The US Navy has taken delivery of the latest attack submarine, PCU Oregon (SSN 793) last week.
This future USS Oregon is the 20th Virginia Class submarine.
The submarine is co-produced at General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) under a long-standing teaming deal.
Besides being the second Block IV configured submarine, it is the 11th Virginia Class delivered by GDEB.
The Virginia Class programme manager, who rode the boat during its sea trials, captain Todd Weeks said: “Oregon is in excellent condition and the captain and crew have expertly taken the ship through her paces.
The delivery of the submarine marks the culmination of approximately ten million work hours by the ship manufacturers as per the standards of the Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Reactors.
Weeks added: “Each organisation works tirelessly with the others focused on getting ships to sea as the first step in ultimately arriving at its Squadron and homeport where it becomes a vital asset to the Nation.”
Built to operate in the littoral and deep waters, the Virginia Class submarine is intended for anti-surface ship warfare; anti-submarine warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions.
Due to its stealth, endurance, mobility and firepower features, the submarine can support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities – power projection, sea control, maritime security, forward presence, and deterrence.
The future USS Oregon is the third US Navy ship to be named in honour of the US state Oregon.
The first USS Oregon was a brigantine ship acquired in 1841 and used for exploration until 1845. The second Oregon (BB 3) was commissioned in 1896 and remained in the Navy list until 1942.
