The last Missouri, a legendary battleship, saw action in World War II, the Korean War, the Persian Gulf War, and was also the site where Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and many other U.S. and Allied officers accepted the unconditional surrender of the Japanese at the end of World War II Sept. 2, 1945.
PCU Missouri (SSN 780), the Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine, was christened during a ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CT on December 5th. The Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates were among the many dignitaries and guests who attended the ceremony.
Becky Gates, wife of the secretary of defense, serves as ship's sponsor. She broke the traditional champagne bottle against the boat's sail. Her initials were welded into a plaque inside the boat during last year's keel laying ceremony.
The christening marks another milestone for the submarine, which is "now 90 percent complete with construction and is on track to finish $72 million under budget and well ahead of scheduled," according to director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Adm. Kirkland H. Donald.
The seventh Virginia-class submarine, Missouri is built to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Adept at operating in both the world's shallow littoral regions and deep waters, Missouri will directly enable five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence.
Missouri is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2010 and begin her missions.
The 7,800-ton Missouri is being built under a teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Newport News. She is 377-feet long, has a 34-foot beam and will be able to dive to depths of greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. Missouri is designed with a nuclear reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship – reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.