USS Illinois (SSN 786), the 13th submarine of the U.S. Navy’s Virginia Class, was christened Saturday at builder General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard.
The ship’s sponsor, First Lady Michelle Obama, christened the ship by breaking a bottle of Illinois sparkling wine against the submarine’s bow before an audience of approximately 7,500 people. Serving as the ceremony’s principal speaker was Secretary of the U.S. Navy Ray Mabus.
First Lady Michelle Obama, the sponsor for submarine Illinois, approves the weld of her initials, which is now permanently affixed in the ship. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Submarine Illinois reaches another milestone, Pressure Hull Complete, on Dec. 16, 2014, when all hull sections are joined to form a single watertight unit. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Electric Boat president Jeff Geiger welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama and guests to the submarine Illinois keel laying on June 2, 2014. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Electric Boat Quonset Point welder Michael Macomber inscribes the initials of First Lady Michelle Obama to a steel plate during the keel-laying ceremony for the submarine Illinois. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)The crew of the submarine Illinois at the keel-laying ceremony held June 2, 2014, at General Dynamics Electric Boat Quonset Point, R.I., facility. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Officers and crew pose in front of submarine Illinois in November 2014 as the forward section of the submarine is moved to mate with the aft section. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Float off begins for submarine Illinois on Aug. 7, 2015. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)First Lady Michelle Obama reacts enthusiastically to the sight of her initials welded to a steel plate by welder Michael Macomber. The steel plate is now affixed permanently in the submarine. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Submarine Illinois moves out of Electric Boat's main production facility on July 24, 2015, in preparation for float off. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Electric Boat workers prepare submarine Illinois for rollout on July 24, 2015. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat (Photo: General Dynamics Electric BoatFirst Lady Michelle Obama, the sponsor for submarine Illinois, approves the weld of her initials, which is now permanently affixed in the ship. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Submarine Illinois reaches another milestone, Pressure Hull Complete, on Dec. 16, 2014, when all hull sections are joined to form a single watertight unit. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Electric Boat president Jeff Geiger welcomes First Lady Michelle Obama and guests to the submarine Illinois keel laying on June 2, 2014. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Electric Boat Quonset Point welder Michael Macomber inscribes the initials of First Lady Michelle Obama to a steel plate during the keel-laying ceremony for the submarine Illinois. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)The crew of the submarine Illinois at the keel-laying ceremony held June 2, 2014, at General Dynamics Electric Boat Quonset Point, R.I., facility. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Officers and crew pose in front of submarine Illinois in November 2014 as the forward section of the submarine is moved to mate with the aft section. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Float off begins for submarine Illinois on Aug. 7, 2015. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)First Lady Michelle Obama reacts enthusiastically to the sight of her initials welded to a steel plate by welder Michael Macomber. The steel plate is now affixed permanently in the submarine. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Submarine Illinois moves out of Electric Boat's main production facility on July 24, 2015, in preparation for float off. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat)Electric Boat workers prepare submarine Illinois for rollout on July 24, 2015. (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat (Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat
“We are honored to have the First Lady as our sponsor,” said Electric Boat President Jeffrey Geiger. “I’m proud to show her that this submarine is the embodiment of our team, whose innovation, ingenuity and unrelenting work ethic is unmatched.”
USS Illinois will be delivered to the Navy in 2016.
Virginia-class submarines are equipped to wage multi-dimensional warfare around the globe. In addition to anti-submarine, anti-surface ship and counter-mine warfare, Illinois will support surveillance, special operations and covert strike missions.