USS North Dakota (SSN-784)

USS North Dakota (SSN-784) is a United States Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine and the eleventh commissioned vessel of the *Virginia* class. The boat was constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, and entered active service in 2014. It is named for the U.S. state of North Dakota, continuing a naval lineage that includes the earlier battleship *North Dakota*.

Design and construction

The contract for the vessel's construction was awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries as part of a multi-boat Block III procurement on 22 December 2008. The keel was ceremonially laid down at the Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island on 11 May 2012. The submarine's pressure hull was fabricated at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia before being transported to Groton, Connecticut for final assembly. The boat was launched into the Thames River on 15 November 2013, sponsored by Katie Fowler, wife of former Senate Majority Leader Kent Conrad. Following extensive builder's and Navy trials in the Atlantic Ocean, it was delivered to the United States Fleet Forces Command and commissioned on 25 October 2014 at Naval Submarine Base New London.

Operational history

Following its commissioning, *North Dakota* conducted its first operational deployment to the European Command area of responsibility, integrating with Sixth Fleet and NATO allies. The submarine has participated in numerous high-profile exercises, including ICEX in the Arctic Ocean, where it surfaced through the polar ice pack near Prudhoe Bay. It has also operated extensively in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, supporting missions for Central Command and European Command. In 2019, the boat entered a scheduled Engineered Refueling Overhaul at General Dynamics Electric Boat to replenish its S9G nuclear reactor core and undergo modernization, returning to the fleet in 2021.

Virginia-class features

As a Block III *Virginia*-class submarine, *North Dakota* incorporates significant design changes from earlier blocks. It features a redesigned bow with a Large Aperture Bow array, replacing twelve individual Vertical Launch System tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles each. The boat is equipped with an advanced AN/BQQ-10 sonar suite, including a chin-mounted high-frequency array and a lightweight wide aperture array. Its propulsor is a shrouded pump-jet designed for reduced acoustic signature, and it utilizes Fly-by-wire ship control systems for enhanced maneuverability.

Command and crew

The submarine's first commanding officer was Captain Douglas C. Gordon, who led the pre-commissioning unit and initial crew. Command has subsequently rotated among post-Department Head officers selected for major command, typically following tours at Naval Submarine School or on Submarine Squadron staffs. The crew consists of approximately 135 officers and enlisted sailors, including specialists in nuclear propulsion from the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, sonar technicians, and Information Systems Technicians. The boat is assigned to Submarine Squadron 4, which reports to Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia.

Awards and recognition

For its operational performance, *North Dakota* has been awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, the Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Service Medal. The boat and its crew have also received the Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic "Blue" and "Blood" awards for medical readiness and damage control excellence. Its successful completion of ICEX operations was recognized by the Chief of Naval Operations.

Category:Virginia-class submarines Category:Ships built in Connecticut Category:2014 ships