Thursday, August 07, 2014

USS North Dakota Returns to Sea Trials


The US Navy's (USN's) first Virginia-class attack submarine to be built with a redesigned bow has departed on its second ocean voyage for an extended set of sea trials, shipbuilder General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) told IHS Jane's on 6 August.

North Dakota (SSN 784) had returned to GDEB's facility in Groton, Connecticut, on 5 August after successfully completing its first ocean voyage, known as 'alpha' sea trials. The two-day at-sea period occurred nearly four months after officials publicly disclosed materiel issues associated with the bow's redesign, which prompted the navy to delay the boat's 31 May 2014 commissioning date.

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