Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus Names Virginia-Class Attack Submarine USS Illinois The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the next five Virginia-class attack submarines will be named USS Illinois, USS Washington, USS Colorado, USS Indiana and USS South Dakota.
BigNews.Biz - Apr 15,2012 - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus Names Virginia-Class Attack Submarine USS Illinois
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the next five Virginia-class attack submarines will be named USS Illinois, USS Washington, USS Colorado, USS Indiana and USS South Dakota. Mabus named the Virginia-class submarines to honor the great contributions and support each of the five states have given the military, stating the states “serve as home to military bases that support our national defense and provide men and women that volunteer to serve their country.”
“Today the United States Navy honors generations of Illinois’ sailors by naming a Virginia-class submarine the USS Illinois,” a spokesperson for Senator Kirk said. “The people of Illinois are grateful for the work our servicemen and women do. It is fitting that the latest Virginia-class submarine is named for Illinois, where the crew of this submarine will have gone through boot camp at the home of 'sailorization,' Naval Station Great Lakes.”
Illinois is among the 5 states that has not had a ship named after it for over 49 years. The selection of Illinois, designated SSN 786, is the second ship to bear the state name and is home to Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes where all sailors begin their service.
Each Virginia-class submarine weighs 7,800-tons, is 377 feet in length and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. More information can be found here.
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