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USS North Dakota News
PCU North Dakota COB Conducts First Namesake Visit
The Chief of the Boat assigned to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) North Dakota participated in his first namesake visit to bring awareness to the Virginia class submarine.
PCU North Dakota's (SSN 784) Chief of the Boat Master Chief Electronics Technician (SS/DV) Timothy A. Preabt, a Minot, N.D. native and Mandan, N.D. graduate, met with Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling, Bismarck Commissioner Mike Seminary the USS North Dakota Committee and state and national delegation representatives at the Seven Seas Hotel & Waterpark in Mandan on Oct. 21.
"I am extremely honored to be the first Chief of the Boat of the PCU North Dakota. I have always been proud of my home state and was excited to hear that North Dakota would have a Virginia class submarine with her name," said Preabt.
Preabt's extended family and that of his wife's still resides in North Dakota. When the idea of a namesake visit was suggested, Preabt wanted to participate in the visit to bring awareness to the Virginia class submarine.
"I wanted to take part in this namesake visit prior to arriving in New London, Conn., to spread the word about the construction of PCU North Dakota and my role as the Chief of the Boat," said Preabt.
It's fitting for Preabt, who left North Dakota in 1989 after graduating from Mandan High School, to be representing his namesake state as his final chapter in the U.S. Navy.
"I joined the Navy in May of 1989 the day after graduating from high school. My boot camp company was a North Dakota centennial company, which marched in the North Dakota centennial parade in Mandan," said Preabt.
Prior to taking this assignment, Preabt was preparing for another chapter in his life to begin, but through his wife's encouragement decided to accept the orders to PCU North Dakota as their first COB.
"My original plan was to retire at the end of my COB tour aboard the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722) and to move on to another chapter of my life after the Navy. My wife was the one who encouraged me to be the first COB of the PCU North Dakota," said Preabt. "This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity; one, that if missed, I most definitely would have regretted."
Preabt added that he looks forward to working with his Prospective Commanding Officer of PCU North Dakota Cmdr. Doug Gordon, who is reporting from Commander Submarine Squadron 15 in Guam. Gordon will report to the PCU North Dakota in January of 2012.
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Chamber Unveils Second USS North Dakota Coin
The Chamber unveiled the second in a series of four battle coins that will commemorate the nuclear Naval submarine named after the state. The coin features the SSN 784 ship sponsor Katie Fowler. Katie is the wife of retired VADM Jeff Fowler, a Bismarck native.
The coin was unveiled at a ceremony at the State Heritage Center in Bismarck on June 30. The limited edition collectible is available, along with other USS North Dakota merchandise, at the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber.
Click the following links to view coverage of the event.
KFYR-TV Coverage of the Coin Unveiling
KXMB-TV Coverage of the Coin Unveiling
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General Dynamics Releases New Photos of USS ND
General Dynamics, the contractor tasked with building the Virginia Class submarine that will be named after the state of North Dakota, recently released several new photos of the ship's building progress.
The following images depict the hull sections, which are currently under construction at General Dynamics facility in Groton, Conn.
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Boat Sponsor visits USS ND
Katie Fowler, the sponsor of the USS North Dakota recently visited the facility where the boat is being assembled. She was accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Jeff Fowler, superintendant at the Naval Academy and North Dakota native.
During her tour, Katie was shown pieces of the USS North Dakota and even touched the hull of the vessel that will someday bear the name of our great state.
To see photos of her tour to the facility, please click here.
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The Anatomy of a Fast-attack Nuclear Sub
Here is an interesting article about the Virginia Class Submarine, the type of submarine the USS North Dakota will be upon completion. Enjoy!
The Anatomy of a Fast-attack Nuclear Sub
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First Virginia Class Payload Tube Increases Force's Versatility
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Program Executive Office Submarines' Virginia-class Program Office marked a substantial milestone May 15 with the delivery of the first Virginia payload tube (VPT).
Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), the VPT arrived at GDEB's Virginia-class shipbuilding partner Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Newport News (NGSB-NN) facility for inclusion in Pre-Commissioning Unit North Dakota's (SSN 784) bow. As part of a teaming arrangement, NGSB-NN builds all Virginia-class bows while GDEB constructs all of the VPTs.
As the lead submarine being built under the third, or Block III contract, North Dakota will be the first Virginia-class submarine equipped with VPTs.
Unlike the first 10 Virginia-class submarines that housed 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles in individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes, all Virginia-class submarines beginning with North Dakota will utilize two, 87.5-inch diameter, 35-plus ton tubes to house and launch the same number of missiles.
"The VPTs allow us to carry the same number of missiles as VLS-equipped Los Angeles- and Virginia-class submarines in a more economical way," said Virginia-class Program Manager Capt. Michael Jabaley.
"Two VPTs are less expensive to build and maintain than 12 VLS tubes, and when we couple those savings with the new large aperture bow array, we save forty million per ship beginning with SSN 788, the first of two ships we start building in fiscal year (FY) 2012," Jabaley concluded.
In addition to acquisition and life cycle savings, the VPTs provide the submarine force with greater payload flexibility.
"The VPTs provide commonality with the SSGN tubes, so payloads developed for one can go into the other," said Rear Adm. William Hilarides, Program Executive Officer, Submarines. "This affords the submarine force incredible flexibility and versatility to the far future."
In summarizing the Virginia Class' recent accomplishments, Hilarides said that, "The Navy / industry team promised to reach its cost and schedule goals, and we are making good on each and every one of them."
On May 3, Pre-Commissioning Unit Missouri (SSN 780) reached pressure hull complete only 64 weeks after the delivery of the first hull section to the shipyard - 19 weeks earlier than USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) and less than half the time required for USS Virginia (SSN 774). Further, New Hampshire became the third Virginia-class submarine to conduct an operational deployment prior to undergoing its post-shakedown availability.
"We, the Navy-industry team, promised to reach certain cost and schedule goals, and we are making good on each and every one of them," said Hilarides.
For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.
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First Virginia Class Payload Tube Arrives for Installation
NAVSEA News Wire
May 21, 2009 (WASHINGTON) - Program Executive Office Submarines' Virginia Class Program Office marked a substantial milestone May 15 with the delivery of the first Virginia Payload Tube (VPT).
Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB), the VPT arrived at GDEB's Virginia Class shipbuilding partner Northrop Grumman Shipbuiding's Newport News (NGSB-NN) facility for inclusion in Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) North Dakota's (SSN 784) bow. As part of a teaming arrangement, NGSB-NN builds all Virginia Class bows while GDEB constructs all of the VPTs.
As the lead submarine being built under the third, or Block III contract, North Dakota will be the first Virginia Class submarine equipped with VPTs. Unlike the first 10 Virginias that housed 12 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles in individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes, all Virginias beginning with North Dakota will utilize two, 87.5-inch diameter, 35-plus ton tubes to house and launch the same number of missiles.
"The VPTs allow us to carry the same number of missiles as VLS-equipped Los Angeles and Virginia Class submarines in a more economical way," said Virginia Class Program Manager Capt. Michael Jabaley. "Two VPTs are less expensive to build and maintain than 12 VLS tubes, and when we couple those savings with the new Large Aperture Bow Array, we save $40 million per ship beginning with SSN 788, the first of two ships we start building in fiscal year (FY) 2012,"
Jabaley concluded.
In addition to acquisition and life cycle savings, the VPTs provide the Submarine Force with greater payload flexibility. "The VPTs provide commonality with the SSGN tubes, so payloads developed for one can go into the other," said Rear Adm. William Hilarides, Program Executive Officer, Submarines. "This affords the submarine force incredible flexibility and versatility to the far future."
The delivery of the first VPT is one of several recent Virginia Class accomplishments. On Dec. 22, 2008, the Navy awarded the eight-ship Block III contract that increases production to two ships per year starting in FY 2011 and realizes the program's cost reduction goals of $2 billion/ship (FY05$) starting with the two FY 2012 ships.
Since then, the program completed its Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation in March 2009, and celebrated PCU California's (SSN 781) Keel Laying ceremony on May 1. On May 3, PCU Missouri (SSN 780) reached pressure hull complete only 64 weeks after the delivery of the first hull section to the shipyard - 19 weeks earlier than USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) and less than half the time required for USS Virginia (SSN 774). Further, New Hampshire became the third Virginia Class submarine to conduct an operational deployment prior to undergoing its Post-Shakedown Availability.
In summarizing the Virginia Class' recent accomplishments, Hilarides said that, "The Navy / industry team promised to reach its cost and schedule goals and we are making good on each and every one of them."
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USS North Dakota Nets New Technology
According to a recent report in Defence Watch, the USS North Dakota (SSN-784) will be the first Virginia-class submarine to get newly designed payload tubes.
The two new large diameter Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT) will replace 12 vertical launch tubes, Virginia Class Program Manager Capt. Michael Jabaley told reporters at the Navy League Sea Air Space symposium. The tubes are designed to hold a variety of payloads that include the Multiple All-up Rounds Canister designed to carry six Tomahawk cruise missiles.
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Dear North Dakota Sub Club Leaders,
The attached picture was taken this past Wednesday in Bancroft Hall at the Naval Academy. The sponsor of our ship - Katie Fowler - is absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the sponsor for OUR ship, and now HER ship. I was there with my old friend Darrell Williams as the guest of Vice Admiral Jeff Fowler, USN, the Superintendent of the Naval Academy. We were met by Mrs. Fowler at their lovely and spacious old home on the Naval Academy grounds. I greeted her as our sponsor and she was so gracious to us. Admiral Fowler joined us and took us to lunch with the entire Brigade of Midshipmen at Bancroft Hall, which is surely the largest dining hall in America. We joined Midshipman 4th Class Mark Munson for lunch at a table among the tables assigned to his company. Mark is the son of Mark Munson who graduated with Jeff from Bismarck High School and who went to the Naval Academy with Jeff. Mark served on active duty and then joined the Naval Reserve from which, like me, he retired as a Captain. Midshipman Munson's godfather is Admiral Fowler.
That evening we had dinner in the home of Admiral and Mrs. Fowler along with several Midshipman leaders, several retired admirals and the speaker for that evening's address to the 49th Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference, Professor Nicholas Negroponte. He spoke that evening of the "One Laptop Per Child" initiative of which he is the chairman. It was a special coincidence that the wife of one of the admirals was the president of the Society of Ship Sponsors, of which Katie Fowler is now a proud member.
We are looking forward toward having Katie with us every step of the way, with the added bonus of having her husband with us as well.
Sincerely,
Bob Wefald, Working Committee Chair
North Dakota Sub Club
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Congratulations North Dakota
Secretary Winter has decided that SSN-784 will be named the USS North Dakota!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the efforts to convince the Navy to name this submarine after our great state.
So, now that we have a boat, where do we go from here? Committees are forming to begin the work for the commissioning of the USS North Dakota, scheduled to take place in 2012. If you would be interested in volunteering to keep the USS North Dakota afloat, please contact the Chamber at 701-223-5660 or send us an e-mail.
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