Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced last week the naming of the next five Virginia-class (SSN-774) attack submarines.
The submarines have been designated the USS Illinois (SSN-786), USS Washington (SSN-787), USS Colorado (SSN-788), USS Indiana (SSN-789) and USS South Dakota (SSN-790), the Pentagon said.
“Each of these five states serves as home to military bases that support our national defense and provides men and women who volunteer to serve their country,” Mabus said. “I look forward to these submarines joining the fleet and representing these great states around the world.”
None of the states have had a ship named for them in more than 49 years, the Pentagon said.
Mabus’ selection mark the second time a ship has been named after Illinois, and the third times for Washington, Colorado, Indiana and South Dakota.
“Now these states will represent the latest and greatest technology ever assembled to submerge below the surface and project power forward,” Mabus said.
The Virginia-class subs are built by Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia, and General Dynamics [GD] Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. All of the ships in the class are named after states.