First Lady will christen sub in NN [Laura Bush christens USS Texas July 31]

Newport News, VA Daily Press ^ | July 20, 2004 | Peter DuJardin

[Al B.]

NEWPORT NEWS -- First lady Laura Bush will christen the shipyard's newest submarine July 31 at a morning event on the banks of the James River, Northrop Grumman Newport News said Monday. The Texas, known as SSN (submersible ship nuclear) 775, is the second boat in the Virginia class, a new group of nuclear-powered attack submarines that eventually could consist of 30 ships. That boat is the first of the class to be getting its christening in Newport News. During the traditional event, which celebrates the official naming of the submarine as the Texas, Lone Star State native Laura Bush will strike a champagne bottle against the boat's hull. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) will deliver the keynote address.

higher resolution image The Texas made its first voyage – on land – Saturday, July 17 as part of its roll-out from the Modular Outfitting Facility in preparation for the July 31 christening ceremony. Photo by Chris Oxley

[Al B.]

This is the first submarine christening in 9 yrs. at Newport News.

The last, the USS Cheyenne in 1995, was a nighttime affair accompanied by fireworks and a laser light show.

[Max Combined]

USS or SSN?

[ladtx]

A question for all you squids out there. How come a sub can be called a boat but all the other surface vessels are ships? If I were to call a carrier a "boat" all my navy buddies get all over me.

That boat is the first of the class to be getting its christening in Newport News.

[Al B.]

Technically at this point, it's just the Texas.

Once the ship is officially commissioned into the Navy, it will be the USS Texas.

[TXBSAFH]

The fourth ship to have the proud name of the Lone Star State. Long and faithfully may she serve, and bring her crew home with honor. DON'T MESS WITH (USS) TEXAS!!!!

[Jonah Hex]

By tradition, any vessel normally carried aboard another ship is called a boat. The early subs were too small and short-legged to self-deploy overseas; therefore they were loaded aboard regular ships for transport to their op areas. Since the Navy takes pride in over two hundred years of tradition unhampered by progress, we still call them "boats".

A real bubblehead will tell you however there's no such thing as ships, just targets.

:-)

[Thermalseeker]

I wonder if it will be ready on time? Looking at the picture it seems like there is a lot of people just standing around. Looks like a DOT or phone company project....

[submarine571]

Boat's are small and can be hauled aboard a ship. Submarine's were so small at one time that they quite probably could have been hauled aboard say, an aircraft carrier. It is also a term of endearment to refer to a submarine as a boat. Those of us who served in submarines, (I served in three), loved them and served proudly.

[submarine571]

As a real "bubblehead" I will tell you this: There are TWO kinds of ships...submarines, and targets!

[martin_fierro]

So is it a hunter-killer? Boomer?

Looks too small to be the latter.

Someone help out this landlubber.

[Al B.]

I wonder if it will be ready on time?

She's about ready to go in the water (pressure hull was finished last year), but it'll be a year or more before she leaves the shipyard and is delivered to the Navy.

The christening ceremony is traditionally when ships are floated for the first time.

[Jonah Hex]

Roger that!

:-)

(qualified EDO on S5W/S6G/A4W, and now work for the Army!)

[Jonah Hex]

She's a fast-attack boat (i.e. not a boomer).

[ladtx]

As a real "bubblehead" I will tell you this: There are TWO kinds of ships...submarines, and targets!

Sounds like the saying we had when I flew Chinooks. There are two kinds of aircraft...Chinooks and slingloads!

[tarawa]

Fast Attacks are SSN, Boomers are SSBN. All the Virginia class boats are SSNs.

By the way.... "targets" are also what I hear those P-3 crews called subs.... hehehe....

[Txslady]

Texas SSN 775

[submarine571]

It's a "Fast Attack" submarine. AKA "Hunter Killer." Designed primarily to hunt and kill other submarines, and surface ships, AKA "Skimmers!"

[Txslady]

ping!

[thirst4truth]

My son served on the USS Alaska. It is called a boat. Thats what he was taught in sub school that's what all the crew called it.
Did you know the US has 18 nuclear subs, the big boys, not the attack subs. And on each sub are 24 missle's and each missle can hold up to 14 nuclear warheads?

[ken5050]

Question for ya, if you please..I know the Navy's policy, ( or lack of) on naming ships is, shall we say..somewhere between "complex" and "screwed-up"..( I still can't get over the "JImmy Carter"..but when did they stop with the "city" names for subs and revert to "state" names..the former territory of BBs?..Thanks.