Navy to Commission Attack Submarine Texas

Navy to Commission Attack Submarine Texas
Washington D.C. -- (NNS)
August 25, 2006 -- The Navy will commission the USS Texas, second ship of the
Virginia attack submarine class, Sept. 9, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at the
Port of Galveston piers in Galveston, Texas.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kelvin Edwards
As the Navy's next-generation attack submarine, the
Virginia-class submarine is the first class specifically designed to counter
post-Cold War threats, providing the Navy with the capabilities required for
safeguarding the nation’s interests in the 21st century.
Texas has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance
capabilities and special warfare enhancements that enable it to meet the Navy's
multimission requirements. With a modular design, Texas along with its other
sister submarines of the Virginia class, will be able to accommodate technology
upgrades throughout its life.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Laura
Bush, first lady of the United States, serves as the ship’s sponsor. In the
time-honored tradition of commissioning U.S. naval ships, she has been invited
to give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”
This is the fourth ship of the Navy to carry the name Texas since the original
ship was commissioned in 1895. The second USS Texas (BB 35) was a battleship,
which took part in both World Wars. The most recent ship named Texas was a
nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser (CGN 39), which was decommissioned in
1977.
Texas can attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles
and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters and
other sea forces. Texas also has superior anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare
capabilities, is able to provide special forces delivery and support, and can
conduct mine delivery and minefield mapping. With enhanced communications
connectivity, Texas will also provide important joint task force support and
full integration into strike and expeditionary group operations.
Capt. John Litherland, a 1982 graduate of the University of Washington in
Seattle, will become the first commanding officer of the ship, leading a crew of
approximately 134 officers and enlisted sailors. Texas will be homeported in
Groton, Conn., as a unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
Texas is 377 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 34 feet, a navigational
draft of 32 feet, displaces approximately 7,800 tons submerged, can dive to
depths greater than 800 feet, and can sustain speeds of more than 25 knots when
submerged.
The ship is also designed with a reactor plant that will
not require refueling during the planned life of the ship – reducing lifecycle
costs while increasing underway time.
The superior capabilities of Texas and other Virginia-class
submarines will help ensure the Navy maintains undersea dominance well into the
21st century.
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For more information regarding the commissioning ceremony,
please contact the commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs Office
(757) 836-1650. For more information about Virginia class submarines, visit
www.subforce.navy.mil/html/texas775.html.
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