USS VIRGINIA SSN 774 |
The Virginia (SSN 774) is the lead boat of the U.S. Navy's next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines and the tenth vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on September 30, 1998, and her keel was laid down on September 2, 1999. August 16, 2003 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Virginia was christened during a ceremony at Electric Boat Corporation’s shipyard in Groton, Conn. Mrs. Lynda Johnson Robb, the wife of former Virginia governor and senator Charles Robb, and daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, served as sponsor of the ship. Capt. David J. Kern is the prospective commanding officer. October 23, 2004 USS Virginia was commissioned during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. She will be homeported in Groton, Conn. November 23, 2005 USS Virginia, commanded by Cmdr. Todd W. Cramer, returned to Naval Submarine Base New London after a maiden underway period in support of the Global War on Terrorism. January 12, 2006 SSN 774 entered the Electric Boat's shipyard for a Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). June 27, 2008 Capt. Robert E. Clark relieved Capt. Richard P. Breckenridge as Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 4, during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the Virginia. September 5, The U.S. Navy conducted multiple launches of Tomahawk cruise missiles from the USS Virginia in August, in the Gulf of Mexico, as part of the program's developmental and operational testing efforts. The test launches, the first ever for a Virginia-class submarine, included the launch and extended flight of multiple missiles to demonstrate the launch capabilities. January 9, 2009 USS Virginia departed Groton to conduct a six-week Operational Reactor Safeguard Examination (OARS) and a Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TREE). October 15, USS Virginia departed homeport for its maiden deployment. April 13, 2010 SSN 774 returned to Groton, Conn., after a six-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR). She traveled more than 37,000 miles and made port calls to Rota, Spain; Souda Bay, Greece; Fujaihra, U.A.E.; and Aksaz, Turkey. April 29, Cmdr. Timothy Salter relieved Cmdr. James P. Waters, III as CO of the Virginia during a change-of-command ceremony on board the sub at NSB New London. June 28, USS Virginia recently pulled to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to participate in International Fleet Review. September 1, The Virginia arrived in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, for a first-of-its-class major overhaul, consisting of various maintenance projects and several system upgrades. May 5, 2012 PNSY delivered SSN 774 back to the fleet after completing the 19-month Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (E-DSRA). February 15, 2013 Cmdr. Steven W. Antcliff relieved Cmdr. Timothy Salter as CO of the USS Virginia during a change-of-command ceremony at the Naval Submarine Library and Museum in Groton, Conn. August 13, USS Virginia departed Naval Submarine Base New London for a scheduled deployment. August 24, The Virginia moored at Middle Slip Jetty (MSJ) North in HMNB Portsmouth, England, for a week-long port call. October 7, USS Virginia moored at HMNB Clyde in Faslane, Scotland, for a routine port call. February 13, 2014 USS Virginia returned to homeport after a six-month North Atlantic deployment. The sub also made port calls to Haakonsvern, Norway. March 28, SSN 774 departed Groton for a surge North Atlantic deployment; Returned home on July 3. October 24, USS Virginia is currently at the floating dry-dock Shippingport (ARDM 4) for routine maintenance; Underway for sea trials from Dec. 1?-18. May 23, 2015 The Virginia moored at Shearwater Jetty on Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a scheduled port visit to commemorate the United States' Memorial Day. November 1, USS Virginia is currently moored at Pier 17 North on NSB New London. March 22, 2016 The Virginia moored at Her Majesty Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde in Faslane, Scotland, for a liberty port visit to Glasgow. July 8, USS Virginia moored at Wharf 7, HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, England, for an eight-day port visit. July 28, USS Virginia moored at Pier 10N on NSB New London following a six-month North Atlantic deployment. The sub traveled 35,000 nautical miles and also made port calls to Haakonsvern, Norway. September 2, Cmdr. Jeffrey Anderson relieved Cmdr. Steven W. Antcliff as the 6th CO of SSN 774 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the sub at NSB New London. From October 20-21, the Virginia was moored to a barge at Naval Anchorage C in Chesapeake Bay, 4 miles southeast off Annapolis, Md., for a visit to U.S. Naval Academy in conjunction with the homecoming weekend. October 28, USS Virginia made a brief stop off Mayport, Fla., for personnel transfer; Moored at Trident Wharf in Port Canaveral, Fla., from Nov. 2-3; Returned home on Nov. 18. January 1?, 2017 The Virginia departed Groton for routine operations off the coast of Florida; Moored at Trident Wharf in Port Canaveral for a brief stop on Jan. 17 and Jan. 20; Moored at Trident Wharf again from Jan. 2?-30; Returned home on Feb. ?. April 19, USS Virginia made a brief stop off Groton for personnel transfer while underway for routine operations.? August 2?, USS Virginia departed Groton for a scheduled North Atlantic deployment. December 10, The Virginia departed Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde in Faslane, Scotland, after a routine port call; Inport Faslane again from Dec. 1?-16. December 22, USS Virginia moored at HMNB Clyde for a five-day liberty port visit to Glasgow. From January 20-24, 2018, the Virginia participated in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the Gulf of Cadiz; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 in Naval Station Rota from Jan. 2?- Feb. 8. February 22, USS Virginia moored at Pier 31S on Naval Submarine Base New London following a six-month deployment. The sub traveled 27,500 nautical miles and also made port calls to Haakonsvern, Norway. September 5, SSN 774 recently departed homeport for routine operations; Underway again on Sept. 24. September 26, USS Virginia moored at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, for a 20-month Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA); Entered the Dry Dock #2 on Nov. 8. June 7, 2019 Cmdr. Michael J. Poplawski relieved Cmdr. Jeffrey Anderson as CO of the Virginia during a change-of-command ceremony at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's auditorium. June 22, 2021 USS Virginia undocked and moored at Berth 13B on Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. November 10, Cmdr. Jess B. Feldon relieved Cmdr. Michael J. Poplawski as commanding officer of the Virginia. April 2, 2023 USS Virginia departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for sea trials; Brief stop off Groton for personnel transfer on April 8; Moored at Pier 17N in Naval Submarine Base New London on April 12; Underway in support of exercise Agile Player 23 on May 3; Brief stop off Groton on May 9; Brief stop in Naval Station Mayport on May 15. From May 17-20 and May 22-25th, the Virginia conducted accoustic trials off the coast of Port Everglades, Florida; Returned home on June 9; Underway again from June 28-?. July 17, USS Virginia moored at Pier 17S on Naval Submarine Base New London after a four-day underway for routine operations; Underway again on Sept. 11; Brief stop off Groton on Sept. 14, 19, 21, 25, 29, Oct. 1, 2, 10, 13, 18 and 23rd; Moored at Pier 32N on Oct. 26; Underway again on Dec. 5. December 12, The Virginia made a brief stop off Naval Station Norfolk for personnel transfer; Moored at Pier 8N in Naval Submarine Base New London on Dec. 14; Moved to Pier 17N on Jan. 9; Underway again on Jan. 1?. January 20, 2024 USS Virginia made a brief stop off Electric Boat shipyard in Groton for personnel transfer; Moored at Pier 6S for a brief stop on Jan. 29; Brief stop off Groton on Feb. 5; Moored at Pier 31S on Feb. 8; Underway again on March 18; Brief stop off Electric Boat shipyard on March 21; Moored at Pier 6N on March 29. April 5, Cmdr. Michael Hartzell relieved Cmdr. Jess B. Feldon as CO of the Virginia during a change-of-command ceremony at Pier 6. April 9, USS Virginia departed Naval Submarine Base New London for routine operations; Brief stop off Groton on April 16; Brief stop off Naval Station Norfolk on April 27 and 30th; Returned home on May 3; Underway again on May ?; Moored at Pier 6N for a brief stop on May 18; Brief stop off Groton on May 27; Moored at Pier 17S on May 31. June 15, USS Virginia departed Groton for a scheduled North Atlantic deployment. June 28, The Virginia moored at Grotsund Terminal in Port of Tromso, Norway, for a brief stop; Moored at Grotsund Terminal for a brief stop on Aug. 21; Moored at Grotsund Terminal again from Aug. 24-30. |