The U.S. Navy has christened the second submarine named after Hyman G. Rickover, the former four-star Navy admiral who initiated the adoption of nuclear propulsion with technological and cultural advances in the service.
James Geurts, currently performing the duties of the undersecretary of the Navy and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, likened the sailors and shipbuilders' commitment of excellence in constructing the boat to Rickover's culture of excellence, the U.S. Navy said Saturday.
The Virginia-class attack submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover, also known as SNN 709, is slated to join the fleet with 132 crews, 12 vertical launch systems payload, 7,835 tons of displacement and four torpedo tubes.
The multimission platform is designed to allow five Navy maritime strategy core capabilities that include sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence.
The previous Hyman G. Rickover ship was commissioned on July 21, 1984, at the Submarine Base, New London, in Groton.
Submarine sponsor Darlene Greenert, a navy veteran and wife of former Chief of Naval Jonathan Greenert, was also present Friday during the christening ceremony held at General Dynamics’ Electric Boat shipyard facility in Groton, Connecticut.
She underscored the sacrifices of militaries and commemorated Eleonore Rickover, the admiral’s late wife.
