Electric Boat welder Allison Fasulo and Ship Sponsor Mimi Donnelly.
Electric Boat held a keel laying ceremony for the future Virginia-class submarine Tang (SSN 805) on August 17, 2023, at the Quonset Point facility. The keel-laying is a ceremonial event in which the initials of the ship’s sponsor are welded onto a plate to be attached to the submarine, marking a milestone in the construction of a ship.
SSN 805 Tang will be the third ship in the U.S. Navy to carry this storied name. The first USS Tang was a Balao-class submarine, SS 306, credited as the most successful U.S. submarine of WWII, sinking the most tonnage of any U.S. submarine—33 enemy ships—on five war patrols over the course of just 14 months.
“This ship represents our ongoing commitment to provide the Navy with the most capable and lethal submarines it needs to ensure our country’s freedom in an increasingly contested undersea arena,” said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. “It takes a diverse team of talented and dedicated professionals to design, engineer and build these remarkable machines, and each one of us comes to work every day knowing the safety of our sailors depends on the work we do.”
The ship’s sponsor, Mimi Donnelly, is the daughter-in-law, wife and mother of U.S. Navy submariners. She was accompanied at the ceremony by her husband, retired Vice Admiral Jay Donnelly.
Speaking to the audience of Navy personnel, invited guests and Electric Boat employees, Donnelly expressed her appreciation for the technical expertise and exacting standards required to construct a Navy submarine.
“As the wife and mother of submariners, when my loved ones went to sea I was comforted by the knowledge that their ships were the best in the world—expertly built, tested at every phase of construction and well-maintained—nobody does it better.”
The keynote address was delivered by Vice Admiral William Houston, Commander, Submarine Forces. In his remarks, he stressed to the shipbuilders the importance of their work.
“I look at you, the workers, who build these magnificent submarines, and I just cannot thank you enough,” said Houston. “As a submarine force commander responsible for 25,000 submariners, you give us the best platform to operate in the world.” Houston continued by underscoring the role shipyard workers hold in the defense industry. “You are contributing to an enterprise of defense of the greatest nation in the world in support of freedom and democracy throughout the world.”
Donnelly joined Electric Boat welder Allison Fasulo of Warwick, RI, to help weld her initials onto a steel plate, which will be permanently mounted in a place of honor on the completed vessel. At the completion of the weld, Donnelly authenticated her initials and declared the keel “well and truly laid.”
Tang is the 32nd submarine in the Virginia class designed for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support. Tang will be equipped with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM). The VPM comprises four large-diameter, vertical payload tubes in a new hull section inserted into the existing Virginia-class submarine design. The tubes enable the submarine to deliver a variety of capabilities, including weapons, unmanned undersea vehicles and other undersea payloads.
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