Delaware Sub Nearing Operational Status as Crew Eats First Meal

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
took another step toward delivery of the submarine Delaware (SSN 791) to the
U.S. Navy when the first meal recently was served aboard the nuclear-powered
fast attack submarine.

On the menu: salad, sausage and spaghetti with a choice
of meat sauce or Alfredo.

“The first meal is a significant event in construction
for both shipbuilders and the Navy crew,” said Bob Bolden, director of
Virginia-class submarine construction at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding
division. “This is a result of shipbuilders and Sailors working side by side
and is one of the last steps in the journey to bringing the ship to its
operational state to support sea trials and delivery.”

The Virginia-class submarine is pierside at Newport News
and is in the final stages of construction and testing.

“I appreciate Newport News Shipbuilding’s superb work
through our construction process and am immensely proud of my crew’s efforts to
open our galley, support our crew and take this next step toward Delaware
becoming a self-sufficient, sea-going warship,” said Cmdr. Brian P. Hogan,
commanding officer of the pre-commissioning unit.

Delaware is the 18th Virginia-class submarine built as
part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat. More than
10,000 shipbuilders from Newport News and Electric Boat have participated in
Delaware’s construction since the work began in September 2013; more than 5,000
suppliers across 48 states have provided parts and materials critical to the
submarine’s construction.

Delaware was christened in October 2018 and launched into
the James River for the first time two months later. Following successful sea
trials later this year, Delaware will be the ninth Virginia-class submarine
delivered by Newport News.