Keel Authentications

From Program Executive Office, Ships Public Affairs

BATH, Maine (NNS) — The U.S. Navy laid the keel for its first Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG 1000), Nov. 17, at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine.

While keel laying was once traditionally the formal recognition of the start of the ship’s construction, today’s advanced modular shipbuilding allows fabrication of the ship to begin months before. However, the keel laying continues to symbolically recognize the joining of the ship’s components and the ceremonial beginning of the ship.

“Keel laying is just the first of many important milestones and events in bringing Zumwalt to life,” said Capt. Jim Downey, DDG 1000 program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. “With the outstanding team we have assembled, I look forward to building on the superb progress we’ve achieved to date and delivering this extremely capable warship to the Fleet.”

The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974. The ship’s co-sponsors, Ann Zumwalt, Mouzetta Zumwalt-Weathers, and Lt.Col. James G. Zumwalt symbolically authenticated the keel with a plate displaying the initials of all four children of the ship’s namesake, including eldest son, the late-Elmo R. Zumwalt III.

Construction began on DDG 1000 in February 2009, and the Navy and its industry partners have worked to mature the ship’s design and ready their industrial facilities to build this advanced surface combatant. Zumwalt is currently more than 60 percent complete and scheduled to deliver in fiscal year 2014. Construction on the second ship of the class, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), began March 2010.

Designed for sustained operations in the littorals and land attack, the multi-mission DDG 1000 will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. This warship integrates numerous critical technologies, systems, and principles into a complete warfighting system. These include employment of optimal manning through human systems integration, improved quality of life, low operations and support costs, multi-spectral signature reduction, balanced warfighting design, survivability, and adaptability.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. May 20, 2011 – The Navy celebrated a key milestone on May 20, with the keel laying of PCU Minnesota (SSN 783) at Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding (HII –NNS) in Newport News, Va.

In a time-honored Navy tradition, ship sponsor Ellen Roughead, wife of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, had her initials welded onto a steel plate that will be permanently affixed to Minnesota’s hull. Mrs. Roughead, a former educator, has been a tireless supporter of military families and continuing education initiatives for Navy spouses. “We are honored to have Mrs. Roughead as Minnesota’s sponsor,” said Rear Adm. (sel.) Michael Jabaley, Virginia Class program manager. “The keel laying marks the beginning of a special relationship between Mrs. Roughead, this submarine, and her crew. Her dedication and support of our Sailors and their families is admirable and will pay dividends for the Submarine Force for years to come.”

Minnesota’s keel laying is the submarine’s first major event since it began construction in February 2008; the submarine is on track to continue the Virginia Class program’s trend of early deliveries.

“Our shipbuilding partners have done an outstanding job of reducing the amount of time it takes to deliver these much-needed platforms,” said Rear Adm. David Johnson, program executive officer for Submarines. “Their hard work and ingenuity have helped put Virginia-class submarines with their tremendous capabilities into the hands of the Submarine Force at an increasing rate.”

Minnesota is the tenth submarine of the Virginia class and the last of the second, or Block II, construction contract. The submarine, like all Virginia-class boats, is being built under a unique construction contract between HII–NNS and General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB). In addition to Minnesota’s keel laying, the Virginia Class program will celebrate PCU California’s (SSN 781) commissioning in October and PCU Mississippi’s (SSN 782) christening in December. Also, for the first time in 22 years, the Navy will begin construction of two submarines of the same class in the same year when the unnamed SSN 787 officially starts construction in September.

Virginia-class submarines are designed to dominate the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six Maritime Strategy Core Capabilities – Sea Control, Power Projection, Forward Presence, Maritime Security, and Deterrence.