Work starts on 31st Virginia-class attack submarine
By GARY WARNER STARS AND STRIPES •
December 11, 2025
Navy Rear Adm. Casey Moton, Newport News Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson and ship sponsor Pamela Bove applaud Andrew Kahler as he welds Bove’s initials into a metal plate during the keel authentication ceremony for the future USS Barb on Dec. 9, 2025, in Newport News, Va. Moton is the program executive officer for aircraft carriers. (Ashley Cowan/Huntington Ingalls Industries) The keel was laid this week for the future USS Barb, the 31st Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, as the Navy continues to transition away from dependence on the Cold War-era Los Angeles-class attack submarines. During a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipbuilding division in Newport News, Va., on Tuesday, the first weld was watched over by Pamela Bove, the boat’s sponsor. Under Navy tradition, a woman is named the sponsor of new ships and submarines. Bove is married to Thomas Bove, the grandson of Rear Adm. Eugene “Lucky” Fluckey, who served as commander of the first USS Barb, a highly decorated World War II submarine. Bove’s initials were etched onto a metal plate, signifying the keel as being “truly and fairly laid.”
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https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-12-11/uss-barb-keel-virginia-class-submarine-20061889.htmlSource - Stars and Stripes
