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New Virginia-class attack submarine will be named ‘USS Missouri'
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By Bob Watson
bwatson@newstribune.com
The U.S. Navy said this week it will launch a new submarine, to be named the “USS Missouri.”
A Navy Web site shows construction on the Virginia-class attack submarine, SSN-780, actually began in December 2004.
The Navy said it also would build two other submarines, to be named the “USS California” (SSN-781) and the “USS Mississippi” (SSN-782).
It will have a 134-person crew: 14 officers and 120 enlisted sailors.
In its news release, the Navy said: “These next-generation attack submarines will provide the Navy with the capabilities it requires to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. They will have improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.”
U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said in a news release the new “Missouri” will be the fourth naval vessel with that name.
“I am absolutely pleased that another ‘Mighty Mo' will be joining the Navy's fleet, this time in the silent service,” Skelton said. “The name ‘Missouri' has a distinguished naval history. The first ‘USS Missouri' was a steam/sail vessel commissioned in 1842, only 21 years after Missouri was admitted to statehood.
“The second ‘USS Missouri,' a battleship commissioned in 1903, was still in active service during World War I, with my father serving on that ship in 1918.
“The last ‘USS Missouri,' commissioned in 1944 and known as the ‘Mighty Mo,' hosted the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay that ended World War II. This battleship also played an important role in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.”
The Navy said the new submarines “will be able to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles, and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, (shoreline) waters or other sea-based forces.”
The submarines' other missions would “include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; Special Forces delivery and support; mine delivery and minefield mapping,” the Navy's news release said. “With enhanced communications connectivity, the submarines also will provide important battle group and joint task force support, with full integration into carrier battle group operations.”
The Virginia-class submarines are larger and can travel faster than the Los Angeles class vessels, which include the “USS Jefferson City” and the “USS Columbia.”
No date was announced for the new submarines' completion and launching.
Weblink: www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4
A Navy Web site shows construction on the Virginia-class attack submarine, SSN-780, actually began in December 2004.
The Navy said it also would build two other submarines, to be named the “USS California” (SSN-781) and the “USS Mississippi” (SSN-782).
It will have a 134-person crew: 14 officers and 120 enlisted sailors.
In its news release, the Navy said: “These next-generation attack submarines will provide the Navy with the capabilities it requires to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. They will have improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.”
U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said in a news release the new “Missouri” will be the fourth naval vessel with that name.
“I am absolutely pleased that another ‘Mighty Mo' will be joining the Navy's fleet, this time in the silent service,” Skelton said. “The name ‘Missouri' has a distinguished naval history. The first ‘USS Missouri' was a steam/sail vessel commissioned in 1842, only 21 years after Missouri was admitted to statehood.
“The second ‘USS Missouri,' a battleship commissioned in 1903, was still in active service during World War I, with my father serving on that ship in 1918.
“The last ‘USS Missouri,' commissioned in 1944 and known as the ‘Mighty Mo,' hosted the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay that ended World War II. This battleship also played an important role in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.”
The Navy said the new submarines “will be able to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles, and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, (shoreline) waters or other sea-based forces.”
The submarines' other missions would “include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; Special Forces delivery and support; mine delivery and minefield mapping,” the Navy's news release said. “With enhanced communications connectivity, the submarines also will provide important battle group and joint task force support, with full integration into carrier battle group operations.”
The Virginia-class submarines are larger and can travel faster than the Los Angeles class vessels, which include the “USS Jefferson City” and the “USS Columbia.”
No date was announced for the new submarines' completion and launching.
Weblink: www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4
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Inquizitive wrote on Feb 1, 2008 6:14 AM: