Latest Virginia-class submarine to be commissioned Saturday

The newest Virginia-class submarine joins the fleet Saturday in a ceremony at the naval station in Norfolk, Va.

The ceremony will celebrate the historic milestone in the life of the submarine and recognize the hard work of the crew and the shipbuilders, Cmdr. Dana Nelson, commanding officer of the California (SSN 781), said Tuesday.

Electric Boat in Groton and Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia take turns delivering the Virginia-class submarines. Newport News was responsible for the California, the eighth member of the class.

EB began working on the 13th Virginia-class submarine, the unnamed SSN 787, last month - the first time in 22 years that construction has begun on two submarines of the same class in the same year.

"As the guy who takes the ships to sea," Nelson, a native of Clinton, said, "it makes me very happy to have more of them."

Nelson described Virginia-class submarines as well laid out, easy to operate and very capable.

"Overall I'm very impressed," Nelson, who previously served on four Los Angeles-class submarines, said in a telephone call from the pier at the naval station.

California was built in 65 months, nearly nine months ahead of the contracted date. The USS Missouri (SSN 780), the seventh member of the class, was also built in 65 months, delivered by EB and commissioned last year.

EB's goal is to deliver the ninth Virginia-class submarine, the Mississippi (SSN 782) in March, at 61 months, and then build future submarines in five years. The christening for the Mississippi is scheduled for December in Groton.

After California's commissioning, the 137-man crew will stay in Virginia for training and the holiday break, then bring the submarine to Groton in early 2012, Nelson said. California will be homeported at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton.

The submarine will spend most of the next year at EB for maintenance and modernization before preparations begin for the first deployment. Nelson said the maintenance work is difficult and unglamorous, but the crew is ready for the challenge.

"We know it's one more milestone and step we have to take before the ship's first deployment," he said. "We're excited to be moving up to Connecticut. I'm sure we'll get a warm reception, and we're looking forward to working with the local community."

Nelson said he expects California to deploy in late 2013 or early 2014. The ceremony in Norfolk, which begins at 11 a.m., will be streamed live at www.navy.mil.

j.mcdermott@theday.com