The USS Arkansas (SSN 800)

The USS Arkansas nose cover.

Looking up at the USS Arkansas nose cover in the ceiling.

Looking up at the USS Arkansas nose cover from directly below.

Arkansas (SSN 800) Christening Bottle Break

On December 7, 2024, the U.S. Navy christened the USS Arkansas (SSN-800), a Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine, at HII-Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. The ceremony took place on the 83rd anniversary of Pearl Harbor, honoring both tradition and the state’s proud legacy. The submarine’s sponsors are six members of the Little Rock Nine—women whose courage helped desegregate Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Representing the group at the ceremony were Carlotta Walls LaNier, Elizabeth Eckford, and Gloria Ray Karlmark, with LaNier performing the traditional bottle-breaking to officially christen the vessel. Speakers, including Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and U.S. Representative French Hill, highlighted the submarine’s advanced capabilities and the spirit of unity it represents.