Awarded 14 August 2003 Sponsored by Ellen Roughead Construction started 20 May 2011 Length 115 m | Namesake The state of Minnesota Laid down 20 May 2011 Christened 27 October 2012 Launched February 2008 Beam 10 m | |
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USS Minnesota (SSN-783) is a fast attack submarine, the 10th of the planned 48-boat Virginia-class. It is the third United States Navy vessel named for the state of Minnesota, and the first to bear the name since 1921. Minnesota was laid down on 20 May 2011, and christened on 27 October 2012 in a ceremony attended by many top ranking officials in the U.S. Navy and Congress. On 6 June 2013, Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that Minnesota had been delivered to the Navy, nearly 11 months ahead of schedule. Minnesota was commissioned on 7 September 2013, but has spent little time at sea as she has been in port undergoing repairs for almost 2 years. A defective part was discovered, due to poor welding. The same issue has been discovered on two other boats in the class. The Navy is now examining other ships for the same issue and the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the contractor responsible for the problems.
