CRANE, Ind. – For the first time in 70 years, a United States Naval ship will bear the name ‘Indiana’.
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jesse J. Zimbauer and Master Chief Petty Officer Lafrederick O. Herring of the new USS Indiana nuclear submarine visited Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) on Tuesday as they continue their tour around the state of Indiana.
After having lunch with Team Crane leadership, Zimbauer and Herring got the chance to hear about some of the many projects NSWC Crane is currently working on and meet some of the engineers responsible for building submarine parts, among other things.
“I’ve known about Crane for a number of years, but I’m so impressed at the depth and breadth of everything you guys are accomplishing here,” Cmdr. Zimbauer said during the luncheon.
The U.S. Navy decided to name SSN 789 for the state of Indiana on April 23, 2012, and construction officially began on May 16, 2015. The submarine is scheduled to be finished this summer.
The future USS Indiana will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land area, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping. It is also designed for special forces delivery and support.
The last time a U.S. Naval ship featured the name ‘Indiana’ was the BB 58, commissioned April 30, 1942, just four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with focus areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi-spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability, all which provide a decisive advantage for our warfighters.