US Navy commissions USS California

The US Navy has formally commissioned its newest Virginia-class attack submarine, USS California (SSN 781), at Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia, US.

The 377ft-long submarine has a 34ft beam, a displacement capacity of 7,800t, can dive to depths of greater than 800ft and cruise at submerged speeds of 25 knots.

The submarine has been designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare missions.

Huntington Ingalls Industry has teamed up with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build Virginia-class submarines.