The Navy will christen one of its newest attack submarines, the future USS Montana (SSN 794), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Newport News, Virginia.
The principal speaker will be Under Secretary of the Navy (Acting) Gregory J. Slavonic. Ms. Sally Jewell, former Secretary of the United States Department of Interior, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow and state, “in the name of the United States I christen thee.”
“The future USS Montana will play an important role in the defense of our nation and maritime freedom,” said Slavonic. “She stands as proof of what teamwork – from civilian to contractor to military – can accomplish. I am confident USS Montana and her crew will ensure our Navy remains safe and strong to proudly serve our nation’s interest for decades to come.”
The future USS Montana (SSN 794) honors the Treasure State. She will be the second commissioned warship bearing the name. The first USS Montana (ACR-13), an armored cruiser, was also built at Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned July 1908. She served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, landed Marines during unrest in Haiti in 1914 and escorted convoys during World War I. She was decommissioned in 1921.
Construction of the current Montana began April 2015 and is the third of the ten Block IV Virginia Class submarines.
Virginia Class submarines are built to operate in the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are replacing older Los Angeles Class submarines as they retire.
Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. More information about the Virginia-class Attack Submarines is available online here.
Additional information about the Naval History of Montana can be found online here.