Newport News Shipbuilding Rings in 130 Years
Dry Dock 1 at Newport News Shipbuilding is flooded prior to the official opening celebration of the shipyard's first dry dock on April 24, 1889. The Puritan-class monitor USS Puritan waits beyond the dry dock’s gate to enter. (Photo: HII)
On April 30, 1891, NS delivered its first vessel, a tug named Dorothy (Photo: HII)
First stock certificate issued to Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company was founded by Collis P. Huntington on January 2, 1886. The name was changed to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in 1890. (Photo: HII)
The first U.S. Navy ship delivered by NNS, USS Nashville (PG7), was delivered June 25, 1897. (Photo HII)
Super ocean liner United States was delivered June 20, 1952 (Photo: HII)
NNS laid the keel of next-generation aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in 2009 and launched the ship in 2013. Work on the second carrier, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is already underway. (Photo: Chris Oxley/HII)
Submarine Los Angeles (SSN 688) was delivered in 1976. NNS was the lead design yard for the class, which saw 30 more submarines delivered by 1996. (Photo HII)
NNS was acquired by Grumman in 2001 and spun off to form HII in 2011. Pictured is HII headquarters with NNS in the background (Photo: John Whalen/HII)
NNS delivered the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in 1960 and 1961. Pictured is USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN 601) during its christening September 24, 1960. (Photo: HII)
NNS became the sole designer and builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers beginning with the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) commissioned on May 3, 1975. (Photo: HII)
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division kicked off its 130th anniversary celebration January 28.
Newport News, the sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy submarines, will celebrate the anniversary throughout 2016 with commemorative videos and employee publications. More than 100 local businesses, museums, schools and civic leaders provided congratulatory video messages that will be released each week throughout the year.
“As shipbuilders, we are privileged to be part of the storied legacy that Collis P. Huntington began 130 years ago,” said Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin. “From the signing of our first contract in 1890, each generation of shipbuilders has made significant contributions to advance the highly skilled craft of shipbuilding. Today, we are writing our own chapter of the Newport News Shipbuilding story. The hard work shipbuilders are doing today will set the path for the shipbuilders of tomorrow.”
Newport News was founded by Collis P. Huntington on Jan. 28, 1886. Originally named the Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company, the shipyard’s first delivery was the tugboat Dorothy. Since Dorothy, Newport News has built more than 800 ships for the Navy and non-defense customers, including the first Navy vessel designed as an aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV 4), and the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
Newport News’ non-naval shipbuilding work has been diverse throughout its history. Following World War I, the shipyard built hydroelectric turbines and railroad cars and restored locomotives. In 1952, the shipyard delivered SS United States, the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction. Today, two of Newport News’ subsidiaries, Newport News Industrial and SN3, provide services for the energy market.
