NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Ship's patch on left courtesy of Don McGrogan, BMCS USN (ret.), in center by Jim Schultz, Decal on right by unlimiteddetails.com
Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to theWebmaster.
Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.
| Click On Image For Full Size | Size | Image Description | Source By |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1.09k | Newport News Shipbuilding is teamed with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build Virginia-class submarines. Newport News Shipbuilding builds the stern, habitability & machinery spaces, torpedo room, sail and bow. Electric Boat builds the pressure hull, engine room and control room. Newport News Shipbuilding and Electric Boat each perform work on the reactor plant as well as alternate on the final assembly, test, outfit and delivery. The team has been recognized as the best shipbuilding program in the Navy. Virginia-class Infographic PDF. | Text & photo courtesy of huntingtoningalls.com. | |
 | 416k | California (SSN-781) under construction, June 2008. | Photo courtesy of nn.northropgrumman.com. & submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 270k | PDF of the California's (SSN-781) keel laying ceremony. | Photo by Dale Hargrave. PDF courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
 | 686k | Overall view of California's (SSN-781) keel laying ceremony. Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia's 3rd Congressional District is at the podium. | Photo by Dale Hargrave. | |
 | 258k | Mrs. Donna Willard (wife of Admiral Robert Willard), Authenticator and Ship's Sponsor, chalks her initials on a plate which will later be attached to the ship. | Photo by Dale Hargrave. | |
 | 433k | The ship's sponsor, Donna Willard, authenticated California's (SSN-781) stern unit by chalking her initials onto a metal plate. Her initials were then welded onto the plate by Newport News welder Scott Hallinger (left). The plate will be permanently affixed to the submarine prior to its delivery to the Navy. | Photo # 189-6147 by Rick Thompson / nn.northropgrumman.com. | |
 | 368k | California (SSN-781) keel laying and authentication ceremony participants included (left to right) Newport News welder Scott Hallinger; Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion; U.S. Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott, (D-Va.); General Dynamics Electric Boat President John Casey; Sector Vice President and General Manager of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News Matt Mulherin; California's Prospective Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Kevin Kinslow and the ship's sponsor, Donna Willard. | Photo # 189-6146 by Rick Thompson / nn.northropgrumman.com. | |
 | 1.13k | Several Virginia-class submarine units are worked on simultaneously in Newport News Shipbuilding's Ring Module Shop in 2010. | Photo # DCS10-444-100 by John Whalen, courtesy of huntingtoningalls.com. | |
 | 164k | Unit 2B-5 for the submarine California (SSN-781), is offloaded from Sea Shuttle at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News, 11 February 2010. | Photo # 57384128 Photo by Chris Oxley. Photo courtesy of Northrup Grumman Public Affairs. | |
 | 279k | Newport News, Va., 8 April 2010 - Mrs. Donna Willard (center), ship's sponsor of the Virginia-class submarine California (SSN-781), visited Newport News on 22 March to check on the ship's construction progress. Willard, the wife of Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, is pictured with Bob Bolden (left) of the VCS Construction Management Dept. and Cmdr. Kevin Kinslow (right), commanding officer, pre-commissioning unit, California. | Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 1.0m | Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding sector accomplished the "pressure hull complete" milestone on the California (SSN-781) on 13 May 2010. "Pressure hull complete" signifies the hull sections being joined to form a single unit. It is the last major milestone before the ship's christening and launch later this year at the company's Newport News, Va. shipyard. | Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 111k | Cmdr. Dana Nelson, Officer-in-Charge of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) California (SSN-781) departs through the side boys following a change of charge ceremony at The Mariners' Museum 7 June 2010. During the ceremony, Nelson assumed command of the eighth Virginia-class submarine from Cmdr. Kevin Kinslow. | Photo # N-8750E-103 by Ricky Thompson, Northrup Grumman Public Affairs via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 380k | Northrop Grumman Corporation hosted a tour and christening briefing for Mrs. Donna Willard, the sponsor of California (SSN-781) on 22 September During the visit, she met with ship's crew, & shipbuilders and toured the christening site. Mrs. Willard is the wife of Adm. Robert F. Willard, the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. "This was a very exciting day for me," said Willard. "To be able to spend time with the crew of California and see a completed submarine ready to be put in the water was very special. The enthusiasm of the crew should make all of us as Americans very proud. I am very honored to be the sponsor of California and look forward to the christening." | Photo # 8866 by Chris Oxley. Photo courtesy of Northrup Grumman Public Affairs via thesubreport.com. | |
 | 169k | "California is 86 percent complete and approaching the construction milestone of launch this fall," said Bob Bolden, construction director at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. "Launching the ship signifies the boat is ready to go in the water and begin a series of waterborne tests. During this time, the ship's systems and compartments are transitioning over to Ship's Force in support of sea trials next year."
"We're excited Mrs. Willard could return to the shipyard so quickly. She's an enthusiastic and excited sponsor," added Bolden. "Our shipbuilders are proud to show off their high-quality craftsmanship and the beginning preparations for the ship's upcoming christening on November 6." | Photo # 8867 Ricky Thompson. Photo courtesy of Northrup Grumman Public Affairs. | |
 | 363k | California's (SSN-781) Bow Cover. | Photo # DCS10-755-28 courtesy of Northrup Grumman Public Affairs & submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 858k | California Christening Media Day, setting up before the rush. | Photo courtesy of Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 609k | Donna Willard, sponsor of the submarine California (SSN-781), christens the submarine as Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, center, assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, and Mike Peters, president of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, look on 6 November 2010. | Photo # N-8750E-101 Ricky Thompson. Photo courtesy of Northrup Grumman Public Affairs. | |
 | 277k | California Christening on 6 November 2010. | Photo courtesy of Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 385k | California's Prospective Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Kevin Kinslow and the ship's sponsor, Donna Willard at the christening, 6 November 2010. | Photo courtesy of Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 366k | Hard Hats prevail on the deck of the California (SSN-781), moored with two lethal weapons parked on her bow. | Photo # 9131 courtesy of Northrup Grumman Public Affairs via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 452k | Crew members on the submarine California (SSN-781) celebrate their move-aboard 9 May 2011 in the galley. California will be the first submarine to be delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding under the company's new name. | Photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 401k | The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) California gets underway from Naval Station Norfolk on 9 September 2011 to conduct weapons systems acceptance trials. | U.S. Navy photo # N-OV802-222 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Jamieson, courtesy of navy.news.mil via Robert Hurst. | |
 | 483k | The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) California gets underway from Naval Station Norfolk on 9 September 2011 to conduct weapons systems acceptance trials. | U.S. Navy photo # N-JB219-300 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Danna M. Morris, courtesy of navy.news.mil via Robert Hurst. | |
 | 493k | Sailors assigned to the attack submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit California (SSN-781) board the boat as they "bring her to life" during a commissioning rehearsal ceremony the day before the submarine is commissioned. | USN photo # N-XK202-067 by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Osborne, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 641k | Machinist Mate 3rd Class Johnathon Beadle, assigned to the attack submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit California (SSN-781) renders honors during morning colors the day before the Navy's newest Virginia-class submarine is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk, 28 October 2011. | USN photo # N-PN306-027 by Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, courtesy of navy.mil. via Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
 | 692k | World War II submarine veteran Joe Cox, right, passes the long glass to set the first watch during the commissioning ceremony for the California (SSN-781) at Naval Station Norfolk. | USN photo # N-FC670-232 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon E. Renfroe, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 372k | Approximately 2,500 people attend the commissioning ceremony for the attack submarine California (SSN-781) at Naval Station Norfolk. | USN photo # N-NY820-057 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Tretter, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 213k | Cmdr. Dana Nelson, commanding officer of the attack submarine California (SSN-781), Mrs. Donna Joy Willard, ship's sponsor, and Master Chief Kevin Bond, chief of the boat, prepare to bring the ship to life during the commissioning ceremony for the attack submarine California at Naval Station Norfolk, 29 October 2011. | USN photo # N-NY820-147 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Tretter courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 541k | Sailors assigned to the attack submarine California (SSN-781) rush to "man their ship and bring their ship to life" during the boat's commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. | USN photo # N-JB219-147 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Danna M. Morris, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 600k | Sailors assigned to the California (SSN-781) moor alongside a pier as the boat returns to Naval Submarine Base New London following an 11-month post shakedown availability at General Dynamics Electric Boat on 29 January 2013. | USN photo # 130129-N-TN558-031 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason J. Perry, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 796k | The submarine California (SSN-781) transits the Thames River as it returns to Naval Submarine Base New London following an 11-month post shakedown availability at General Dynamics Electric Boat on 29 January 2013. | USN photo # 130129-N-TN558-025 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason J. Perry, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 1.74k | The submarine California (SSN-781) returns from its maiden deployment to its homeport at Naval Submarine Base New London on 24 January 2015. Under the command of Cmdr. Shawn Huey, California is returning from the European Command areas of responsibility where the crew executed the Chief of Naval Operation's Maritime Strategy in supporting national security interests and Maritime Security Operations. | USN photo # 150124-N-AG815-004 by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class William Larned, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
 | 985k | Sailors assigned to the attack submarine California (SSN-781) guide an MK-48 inert training torpedo into the weapon loading skid during an expeditionary ordnance loading exercise aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain on 13 January 2017. | USN photo # 170113-N-OR477-397 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael C. Barton, courtesy of navy.mil. | |
| Back To The Main Photo Index | Back To the Submarine Index |
| Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster |
| This page is created and maintained by Michael Mohl All Pages © 1996 - 2024 NavSource History All rights reserved. |