USS Indiana (SSN-789)

USS Indiana (SSN-789) is a nuclear powered United States Navy Virginia-class attack submarine, named for the State of Indiana. She is the sixteenth of her class and sixth of the significantly redesigned Block III, including a revised bow and VLS technology from the Ohio-class of guided missile submarines.[9] Indiana was constructed by Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Newport News, Virginia, with the initial contract awarded on 22 December 2008. Her keel was laid on 16 May 2015[1] and she was launched on 9 June 2017.[2] The boat was christened on 29 April 2017 and sponsored by Diane Donald, wife of Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, USN (ret).[3] She was commissioned on 29 September 2018 at Port Canaveral, Florida.[6][10]

For other ships with the same name, see USS Indiana.

USS Indiana (SSN-789)

USS Indiana (SSN-789) at her commissioning ceremony
History
United States
Name:	USS Indiana
Awarded:	22 December 2008
Builder:	Newport News Shipbuilding
Laid down:	16 May 2015[1]
Launched:	9 June 2017[2]
Sponsored by:	Diane Donald[3]
Christened:	29 April 2017[4]
Acquired:	25 June 2018[5]
Commissioned:	29 September 2018[6]
Homeport:	Groton, Connecticut
Motto:	"Silent Victors"
Status:	Active Service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Virginia-class submarine
Displacement:	7800 tons light, 7800 tons full
Length:	114.9 meters (377 feet)
Beam:	10.3 meters (34 feet)
Propulsion:	S9G reactor
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h)[7]
Range:	Essentially unlimited distance; 33 years
Test depth:	greater than 800 feet (240 meters)[8]
Complement:	134 officers and men[7]

Crest

The gold torch and stars are symbols from the State Flag of Indiana. The torch represents liberty and enlightenment; the rays surrounding the torch represent their far-reaching influence. The stars in a circle surrounding the torch signify each state to join the Union before Indiana, which was the 19th state. Two battleships, silhouetted above "SSN 789", represent BB-1 and BB-58, the ships that previously bore the Indiana namesake. Three gears and a head of wheat on either side of "SSN 789" represent the agriculture and industry native to the state of Indiana. The stylized "USS INDIANA" banner and the finish line racing flag pay tribute to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Car racing heritage of the State of Indiana. Silver and gold dolphins on either side of the head of wheat and gears represent the technical prowess of the enlisted and officer submarine community. The crest is encompassed by a gold outline of the state of Indiana.

References

• This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

1. "News Shipbuilding Celebrates the Keel-Laying of Virginia-Class Submarine Indiana (SSN 789)" (Press release). Huntingdon Ingalls Industries. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
2. "Huntington Ingalls Industries Launches Virginia-Class Submarine Indiana (SSN 789)" (Press release). Huntingdon Ingalls Industries. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
3. "Navy's Newest Attack Submarine Named Indiana". indystar.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
4. "Huntington Ingalls Industries Christens Virginia-Class Submarine Indiana at Newport News Shipbuilding" (Press release). Huntingdon Ingalls Industries. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
5. "Future USS Indiana Delivered to Navy" (Press release). United States Navy. 26 June 2018. NNS180626-08. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
6. "USS Indiana Brought to Life, Commissioned in Port Canaveral" (Press release). United States Navy. 1 October 2018. NNS181001-08. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
7. "The US Navy – Fact File". Retrieved 5 July 2007.
8. GlobalSecurity.org
9. "Virginia Block III: The Revised Bow". Retrieved 20 May 2008.
10. "Navy commissions USS Indiana". WTHR. WTHR. Retrieved 29 September 2018.