Page 13: of Marine Technology Magazine (June 2013)

SSN 783 Completes First Sea Trials Huntington Ingalls Industries said that the newest Virgin- ia-class submarine, Minnesota (SSN 783), completed alpha sea trials, which are the boat?s  rst round of at-sea tests and evaluations. Minnesota is being built at HII?s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. All systems, components and compartments were tested during the trials. The submarine submerged for the  rst time and operated at high speeds on the surface and under water. Minnesota will undergo two more rounds of sea trials, in- cluding one with the Navy?s Board of Inspection and Survey, before delivery, which is approximately 11 months ahead of its contracted delivery date. Minnesota, named to honor the state?s residents and their continued support of the U.S. military, is the last of the block II Virginia-class submarines and is in the  nal stages of con- struction and testing at NNS. Construction began in February 2008, and the keel was authenticated in May 2011. The boat was christened Oct. 27, 2012. Above: The Virginia-class submarine Minneso- ta (SSN 783) successfully completed alpha sea trials, its Þ rst round of at-sea tests and evalua- tions. Minnesota is being built at HII?s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. www.seadiscovery.com MTR #5 (1-17).indd 13MTR #5 (1-17).indd 136/3/2013 2:26:40 PM6/3/2013 2:26:40 PM