080503-N-2888Q-044 WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 3, 2008) Crew members render salutes as they officially bring the newest Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) to life during her commissioning ceremony. North Carolina is the fourth Virginia-class submarine to be commissioned and the first major U.S. Navy combatant vessel class designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind. North Carolina will be homeported in Groton, Conn., as a member of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Lucy M. Quinn (Released)
The VIRGINIA Class SSN’s are some incredible boats, with innovative design features.
I hope we build enough of them…
is this going to be one of those all-female boats?
If so, can I please make a totally innocent “women drivers” without someone getting huffy and offended?
Dude…you should tread carefully. I don’t think anyone in the AF has any room to talk, especially the folks who spend their time in tubes.
The answer to your question is NO. Like all submarines, the crew is all male…
And submarines should stay all male.
That said the practice of naming submarines for states still bothers me. Large ships should be named for states-like battelships we should still be building, but at the least cruisers. It is actually a shame the way the Navy’s naming conventions have gotten bastardized.
Skippy – no shit. I know the Phibian has discussed naming conventions extensively, and I agree that they way they are doing it now really sucks.
I think it was great for SSBN’s to have state names, but you’re right, attack subs…
Yeah, I concur… cool boat… crappy name. Cities were okay, I guess, but whatever happened to naming attack boats after fish? There were some really cool ones, with really great combat records from WW2… Tang… Growler…. etc.
Who’s runnin’ the show nowadays anyway? My vote is for BullNav for CNO ’08!!
You’re a shoe-in… so long as you don’t have a loud-mouthed former Marine as a pastor…. ha!!
“whatever happened to naming attack boats after fish?
Fish don’t vote.
But then you have the case of Olympia, WA, who has declared their city a “nuclear free zone” and want nothing to do with with their namesake SSN.
No, we should have stayed with battles (TICONDEROGA class), Naval HEROES (most of the FFG7 and DDG51), and yes, FISH. Sure fish don’t vote, but what about the tradition of the TANG, WAHOO, BARB, GROWLER, PARCHE…?
please BN, I make fun of the Air Force more than anyone. But, being a Navy brat, I feel morally obligated to make fun of the new PC fun-boats.
John, you need to get underway on one so we can make a man out of you…:)
hahaha!
I’m partial to the Batfish.
http://www.ussbatfish.com/