The U.S. Navy’s newest fighting vessel, the USS Minnesota, will be christened Saturday, Oct. 27, nearly five years after construction began on the nuclear-powered submarine.

The 7,800-ton behemoth will have a bottle of champagne smashed across its hull in Newport News, Va., at which point it will officially be christened the “Minnesota,” according to the ship’s website.

The ship, a Virginia-class fast attack submarine, will officially become an active ship in the U.S. Navy when it is commissioned next summer.

USS Minnesota was the name of two previous U.S. warships: A wooden steam frigate launched in 1855 and a Connecticut-class battleship launched in 1905.

Saturday’s ceremony is not open to the public. Guests include shipbuilders and their families, Minnesota sailors and their families along with Navy and government representatives.

Huntington Ingalls Industries — a company that designs, builds and maintains ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard — will provide a live webcast of the event.

Joseph Lindberg can be reached at 651-228-5513. Follow him at twitter.com/JosephLindberg.