Future Attack Submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover Christened
The United States Navy christened the future USS Hyman G. Rickover on 31 July, with a ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. The invitation-only ceremony was the first Navy christening ceremony open to members of the public since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and was livestreamed by General Dynamics Electric Boat as well.
The future USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) is the 22nd member of the Virginia class of attack submarines, and the second submarine to be named after the “Father of the Nuclear Navy”, succeeding the Los Angeles-class USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709), which was also built at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard and served from 1984 to 2007. Like other members of the Virginia class, the submarine was jointly built by Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat, with final assembly taking place at the Groton shipyard.
In his remarks at the ceremony, The Honorable James F. Geurts, performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, stated that the construction of the future USS Hyman G. Rickover is a testament to the dedication of America’s shipbuilders and sailors. He noted that the US “did not close a shipyard, public or private, for one day during the pandemic,” adding that the “sustained commitment to excellence displayed by this workforce shows in the construction of this boat and adheres to the culture of excellence promoted by Hyman G. Rickover”.
President of General Dynamics Electric Boat Kevin Graney praised the shipbuilders that worked on the future Hyman G. Rickover, saying that Quonset Point shipbuilders completed the engine room deck in 12,000 fewer hours than the preceding five submarines, welded pipe joints had been completed by Groton shipbuilders faster than the last two submarines, and electricians had completed their wiring work on schedule and under budget. He recognized six shipbuilders present at the ceremony for having “distinguished themselves by their extraordinary work on Rickover”.
Submarine sponsor Darleen Greenert, a Navy veteran with 42 years of service and wife of former Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert, spoke of the late Eleonore Rickover’s sponsorship of the first submarine named after her husband. Greenert said that Eleonore “set the bar” for ship sponsors, describing her as the “best sponsor ever”. She also spoke of the strength of serving submariners’ families, saying that submariners often had to miss sporting events, first steps and graduations, with those life events being missed as the families were “serving proudly, bravely”.
Greenert surprised her daughter and Maid of Honor, Sarah Greenert McNichol, during the christening ceremony, telling her that she would be the one to break the ceremonial bottle of sparkling wine over the bow of the submarine. A third hit successfully broke the bottle, concluding the ceremony.