USS West Virginia (SSBN-736)
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USS West Virginia (SSBN-736), during alpha sea trials off the United States East Coast in 1989.
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| History | |
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 United States
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| Namesake: | The State of West Virginia |
| Ordered: | 21 November 1983 |
| Builder: | General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut |
| Laid down: | 24 December 1987 |
| Launched: | 14 October 1989 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. Erma Byrd |
| Commissioned: | 20 October 1990 |
| Homeport: | Kings Bay, Georgia |
| Motto: |
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| Nickname(s): | The Silent Mountaineer |
| Status: | in active service |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 560 ft (170 m) |
| Beam: | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Draft: | 38 ft (12 m) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Speed: | Greater than 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Test depth: | Greater than 800 feet (240 m) |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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USS West Virginia (SSBN-736) is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine. She has been in commission since 1990. She is the third U.S. Navy ship to be named for West Virginia, the 35th state, and the 11th of 18 Ohio-class submarines.
The contract to build West Virginia was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 21 November 1983 and her keel was laid down there on 24 December 1987. She was launched at Electric Boat in Groton Connecticut on 14 October 1989, sponsored by Mrs. Erma Byrd, wife of United States Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, and commissioned on 20 October 1990, in the dry-dock of the Kings Bay Georgia Submarine Base, with Captain J. R. Harvey in command of the Blue Crew and Captain Donald McDermott in command of the Gold Crew.
West Virginia is based at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia.
On 29 December 2008, Captain Daniel Mack, commander of Submarine Squadron 16/20, relieved West Virginia's commanding officer, Commander Charles "Tony" Hill, of command "due to a loss of confidence" in Hill's ability to command. Captain Stephen Gillespie was assigned as West Virginia's temporary commanding officer.
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