CHRISTENED AT ELECTRIC BOAT
The first of a revolutionary new class of fast attack submarine, the Seawolf
will be christened at 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, June 24, 1995, at the Electric
Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut. Seawolf
will be christened by Margaret Dalton, wife of Secretary of the Navy John H.
Dalton. Mrs. Dalton will formally name the ship by breaking a bottle of
champagne over the submarine, in the age-old Navy tradition.
Secretary Dalton will be the ceremony's principal speaker. Chief of Naval
Operations Admiral Mike Boorda, will also speak.
Seawolf is a solitary fish with strong, prominent teeth and projecting tusks
that give it a savage look. Two previous ships have borne this name. The first
was SS 197 (1939-1944), which hunted Japanese shipping in the Pacific Ocean and
earned 13 battle stars during World War II. SS 197 sank 17 enemy ships. The
second was SSN 575 (1957-1987), which logged over 13,700 nautical miles without
surfacing from August to October 1958, demonstrating to the world the
independence and longevity of nuclear-powered submarines. SSN 575 operated
with USS Enterprise beginning in April of 1964, as part of the world's first
nuclear-powered task force.
Currently, two Seawolf Class submarines have been authorized by Congress for
construction. Attack submarines are a vital part of the Navy's "Forward ...From
the Sea" doctrine, bringing to bear proven shallow water operational
capabilities including mine warfare, covert coastal surveillance and
intelligence gathering, operations with special forces, and combat search and
rescue. The submarine's ability to strike targets at, below and beyond the
water's surface make it a potent asset in the nation's arsenal. Seawolf is
also equipped with the Tomahawk cruise missile system for a significant land
attack and strike capability.
The ship is 353 feet long, has a beam of 36 feet and displaces approximately
9,137 tons submerged. Seawolf will carry a crew of 12 officers and 121
Sailors.
Media wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Mr. Dan Barrett, General
Dynamics Corporation, Electric Boat Division, at (203) 433-8202.
