Name USS Illinois Awarded 22 December 2008 Sponsored by Michelle Obama Construction started 2 June 2014 Length 115 m Beam 10 m | Namesake The state of Illinois Laid down 2 June 2014 Christened 10 October 2015 Launched 8 August 2015 Draft 9.8 m | |
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Builder General Dynamics Electric Boat | ||
USS Illinois (SSN-786) is a Virginia-class submarine built by Electric Boat, a division of General Dynamics. Illinois is the third of the Block III Virginia-class subs, which feature a revised bow, including some technology from Ohio-class SSGNs. The submarine was delivered to the United States Navy on 27 August 2016 and was commissioned at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, on October 29, 2016.
Contents
Commanders
CDR Jess Porter, CDR Neil Steinhagen
Chiefs of the Boat
HMCM(SS) David DiPietro
History
The contract to build Illinois was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with Electric Boat on 22 December 2008, to be built at the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, CT. The first group of sailors reported for duty with the submarine's Pre-Commissioning Unit in June 2013.
Construction formally began with a keel laying ceremony that took place on 2 June 2014 in Groton, Connecticut. First Lady Michelle Obama served as the ship's sponsor. Illinois was christened by Michelle Obama on 10 October 2015.
Illinois was launched on 8 August 2015. The submarine finished its alpha sea trials on 2 August 2016. General Dynamics Electric Boat delivered Illinois to the Navy on 27 August 2016. The vessel was commissioned in Groton on 29 October 2016. Michelle Obama, as the sponsor, attended the ceremony, is considered to be an honorary member of the crew, and in line with her interest in supporting military families intends to be involved with the Illinois crew and their families.
Ship's crest
The Official ship's crest was designed by Christopher Durdle of Roseville, IL and accepted by the Navy at an unveiling ceremony at the Union League Club of Chicago on 2 April 2015. First Lady Michelle Obama congratulated the contest finalists and crew via video at the ceremony.