Title: USS North Dakota (SSN 784)
Dates: 2012
Collection Number: MSS 11133
Quantity: .25 feet
Abstract: Collection consists of invitations, an identification badge, and two DVDs from the keel laying ceremonies of the USS ND held May 11, 2012 at Quonset Point, RI), and a Bismarck/Mandan Chamber of Commerce flyer with a history of the ship and advertisement for USS ND merchandise. The collection was donated by Robert Wefald, who was present at the ceremonies. A photograph of the USS ND under construction was added to the collection by Robert A. Hamilton, Director of Communications, General Dynamics Electric Boat, on August 9, 2012 (Newport News Shipbuilding owns the copyright to this image).
Provenance: Robert Wefald donated the collection to the State Historical Society of North Dakota on August 9, 2012. A photograph was added to the collection by Robert A. Hamilton on August 9, 2012. This inventory was prepared by Emily Schultz in August 2012.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code or an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Informational Sketch
From the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce website, USS North Dakota SSN 784 Basics
Construction of PCU North Dakota (SSN 784) started on March 2, 2009, and its contract delivery is in 2014.
It is the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name, honoring the military legacy of a state that has produced 17 recipients of the Medal of Honor for actions in Combat. USS North Dakota (BB-29) was a 20,000-ton Delaware-class battleship that served from 1910-1923.
North Dakota is the first submarine in the $14 billion Block III contract awarded to Electric Boat company on Dec. 22, 2008, which covers construction of eight Virginia-class submarines, SSN 784 through SSN 791.
A redesigned bow with two large payload tubes provides the Virginia Class Submarine with volume and flexibility for the changing mission requirements of the 21st century, and saves $40 million per hull in the process.
The redesigned bow replaces the ability to launch 12 missiles from vertical tubes, while at the same time providing a much larger diameter payload capacity - 87 inches instead of the previous 21 inches -significantly increasing the capability of the ship to deploy a much broader range of weapons, sensors, adjunct vehicles and other payloads.
In addition, North Dakota will be the first attack submarine with tubes having a diameter comparable to Ohio-class SSGNs, which means it will be able to leverage investment in payloads for that platform.
Virginia-class submarines provide the Navy with capabilities that will help it maintain undersea supremacy into the 21st century. They feature improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable them to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.
The role of attack submarines in the fleet include strike; covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces; anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; special forces delivery and support; and mine delivery and minefield mapping.
Virginia-class submarines displace 7,800-tons and are 377 feet in length. They can operate at more than 25 knots submerged, and are designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the life of the ship.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Keel laying ceremonies of the USS ND (SSN 784), Quonset Point, RI May 11, 2012: invitations, identification badge (Captain Robert Wefald), two DVDs of the ceremonies, and a Bismarck/Mandan Chamber of Commerce flyer with a history of the ship and advertisement for USS ND merchandise
2 FOR REFERENCE USE ONLY: Publicly released image of the USS North Dakota (SSN 784) under construction: image shows the sail landing on the 1-2A module. This picture was provided to the donor (Bob Hamilton) by Newport News Shipbuilding. FOR ORDERING INFORMTION CONTACT NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING.
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