USS Indiana newest attack submarine

The newest Virginia-class attack submarine, USS Indiana (SSN 789), will be commissioned at Port Canaveral, Florida, Sept. 29, 2018. It will be the 16th Virginia-class attack submarine to join the fleet.

USS Indiana (SSN 789) will be the third U.S. Navy ship, and first submarine, to be commissioned bearing the name “Indiana”.  Mrs. Diane Donald, wife of retired Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, is the ship’s sponsor.

Designed to operate in both coastal and deep-ocean environments, Indiana will present leadership with a broad and unique range of capabilities, including anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces (SOF) support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions.

Indiana is a part of the Virginia-class’ third, or Block III, contract, in which the Navy redesigned approximately 20 percent of the ship to reduce acquisition costs. Indiana features a redesigned bow, which replaces 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs) each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles, among other design changes that reduced the submarines’ acquisition cost while maintaining their outstanding warfighting capabilities.

Indiana has special features to support SOF, including a reconfigurable torpedo room which can accommodate a large number of SOF and all their equipment for prolonged deployments and future off-board payloads. Also, in Virginia-class SSNs, traditional periscopes have been replaced by two photonics masts that host visible and infrared digital cameras atop telescoping arms. Through the extensive use of modular construction, open architecture, and commercial off-the-shelf components, the Virginia class is designed to remain at the cutting edge for its entire operational life through the rapid introduction of new systems and payloads.

The Indiana will be the third U.S. Navy ship and the first submarine to be commissioned at the Navy Port at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NOTU’s primary mission is to test and evaluate Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile systems.

10 Things to Know About USS Indiana (SSN 789)

1. USS Indiana (SSN 789) is the third ship to be named for the State of Indiana. The first was USS Indiana (BB 1), a battle ship that participated in the Spanish – American War. The second was USS Indiana (BB 58), a battle ship that fought in World War II and earned nine battle stars.
2. Fourteen Sailors from USS Indiana (BB 58) attended the christening of the current Indiana. Two of the Sailors in the group were plank owners of BB-58 when it was built in the Newport News Shipyard – the same shipyard that built SSN-789.
3. The ship’s crest depicts various symbols of the Submarine Force and the state of Indiana. It is framed by a gold outline of the state and at the top of the crest there is a torch with stars that are symbols from the state flag. The torch represents liberty and enlightenment; the rays surrounding the torch represent their far-reaching influence. There are nine silver stars on the crest around the torch. These represent the nine battle stars that USS Indiana (BB 58) earned during World War II. The ship’s name and a depiction of the submarine are below the torch. At the bottom of the crest are two ship profiles. These are the silhouettes of the two previous ships to bear the name Indiana. Below the silhouettes are two submarine dolphins, framing a set of gears on the right and a shock of wheat on the left with “SSN 789” in the center. The dolphins are symbols of the Submarine Force and represent the technical prowess and excellence of its officers and enlisted members. The gears and wheat represent the industry and agriculture native to the state of Indiana. Finally, the background of the crest is a checkered flag which represents the famous racing history and culture of Indiana.
4.  Indiana had one of the largest christening ceremonies for a submarine to date. The key note speaker was Vice President Mike Pence, the former governor of the state of Indiana and a long-time supporter of the boat and its crew. Following his speech, Pence took time to reenlist two Indiana Sailors and to promote the supply officer from ensign to lieutenant junior grade. He then met with their families before departing the ceremony.’
5. The State of Indiana has a wide ranging manufacturing industry and many of the parts that went into building Indiana were originally made by companies located in its namesake state.
6. SSN-789 was christened on April 29, 2017. BB-58 was commissioned on April 30, 1942. These two ships came to life almost exactly 75 years apart.
7. Indiana utilizes an advanced periscope called a photonics mast. The mast contains a camera that allows many tactical advantages when submerged. Indiana is one of the first boats to use a new and improved joystick controller to maneuver this mast rather than the traditional periscope hydraulic column. This frees up space in the control room and allows multiple individuals to see what the scope sees.
8. The USS Indiana (SSN 789) galley is called the “Brickyard Bistro.” This name is in reference to the racing culture of Indiana, specifically to the finish line at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway which is called the “Brickyard.”
9. The ship’s motto is “Silent Victors.” The motto comes from a monument to Sailors and veterans in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis holds more monuments to veterans and/or the armed services than any other city outside of Washington, D.C. This is a physical testimony to the support that Indiana provides to the armed forces of the United States. SSN-789 has certainly felt this support through many visits to the state and opportunities to meet Hoosiers.
10. Sailors onboard SSN-789 are referred to as Hoosiers – just like Indiana natives. A common phrase heard around the boat when completing a mission, a task or a simple meeting is “Hooyah Hoosiers.” The official chant used by the boat is “Indiana Strong! Hoosier Proud! Hooyah Hoosiers!”