Newport News Shipbuilding successfully launched Indiana (SSN 789) into the James River June 3-4. The submarine was moved out of a construction facility into a floating dry dock using a transfer car system.

I remember when I was a kid, I was in the NJROTC (Navy Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps). Our group visited a submarine base in King’s Bay, near Valdosta, Georgia. We stepped aboard a Trident class missile attack submarine. It was called the Benjamin Franklin. The bridge was like a spaceship. It was also being resupplied by the submarine tender on the starboard side. Among those supplies were torpedoes. A seaman scared us by jumping onto one. Thank God it was unarmed. A seaman told me “Don’t ever get on any of these boats.” I asked him why. He told me, “Because you won’t see the sun and you won’t see any women.” That was back in the early 80’s.

Many years ago it was my honor, after security clearance, to be invited to the launching of a Santa Fee class Nuclear submarine in Groton Conn.. We were allowed to walk through the interior construction facility, were other subs were in various phases of construction. The technology on display we beyond mind-bending. I had never seen anything outside of NASA at this level of technology. Truly amazing. btw: The sub was launched in the dead of winter. It gracefully slide into the bay where several tugboats were awaiting.