Read the welcome letter from
New Hampshire's Governor Lynch
and Resolution HCR15 passed unanimously by the New Hampshire General Court
Commissioning - New Hampshire (SSN-778)
Portsmouth has been selected by the Secretary of the Navy - after competing with two other sites - as the location for the commissioning of the USS New Hampshire. Not only is it logical that the Navy's gold standard "New Hampshire" shipyard have the honor - but it is thanks to Dover schoolchildren that this submarine - the 5th in the Navy's new Virginia Class Submarine fleet - is the new Navy ship to bear the "New Hampshire" name. 
The Commissioning ceremony is a high-profile, tradition-laden event for the United States Navy. USS New Hampshire will be commissioned at the US Navy's oldest shipyard (1800), the first Navy Yard to build a submarine (1917) and the Yard with a highly symbolic link to former Asst. Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt whose birthday was originally chosen as Navy Day - October 27. The Commissioning on October 25th will attract senior Navy officers, Congressional representatives, the Governor of New Hampshire, special invited guests - and an estimated 8 - 10,000 visitors including the crew's families.
As the official hosts for the crew during the Commissioning Week, and for events leading up to that celebration the entire community is preparing to make the USS New Hampshire welcome.
USS New Hampshire completes sea trials
New Hampshire (SSN 778), the nation's newest
and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, has completed alpha and beta sea trials with
the same efficiency with which she was built. The sub returned to Electric Boat shipyard on July 31, 2008 following the successful completion of its first voyage in open seas, called alpha sea trials, and completed beta trials a short time later. New Hampshire's alpha sea trials included submerging for the first time, performing a range of submarine and propulsion-plant operations and conducting high-speed runs on the surface and underwater to demonstrate that the ship's propulsion plant is fully mission-capable. Click here for news coverage. New Hampshire will be delivered to the U.S. Navy by the end of summer.
Christening the New Hampshire (SSN-778) -- June 21, 2008
The Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine, the New Hampshire, was christened June 21st at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Conn. -- 220 years to the day of the ratification of the US Constitution by the state of New Hampshire.
Upcoming Events
NOTE: TOURS OF THE SUBMARINE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.
10/17-26 Portsmouth Community Welcomes USS New Hampshire.
Downtown merchants present first annual "Scarecrows in the Port" harvest festival, commissioning celebration and welcome to the crew and their families.
10/24/2008 Lobster Bake for SSN778 Crew and Their Families
On Jamaica Island at the Shipyard, hosted by the NH Propeller Club.
10/24/2008 Commander's Reception, Wentworth By the Sea Hotel
By invitation only. For information, contact info@ussnh.com
10/25/2008 Commissioning Ceremony, 10 am
Free public viewing from Peirce Island, Prescott Park.
10/25/2008 Commissioning Ceremony 10 am
Open to the public BY INVITATION ONLY to Register for an invitation, click here.