USS Illinois (SSN-786) explained

USS Illinois (SSN-786) is a nuclear-powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. Named for the State of Illinois, she is the third vessel with the name, the previous two being battleships and, which was never completed. She was built by the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics, the third of their Block III variants which feature a revised bow and technology from the converted sub-class of guided missile submarines (SSGN).[1] The contract for the build was awarded on 22 December 2008 to Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with Electric Boat, and construction commenced with the keel laying ceremony on 2 June 2014, at their yard in Groton, Connecticut. First Lady Michelle Obama served as the ship's sponsor,[2] and christened the boat on 10 October 2015. Illinois was launched on 8 August 2015 and completed sea trials on 2 August 2016.[3] She was delivered to the Navy on 27 August 2016 and commissioned in a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London on 29 October 2016.[4] Then-First Lady Michelle Obama, as the sponsor, attended the ceremony and is considered to be an honorary member of the crew due to her support of military families and her involvement with the Illinois crew and their families.[5]

History

Illinois completed a change of home port from Naval Submarine Base New London to Naval Base Pearl Harbor on 22 November 2017,[6] where she is assigned to Submarine Squadron One.[7]

Ship's crest

The official ship's crest was designed by Christopher Durdle of Roseville, IL and accepted by the Navy at an unveiling ceremony at the Union League Club of Chicago on 2 April 2015. First Lady Michelle Obama congratulated the contest finalists and crew via video at the ceremony.[8] [9]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Virginia Block III: The Revised Bow. Defense Industry Daily . 21 December 2008.
  2. Remarks by the First Lady at the Keel Laying Ceremony for the PCU ILLINOIS . The White House : Office of the First Lady . 2 June 2014 . . . 13 June 2014.
  3. Web site: USS Illinois successfully completes alpha sea trials.
  4. Navy to Commission Submarine Illinois. United States Navy. 28 October 2016. 28 October 2016.
  5. https://www.navytimes.com/articles/michelle-obama-beyond-proud-at-navy-submarine-ceremony Michelle Obama: 'Beyond proud' at Navy submarine ceremony
  6. USS Illinois Arrives in Pearl Harbor. United States Navy. 26 November 2017. 18 February 2018.
  7. Web site: Virginia-class submarine Illinois reaches Pearl Harbor homeport for first time. navaltoday.com. 23 November 2017. 27 March 2018.
  8. Web site: Students Compete to Design USS Illinois Crest. NBC Chicago. 7 November 2014 .
  9. Web site: Creative crests for crew. Commercial News.