Future USS Indiana attack submarine to be christened April 29 in Newport News

On Saturday, April 29, U.S. Navy will webcast Vice President Mike Pence’s principal address at the christening ceremony of our newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Indiana (SSN 789), starting at 11 a.m. EDT at Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Newport News.

The webcast link will be available on the Navy Live blog at http://navylive.dodlive.mil under the homepage’s live event section. It will also be streamed on the Navy’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/USNavy) and Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/USNavy).

Indiana (SSN 789) is the 16th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the sixth Virginia-class Block III submarine. This next-generation attack submarine provides the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea superiority well into the 21st century.

The submarine, which began construction in 2012, will be the third U.S. Navy ship to be christened with the name Indiana.

The first Indiana (BB 1), the lead ship of her class of battleship, served in the North Atlantic and later participated in the blockade of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

The second Indiana (BB 58) was a South Dakota-class battleship that earned nine battle stars for her service in the Pacific Theater in World War II. BB-58 fought in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and participated in the invasions of Tarawa, Kwajalein and Okinawa, and bombarded Saipan, the Palau Islands, the Philippines and Iwo Jima.

Indiana will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping; and special forces delivery and support.

For more information about the boat and ceremony, visit https://go.usa.gov/x5NWk