Lauren King
The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
It's been months since shipbuilders tightened the final bolts and completed the last welds on the Navy's newest fast-attack submarine, the New Mexico.
The Aztec-print curtains were hung on the sailors' racks and the sub's cooks trained in preparing authentic New Mexican cuisine. And last fall, the underwater war fighter passed its sea tria ls, a vigorous set of tests that cleared the way for the Navy to take ownership of the sub at the end of December.
But the final piece didn't fall into place for the New Mexico' s new Navy career until Saturday, when the ship's sponsor, Cindy Giambastiani, gave the order: "Officers and crew of USS New Mexico, man our ship and bring her to life!"
With that cue, the crew of about 130 ran onto the submarine, marking its official entry into active service.
The Navy commissioned the New Mexico, the sixth submarine in the Virginia class, Saturday morning during a pier side ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station. The event drew about 3,000 people, including Navy brass, legislators, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the crew's families.
A contingent of proud New Mexicans, including legislators, Boy Scouts and veterans, were also in attendance.
The $2.3 billion submarine took more than five years to complete and is the most technologically advanced in the fleet. For the next 30 years, it will patrol the seas, collecting intelligence, doing surveillance, taking part in special operations, and engaging in anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, among other missions.
"Fast-attack submarines like the New Mexico strike fear in the minds of our adversaries," said U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Virginia Beach Democrat.
Added Vice Adm. Jay Donnelly, the commissioning officer and Submarine Forces commander: "New Mexico is an investment by the American taxpayer in an uncertain world to protecting the freedoms we cherish."
The submarine is the second Navy vessel to bear the name New Mexico. During World War II, the battleship New Mexico earned six battle stars. It was decommissioned in 1946.
F or the past decade, New Mexicans have fought for another vessel, said Dick Brown, chairman of the New Mexico commissioning committee.
"Even though we're a long way away in New Mexico and we'll never get the sub up the Rio Grande to visit us, this is very important to us and we're very happy," he said. "It's just a great honor for the state of New Mexico."
Ken and Coni Groves traveled from the "Land of Enchantment" for the ceremony. Ken Groves retired from the Navy in 1986.
"We are very proud to have the sixth ship in the class named after our state," Ken Groves said. "We hope that the galley has a good supply of green chilies."
The sub's commissioning marked a milestone in the Virginia-class sub program. Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, which constructed the sub at its Newport News shipyard, delivered the vessel four months ahead of schedule. The last two Virginia-class subs to come out of that shipyard, the North Carolina and the Texas, were several weeks and a year late, respectively.
It took 1,300 shipbuilders 70 months to construct the New Mexico. General Dynamics Electric Boat built the engine room and control room. It cost $2.25 billion in 2004 dollars.
The New Mexico was originally slated for commissioning in November, but it was delayed because of mechanical quality issues in the torpedo room weapons-handling system.
The Virginia class includes a number of technological innovations. Extendable photonics masts with high-resolution cameras have replaced the traditional periscope. A lockout trunk allows for delivery of special forces while submerged. And a pump-jet propulsion system allows for quieter operation.
The subs can submerge below 800 feet and stay under for three months.
This summer, the submarine is scheduled to transition to its homeport of Groton, Conn., under the leadership of Cmdr. Mark Prokopius, its first commanding officer. He's been with the ship since before it left the shipyard.
Giambastiani serves as the ship's sponsor. She's the wife of retired Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and has been active in the submarine community.
Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Cooper, who's been on the sub for about three years, said he's excited to get back to work.
"You go through high points and low points. You're always getting ready for something," he said of preparing the sub for commissioning.
"I'm just ready to get back to the normalcy of submarining."
During the keynote address, Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, director of Naval Reactors, commended the crew for its hard work leading up to Saturday's ceremony.
"You've established a record of excellence in the short life of this ship," he said.
"Today, the New Mexico starts living up to its motto," Donald said. "Defendemos Nuestra Tierra: We defend our land."
Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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new mexico
What about the Rio Grande surfers?
"Fast-attack submarines like
"Fast-attack submarines like the New Mexico strike fear in the minds of our adversaries," said U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Virginia Beach Democrat.
Would like unlike the fear in the minds of the terrorists who commit suicide?
New Mexico
New Mexicans????
What about the old Mexicans?
What about the old Mexicans?
Eyes bigger than our wallets
We're not going to be a super power much longer if we keep running these huge deficits. Economic weakness will result in military weakness.
"It is amusing to see the
"It is amusing to see the Republican party inveigh against health insurance reform as if they were a synod of Presbyterian necromancers girding the nation for a takeover by the spawn of hell. This was the same gang, by the way, who championed the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, then regarded as the most reckless giveaway of public funds in human history. Along the way, they enlisted an army of nay-sayers representing everything dark, disgraceful, and ignorant in the American character. If the Republicans keep going this way, they'll end up with something worse than Naziism: a party that hates everything but believes in absolutely nothing."
That's exactly why this
That's exactly why this health care plan is going to hurt the economy.
The Virginia Class has been ahead of schedule and under budget the entire time.
Our Freedom is crucial
Having the Military we have is a Huge deterent. My family and I are thankful for that.We can worship freely. We can shop if and when we want. We can put up with people that want a Healthcare plan that you have to pay for, for about 4 years before it starts actually working. We can have neighbors that are of different faiths, races, nationalities and live in a pretty peaceful environment. I am thankful to God for this wonderful Imperfect Country and the Military we have that try's to keep this world from imploding. Appreciating the good this country does is great, protecting that ability to do that good, is even greater.
expensive boat
2.3 billion for a submarine? The military industrial complex is stronger than ever.
The Virginia Class
The Virginia Class submarines are extremely important to our national security here in the United States. They are not designed to just hunt down other submarines and surface ships. These submarines are specifically designed to aid in the deployment of Navy SEAL's. There is specialized equipment which allows the submarine to eavesdrop onto land based communications that our satellites can not even detect.
There is also the fact that countries such as India and China who are building up their armed forces at a substantial rate. Production of submarines and even aircraft carriers has sky rocketed around the world. We need these ships and their capabilities to protect us and give our nation a presence for years to come in the worlds oceans.