (D-Conn.), foreground, and Chief of Navy Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead turn the valves to allow water into the graving dock and float off the fast-attack submarine PCU New Hampshire (SSN-778) of Electric Boat by Robert Gallo during a visit on 21 Feb. 2009 to Electric Boat (EB). In the background are EB President John P. Casey, left, Ship's Manager Stan Gwudz, EB Vice President of Operations Will Lennon and Dock Crew Technician Joseph G. Houle.	Photo # N-XXXXG-001 courtesy of Electric Boat by Robert Gallo.
474k	Pre-commissioning Unit New Hampshire (SSN-778) sits moored to the pier at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard moments before her christening ceremony commenced.	U.S. Navy photo # N-8467N-001 by John Narewski, courtesy of navy.mil.
357k	Cmdr. Michael J. Stevens, commanding officer of the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) New Hampshire (SSN-778), leads his crew to the ship before its christening at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton CT.	U.S. Navy photo # N-8467N-004 by John Narewski, courtesy of navy.mil.
390k	U.S. Navy Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, delivers the keynote address during the christening ceremony for PCU New Hampshire (SSN-778) at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Conn., 21 June 2009.	U.S. Navy photo # N-8467N-005 by John Narewski, courtesy of navy.mil.
525k	PCU New Hampshire (SSN-778) sponsor Cheryl McGuinness and General Dynamics Electric Boat President John P. Casey formally christen the fifth *Virginia class* submarine Saturday, 21 June 2009 at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Conn. McGuinness, a resident of Portsmouth, N.H., lost her husband, Tom, on 11 September 2001, in the World Trade Center attacks. He was a co-pilot on American Airlines Flight 11.	Photo courtesy of gdeb.com.
357k	New Hampshire (SSN-778) sits moored to the pier at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton after being christened by sponsor Cheryl McGuinness.	U.S. Navy photo # N-8467N-013 by John Narewski, courtesy of navy.mil.