May 25, 2015
The U.S. Navy is building a submarine that will become the third vessel named the USS New Jersey.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced Sunday that a Virginia-class attack submarine will honor the long history the Garden State shares with the Navy, Newsworks reported. The Navy's first submarine, the USS Holland, was designed and constructed in New Jersey in October 1900.
The new submarine is expected to be completed in five years.
“New Jersey’s relationship with our Navy has been defined by innovation, leadership, and courage- in conquest and in combat,” Mabus said. “The name of our newest nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine will carry on that strong tradition.”
Two battleships previously were dubbed the USS New Jersey, according to CBS New York. The latter ship, decomissioned in 1999, can be toured in Camden. The original ship served during World War I and was sunk when the U.S. Army conducted bomb tests in 1923.
The nuclear-powered submarine will be built in two halves in Groton, Conneticut and Newport, Virginia, N.J.com reported. It will become the 13th Virginia-class attack submarine in the Navy's fleet and be used for delivery of special forces, surveillance and anti-surface, anti-land and anti-submarine missions.
"We own the undersea domain thanks to submarines like these," Mabus said.
