Delaware may not have a national park, but an undersea vessel will one day bear the name of the First State.U.S. Sens. Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Congressman John Carney (all D-Del.) welcomed the announcement of the naming of the naval submarine, the USS Delaware.
In May, Delaware’s Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Naval Secretary Ray Mabus to encourage him to name a submarine after the state of Delaware following a letter to the editor that appeared in the News Journal encouraging the delegation to take up the cause of getting this vessel named after the state.
“This is an important day for Delaware as we welcome the USS Delaware to our proud family,” said Carper, a 23-year veteran of the Navy. “It is a great source of joy to me that the vessel that will bear the name of Delaware will be one of the most state-of-the-art submarines in the world. If we want to continue to protect our military might and protect our shipping lanes so that we can conduct commerce around the world, we are going to need fast attack submarines like the USS Delaware. ”
“Delaware’s rich naval tradition has played a significant role in our nation’s history and it is an honor to see it recognized with the naming of the USS Delaware,” Coons said. “This submarine will not only serve as a state-of-the-art component of our national security, but as a symbol honoring all Delawareans who have served our country. Secretary Mabus has my thanks and the brave men who will one day serve on the Delaware have my deepest respect and gratitude.”
“Today is a great day for Delaware, particularly for our veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces,” said Carney. “Many Delawareans have proudly served in the United States Navy, and naming this state-of-the-art submarine the USS Delaware is a tribute to their dedication and sacrifice. I’m very proud that this vessel, which will play an important role in maintaining the nation’s defense and strengthening the economy, will bear the name of our state.”
The Delaware will be part of the Virginia class of attack submarines and will be built at an estimated cost of $2 billion.
The last USS Delaware was a battleship that served in World War I. It was scrapped in the 1920s.
