North Carolina (SSN 777)

The Christening

Northrop Grumman christened the nation’s fourth Virginia-Class submarine, the North Carolina (SSN 777), on April 21, 2007 at 11 a.m. North Carolina is the fourth submarine of the Virginia-Class and is also the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to bear the name North Carolina. Mrs. Linda Anne Rich Bowman, wife of Admiral Frank L. "Skip" Bowman, retired U.S. Navy Admiral and former Director, Naval Nuclear Reactors, was the ship’s sponsor, and performed the traditional breaking of a bottle of American sparkling wine across the ship’s bow.

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North Carolina (SSN 777) Facts

• Ship’s Sponsor: Mrs. Linda Anne Rich Bowman, the wife of retired U.S. Navy Admiral and former Director of Naval Nuclear Reactors Frank "Skip" Bowman
• Number of shipbuilders working on North Carolina: 1,000
• Number of Virginia-class shipbuilders from North Carolina: 100

Pre-Commissioning Unit North Carolina (SSN 777)

• Ship’s Motto: Primus in Proelio (First in Fight)
• Initial Manning: 48 (June 2004)
• Current Manning: 115 (April 2007)
• Final Manning: 134 (Spring 2008)
• Average Age: 27 years old
• Number of crew from North Carolina: 6
• Crew engaged in off-duty education: 10
• The ship maintains close ties with various organizations in its namesake state, primarily the U.S. Submarine Veterans and the Battleship North Carolina Commission. They have made several trips to North Carolina, including presentations at various universities, submarine veteran organizations, and high schools, as well as an appearance at the State Fair. The crew also actively volunteers with several shelter/aid agencies in the namesake state, including a children's hospital, a charity kitchen, and Habitat for Humanity.

Other Ships Named North Carolina

Three other ships of the United States Navy and one of the Confederate States Navy have been named USS North Carolina in honor of the 12th state. This is the second Northrop Grumman Newport News-built ship named North Carolina.

• USS North Carolina - The first North Carolina was a 74-gun ship of the line. Its keel was laid in 1818 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It was launched September 7, 1820 and outfitted in the Norfolk Navy Yard. Considered by many the most powerful naval vessel then afloat, North Carolina served from 1825 until 1867.

• The second North Carolina (ACR–12) was a Tennessee-class armored cruiser. Its keel was laid March 21, 1905 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. (now Northrop Grumman Newport News). It was launched October 6, 1906 and commissioned in Norfolk on May 7, 1908. The ship was renamed Charlotte on June 7, 1920 so that its original name might be assigned to a new battleship. She was decommissioned at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., February 18, 1921. Her name was struck from the Navy List July 15, 1930, and she was sold for scrapping September 29, 1930. The name North Carolina was assigned to BB–52, a battleship whose keel was laid at Norfolk Navy Yard in January 1920. However, work was halted in February 1922 under terms of the Washington Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armaments, and the battleship’s uncompleted hull sold for scrapping in October 1923. Her name was struck from the Navy List in November 1923.

• The third North Carolina’s (BB–55) keel was laid October 27, 1937 by New York Naval Shipyard. It was launched June 13, 1940 and commissioned in New York April 9, 1941. It was the first of the Navy’s modern battleships to be commissioned and received so much attention during outfitting and trials that it won the enduring nickname “Showboat”. North Carolina received 12 battle stars for World War II service. After inactivation, the ship was decommissioned in New York June 27, 1947. It was struck from the Navy List in June 1960, and transferred to the people of North Carolina in September 1961. On April 29, 1962, North Carolina was dedicated at Wilmington, N.C., as a memorial to North Carolinians of all services killed in World War II. Here splendidly maintained and most appropriately displayed—including a spectacular “sound and light” presentation—”Showboat” still serves mightily to strengthen and inspire the nation.

• CSS North Carolina - An iron-clad sloop of the Confederate States Navy was named North Carolina. CSS North Carolina was built by Berry & Bros, at Wilmington, N.C., in 1863. It was placed in commission during the latter part of the year. Structurally weak and unable to cross the bar, the ship remained in Cape Fear River until September 1864 when it developed a leak and sank.

Information from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Department of the U.S. Navy