USS Delaware (SSN-791)

USS Delaware (SSN-791)
Delaware underway during her builder's sea trials
History
United States
NameUSS Delaware
NamesakeState of Delaware
Awarded22 December 2008
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding
Laid down30 April 2016
Launched14 December 2018
Sponsored byJill Biden
Christened20 October 2018
Acquired25 October 2019
Commissioned4 April 2020
HomeportGroton, Connecticut
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class & typeVirginia-class attack submarine
Displacement7800 tons light, 7800 tons full
Length114.9 m (377 ft)
Beam10.3 m (34 ft)
Propulsion
  • 1 × S9G PWR nuclear reactor 280,000 shp (210 MW), HEU 93%
  • 2 × steam turbines 40,000 shp (30 MW)
  • 1 × single shaft pump-jet propulsor
  • 1 × secondary propulsion motor
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
RangeEssentially unlimited distance; 33 years
Test depthgreater than 800 ft (240 m)
Complement134 (14 officers, 120 enlisted)
External videos
on Huntington Ingalls Industries Official YouTube Channel(in English)
Delaware (SSN 791) Delivered to U.S. Navy on YouTube

USS Delaware (SSN-791) is a Virginia-class attack submarine built for the United States Navy. The contract to build her was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Newport News, Virginia on 22 December 2008. This boat is the eighth and final of the Block III submarines that feature a revised bow, including some technology from Ohio-class SSGNs. Construction on Delaware began in September 2013. She was christened on 20 October 2018. She was commissioned administratively after the standard commissioning ceremony was cancelled due to public health concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Delaware was the first ever US ship commissioned while underwater. The official commissioning ceremony occurred 2 April 2022 at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware.