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USS New Mexico (SSN-779)
Encyclopedia
USS New Mexico (SSN-779), a , is the second ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the 47th state
.
in Newport News, Virginia
on 14 August 2003. She is the Navy's sixth Virginia-class submarine, has one million parts and 140 shipboard systems. The sub was built by a joint agreement between General Dynamics
Electric Boat
(GDEB) and Northrop Grumman Newport News
(NGNN). Construction began in January 2004 at the Electric Boat Corporation
, Groton, Connecticut
and Quonset Point, Rhode Island facilities, for the construction of the straight sections. The individual components were shipped to Newport News for final assembly. Her keel was laid down on 12 April 2008, and on 18 May 2008 the final hull welds were completed. She was christened on 13 December 2008, with Cindy Giambastiani (wife of Adm. Edmund Giambastiani
) the ship's sponsor, and Representative Heather Wilson
(1st District-New Mexico) the keynote speaker.
The ship was launched on 18 January 2009 and was originally scheduled for delivery in August 2009. The date of delivery was pushed back to November and the scheduled commissioning date was postponed to early 2010 after mechanical problems were found with the sub's torpedo room weapons-handling system. The sub completed builder's trials at the end of November 2009 and was delivered on 29 December 2009, four months ahead of the contract delivery date. The sub was commissioned on 27 March 2010. The sub is scheduled to be stationed in Groton, Connecticut
at Naval Submarine Base New London
.
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
. Her winning design was chosen by the crew of the New Mexico out of 180 submitted from schools throughout the state.
The design incorporates an image of a New Mexico sunset, representing the beauty that makes New Mexico the "Land of Enchantment". The Sandia Mountains
are shown at the time of the day when they demonstrate why they are called the Sandias–their pink shade. The red in the upper right corner represents the red in the US flag
, symbolizing valor and the blood that has been sacrificed in battle. The blue in the lower left corner represents the blue of the American flag, symbolizing justice, vigilance, and perseverance. The Zia symbol represents the state flag, as well as the prominence of the sun in New Mexico. The shape of the emblem is unique because it reflects the influence of the Native American
people in New Mexico, the shape is a design that can be commonly found in Native American art, such as blankets and pots.
The naval dolphins on the sides are symbols for naval submarines. They shine with a white color because they represent the white on the American flag. This color symbolizes purity and innocence. The submarine in the center represents what the USS New Mexico is–a Virginia-class submarine. It has a bow wave in front of it because it is in motion. The people on top of the ship are naval officers, holding a flag proudly for the world to see. This represents pride in the U.S. The gold in the border symbolizes courage, prosperity, wisdom, and confidence. These are all essential qualities for members of the Navy.
There is a nuclear symbol in the bottom left corner for two purposes, one to represent that the Virginia-class submarines are nuclear submarines and that a lot of nuclear development has taken place in New Mexico at Sandia National Laboratories
(SNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory
(LANL), and so this honors the people that have, and will contribute to the growth of nuclear advancements.
In honor of those who serve aboard the New Mexico, the football players of New Mexico State University
will wear the crest on the back of their helmets for the 2010 football season.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for the 47th state
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Construction
The contract to build her was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport NewsNorthrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News Shipbuilding , originally Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , was the largest privately-owned shipyard in the United States prior to being purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2001...
in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
on 14 August 2003. She is the Navy's sixth Virginia-class submarine, has one million parts and 140 shipboard systems. The sub was built by a joint agreement between General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
(GDEB) and Northrop Grumman Newport News
Northrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News Shipbuilding , originally Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , was the largest privately-owned shipyard in the United States prior to being purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2001...
(NGNN). Construction began in January 2004 at the Electric Boat Corporation
Electric Boat Corporation
The General Dynamics Electric Boat is a division of General Dynamics Corporation. It has been the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy for over 100 years....
, Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
and Quonset Point, Rhode Island facilities, for the construction of the straight sections. The individual components were shipped to Newport News for final assembly. Her keel was laid down on 12 April 2008, and on 18 May 2008 the final hull welds were completed. She was christened on 13 December 2008, with Cindy Giambastiani (wife of Adm. Edmund Giambastiani
Edmund Giambastiani
Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr. is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2005 to 2007.He retired in 2007, completing over 37 years of military service.-Military career:...
) the ship's sponsor, and Representative Heather Wilson
Heather Wilson
Heather A. Wilson , is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing from 1998 to 2009...
(1st District-New Mexico) the keynote speaker.
The ship was launched on 18 January 2009 and was originally scheduled for delivery in August 2009. The date of delivery was pushed back to November and the scheduled commissioning date was postponed to early 2010 after mechanical problems were found with the sub's torpedo room weapons-handling system. The sub completed builder's trials at the end of November 2009 and was delivered on 29 December 2009, four months ahead of the contract delivery date. The sub was commissioned on 27 March 2010. The sub is scheduled to be stationed in Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
at Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
.
Command
Commander Mark A. Prokopius assumed command of New Mexico following her placement in active service on 27 March 2010. Currently Commander George Perez is the boat's Commanding Officer after relieving in October 2010.Ship's crest
The crest of New Mexico was designed by Emilee Sena, a senior at St. Pius X High SchoolSt. Pius X High School (Albuquerque)
St. Pius X High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was established in 1956. It is administered in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe....
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. Her winning design was chosen by the crew of the New Mexico out of 180 submitted from schools throughout the state.
The design incorporates an image of a New Mexico sunset, representing the beauty that makes New Mexico the "Land of Enchantment". The Sandia Mountains
Sandia Mountains
The Sandia Mountains name posu gai hoo-oo, "where water slides down arroyo") are a mountain range located in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, immediately to the east of the city of Albuquerque in New Mexico in the southwestern United States. The range is largely within the Cibola National...
are shown at the time of the day when they demonstrate why they are called the Sandias–their pink shade. The red in the upper right corner represents the red in the US flag
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
, symbolizing valor and the blood that has been sacrificed in battle. The blue in the lower left corner represents the blue of the American flag, symbolizing justice, vigilance, and perseverance. The Zia symbol represents the state flag, as well as the prominence of the sun in New Mexico. The shape of the emblem is unique because it reflects the influence of the Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
people in New Mexico, the shape is a design that can be commonly found in Native American art, such as blankets and pots.
The naval dolphins on the sides are symbols for naval submarines. They shine with a white color because they represent the white on the American flag. This color symbolizes purity and innocence. The submarine in the center represents what the USS New Mexico is–a Virginia-class submarine. It has a bow wave in front of it because it is in motion. The people on top of the ship are naval officers, holding a flag proudly for the world to see. This represents pride in the U.S. The gold in the border symbolizes courage, prosperity, wisdom, and confidence. These are all essential qualities for members of the Navy.
There is a nuclear symbol in the bottom left corner for two purposes, one to represent that the Virginia-class submarines are nuclear submarines and that a lot of nuclear development has taken place in New Mexico at Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories
The Sandia National Laboratories, managed and operated by the Sandia Corporation , are two major United States Department of Energy research and development national laboratories....
(SNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
(LANL), and so this honors the people that have, and will contribute to the growth of nuclear advancements.
In honor of those who serve aboard the New Mexico, the football players of New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
will wear the crest on the back of their helmets for the 2010 football season.
External links
- USS New Mexico (SSN-779) website - New Mexico Council, Navy League of the United States.
- USS New Mexico (SSN 779) page - Northrop GrummanNorthrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...