Title: USS North Dakota (SSN 784) Collection
Dates: 2011-2017
Collection Number: MSS 11133
Quantity: .5 feet plus digital photographs
Abstract: Consists of documentation of events surrounding the commissioning of the USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784), including the keel laying ceremonies, christening, rollout, and roll out/float off. The collection also includes photographs, videos, a Power Point presentation, history and printed material.
Provenance: Robert Wefald donated the collection to the State Historical Society of North Dakota on August 9, 2012 and added to the collection in January and May 2015. Material was added to the collection by Robert A. Hamilton in August 2012, September 2013 and November 2013.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection. Photographs and video in the collection are FOR REFERENCE USE ONLY (Copyright belongs to either the Newport News or General Dynamics Electric Boat). Contact information is available for image reproduction in this document and in the collection case file.
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.
Transfer: Several artifacts were offered to the Museum Division in November 2013. See case file for details. Additional artifacts were offered to the Museum Division in January 2015. See case file for details.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
From the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce website, USS North Dakota SSN 784 Basics http://www.bismarckmandan.com/ussnorthdakota/the-ssn-/
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 Image of the USS NORTH DAKOTA under construction, 2012 (11133-00001)
2 Keel laying ceremonies, May 11, 2012
3 Roll out/Float off, September 2013
4 Christening ceremonies, November 2, 2013
5 Commissioning events, October 24-25, 2014
6 Miscellaneous documents and printed material, ca. 2011-2014
PHOTOGRAPHS INVENTORY (DIGITAL ONLY)
11133-00001 USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) under construction: image shows the sail landing on the 1-2A module, 2012 (For ordering information contact Newport News Shipbuilding)
11133-00002 - 11133-00016 Sponsor Katie Fowler's visit to the General Dynamics Electric Boat, September 22 and 23, 2009
11133-00017 - 11133-00066 Unveiling of the coin bearing the image of the USS NORTH DAKOTA sponsor, Katie Fowler, June 30, 2011
11133-00067 - 11133-00080 Arrival of the bow section of USS NORTH DAKOTA on December 1, 2012
11133-00081 - 11133-00095 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, visit to the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard on January 31, 2013 (Permission to use these photographs must be granted by General Dynamics Electric Boat)
11133-00096 - 11133-00113 Katie and VADM Jeff Fowler visiting USS NORTH DAKOTA, Groton, CT, April 13, 2013 (Images are authorized for public release but rights remain with General Dynamics Electric Boat)
11133-00114 - 11133-00385 Photographs of USS NORTH DAKOTA Christening events, including images of the bottle break, breakfast, ceremony, crew, reception, speakers, and sponsor tour, November 2, 2013
11133-00386 - 11133-00408 Photographs of the roll out, September 10, 2013
11133-00409 Katie Fowler with silver platter, Chairman’s Dinner, October 24, 2014 This photo of Ship’s Sponsor Katie Fowler was taken by Ciao Bella Photography, LLC., of Warrenton, Virginia, in March 2015. Katie is holding the engraved Sterling Silver platter given to her at the Chairman’s Dinner on October 24, 2014, by the USS NORTH DAKOTA Committee on behalf of the people of North Dakota. The sterling silver platter was made by Reed & Barton of Taunton, Massachusetts, at a cost of $1,500.
11133-00410 Silver platter, Chairman’s Dinner, October 24, 2014
11133-00411 Sculpture made by Wallace “Butch” Thunderhawk, Jr. Commissioned and presented by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Three Affiliated Tribes, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, the Spirit Lake Nation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation. This photo was taken on the boat.
11133-00412 Crossed six shooters, taken on the boat. It is a gift to the boat given by the Legionnaires of American Legion Post No. 290 of New Town (N.D.).
11133-00413 Sculpture made by Wallace “Butch” Thunderhawk, Jr., with other gifts about to be presented to USS NORTH DAKOTA (SS-784). The object in front of the sculpture is a “backup” “champagne” bottle from the November 2, 2013, christening of USS NORTH DAKOTA.
11133-00414 Cast plaque created and installed on board by the builders of USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN-784).
11133-00415 Cast plaque with the boat’s crest and an explanation of the crest created and installed on board by the builders of USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN-784).
11133-00416 USS NORTH DAKOTA silver punch bowl. The 2nd USS NORTH DAKOTA side of the sterling silver punch bowl made in Delhi, India.
11133-00417 USS NORTH DAKOTA silver punch bowl. One end of the sterling silver punch bowl made in Delhi, India.
11133-00418 USS NORTH DAKOTA silver punch bowl. A quarter view of the 1st USS NORTH DAKOTA side of the sterling silver punch bowl made in Delhi, India.
11133-00419 USS NORTH DAKOTA silver punch bowl. An oblique lower view of the 1st USS NORTH DAKOTA side of the sterling silver punch bowl made in Delhi, India.
11133-00420 USS NORTH DAKOTA silver punch bowl. The 1st USS NORTH DAKOTA side of the sterling silver punch bowl made in Delhi, India.
11133-00421 USS NORTH DAKOTA silver punch bowl. An oblique top down view of the 1st USS NORTH DAKOTA side of the sterling silver punch bowl made in Delhi, India
11133-00422 Presentation of the sterling silver punch bowl at the October 24, 2014, Chairman’s Dinner. From left to right: United States Representative Kevin Cramer, Governor Jack Dalrymple, USS NORTH DAKOTA Committee Vice Chairman Bill Butcher, Treasurer Kelvin Hulett and USS NORTH DAKOTA Commanding Officer Captain Douglas V. Gordon.
11133-00423 Presentation by Governor Jack Dalrymple of the sterling silver punch bowl at the Chairman's Dinner on October 24, 2013. Left to right are United States Representative Kevin Cramer, Governor Jack Dalrymple, USS NORTH DAKOTA Committee Vice Chairman Bill Butcher, USS NORTH DAKOTA Commanding Officer Captain Douglas V. Gordon, Chairman Bob Wefald and Treasurer Kelvin Hulett.
11133-00424 Eagle feather and patch given to the boat by Gordon Blake of New Town, an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes, when a large group of people from New Town came out to Groton CT on May 31st, the original commissioning date which was postponed. They had tickets so they used them. This photo was taken on the boat. The crew had the feather and patch framed, and they mounted it in the boat.
11133-00425 Presentation by Governor Jack Dalrymple of the sterling silver punch bowl at the Chairman's Dinner on October 24, 2013. Left to right are United States Representative Kevin Cramer, Governor Jack Dalrymple, USS NORTH DAKOTA Committee Vice Chairman Bill Butcher, USS NORTH DAKOTA Commanding Officer Captain Douglas V. Gordon, Chairman Bob Wefald and Treasurer Kelvin Hulett.
11133-00426 Sterling silver punch bowl made by Sun Sea Jewellers of Delhi, India, at a cost of $14,000, on display at the Chairman’s Dinner on October 24, 2015, with other gifts about to be presented to USS NORTH DAKOTA (SS-784).
PowerPoint presentation Pre-Launch slide show, October 25, 2013
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