NAVY'S NEWEST ATTACK SUBMARINE GREENEVILLE (SSN 772) TO BE COMMISSIONED AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
The Navy will commission its newest attack submarine, Greeneville (SSN 772),
in a ceremony at 11 a.m., Friday, February 16, 1996, at Norfolk Naval Base,
Norfolk, Virginia.
Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee will be the principal speaker at the ceremony.
Mrs. Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, is Greeneville's sponsor and
will attend the ceremony. She christened the submarine during ceremonies
September 17, 1994.
Among the honored guests at the ceremony will be Secretary of the Navy John H.
Dalton; Representative James H. Quillen; the Honorable G. Thomas Love, Mayor,
Greeneville, Tennessee; Admiral William J. Flanagan, Jr., Commander in Chief
U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Vice Admiral George W. Emery, Commander, Submarine Force,
U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Commander, Submarine Allied Command, Atlantic; Rear Admiral
Richard A. Buchanan, Commander, Submarine Group Two; Rear Admiral Robert E.
Frick, Program Executive Officer for Submarines, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition); and
Mr. William P. Fricks, President and Chief Operating Officer, Newport News
Shipbuilding.
Greeneville (SSN 772) honors a town in northeast Tennessee which is named for
Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene. No other U.S. Navy ships have
borne this name.
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. Further, the
submarine's ability to strike targets at, below and beyond the water's surface
makes it a potent asset in the nation's arsenal.
Greeneville is the 61st of 62 Los Angeles-class submarines authorized for
construction
by Congress and the second to the last of this class to be built at Newport
News Shipbuilding. The ship is equipped with the Tomahawk cruise missile system
for a significant land attack and strike capability. Greeneville is an
improved version of the Los Angeles Class, with a hardened sail and retractable
bow planes for surfacing through the ice during Arctic missions. Greeneville
is 360 feet long, has a diameter of 33 feet and will displace 6,900 tons
submerged. The ship will carry a crew of 126 Sailors and 16 officers.
Commander Duane B. Hatch, USN, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, will be the
ship's commanding officer.
Media wishing to attend the ceremony should contact the Atlantic Fleet
Submarine Force Public Affairs Office in Norfolk, Virginia, at (804)
444-4848.
