Navy chief says US ready to accept newest sub

GROTON, Conn. (AP) — The Navy's top officer says it is ready to accept its newest submarine from the shipyard of contractor Electric Boat.

Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, praised the division of General Dynamics Corp. for delivering the vessel under budget and a year ahead of schedule. He said it's "probably our best program out there."

Greenert toured the submarine on Wednesday and pinned dolphin insignias on crew members' uniforms.

The Virginia class attack submarine will be commissioned as the USS Mississippi at a ceremony in Mississippi in June.

Electric Boat began work last year producing two Virginia-class attack submarines annually with a Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, Va. The company also has been working on the design of submarines to replace the aging Ohio-class submarines.

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