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Pressure Hull Complete for PCU North Dakota

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS130301-06
3/1/2013

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) North Dakota (SSN 784) reached a major milestone in its construction by achieving Pressure Hull Complete Feb. 14, at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton.

Cmdr. Doug Gordon, commanding officer of PCU North Dakota emphasized the teamwork involved by many to reach this milestone in the construction phase of the submarine.

'Reaching Pressure Hull Complete is a testament to the team work of both the shipyard and my crew. It takes the concerted effort of many workers to reach this pivotal milestone in the construction of the future USS North Dakota,' said Gordon.

The ship reached Pressure Hull Complete in 48 months, almost two months faster than any other ship of the class. USS Mississippi (SSN 782), the previous best, took nearly 50 months to reach Pressure Hull Complete.

North Dakota is the first ship of the Virginia class with an entirely redesigned bow, which increases the capability of the ship by replacing 12 individual launchers with two payload tubes able to accommodate six Tomahawk Cruise Missiles each and have the ability to host future payloads while also reducing the ship's acquisition cost by approximately $40 million.

'The men and women of Electric Boat showed that even with a significant change in the design, they can still achieve efficiencies that reduce cost and schedule,' said Mike Nowak, the ship manager for North Dakota. 'We really appreciate the help of the crew in getting to this milestone so early. They have been incredible about supporting the construction schedule. It's been a real team effort.'

North Dakota is being built under a teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News in Newport News, Va. Upon completion, the submarine will weigh 7,800-tons, with a length of 377 feet, beam of 34 feet, able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet, and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. North Dakota is designed with a nuclear reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs and increasing underway time.

PCU North Dakota, the second ship named in honor of North Dakota, will be delivered by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton and will be the 11th Virginia-class submarine when it is commissioned in 2014.