WASHINGTON - The US Navy christened its newest attack submarine, New Mexico on Dec. 13 during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va.
U.S. Rep. Heather A. Wilson of New Mexico delivered the ceremony’s principal address.
Designated SSN 779, New Mexico is named in recognition of the people of the ‘Land of Enchantment’. The submarine began construction under a unique teaming arrangement between Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat in 2004. The battleship New Mexico (BB-40) (1918-1946), the only other ship named after the 47th state, earned six battle stars for World War II service, which included providing shore bombardment support for landings in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and at Guam, Tinian, Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa.
Congrats to Cmdr. Mark A. Prokopius, a native of Seven Hills, Ohio, who is the prospective commanding officer.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
PEARL HARBOR - USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the first operational Trident guided-missile submarine, pulled into Naval Station Pearl Harbor, before returning to its homeport of Bangor, Wash., from its maiden deployment.
The submarine departed Naval Base Kitsap, Oct. 14, 2007, for its maiden deployment, which began a month ahead of schedule. Claiming many firsts, Ohio was the first Trident guided-missile submarine to complete an equator and prime meridian crossing, the first to achieve SEAL/diver dry deck shelter certification, the first to complete three highly-successful national tasking missions and the first to earn two Navy Expeditionary Medals.
Another memorable event during Ohio’s maiden deployment was the burial at sea of a veteran of World War II. Ohio crew member Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SS) Jason Witty spread the ashes of his grandfather, Eugene Stanley Morgan, in the Philippine Sea, honoring Morgan’s request to be buried with his shipmates of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Morgan was one of 316 survivors of the sinking of the cruiser on July 30, 1945.
Ohio, the first Trident submarine ever built, returned to the fleet February 2006 after a $250 million, year-long refueling and a $750 million, two-year conversion from a ballistic missile submarine. With this conversion, Ohio and the subsequent convert submarines provide the fleet with the ability to quickly embark and deploy to provide command and control functions for special operations forces and a large volume, (as in approx. 154 TLAMs), strike platform in its operating theater.
Go NAVY! 
