The U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, hosted a ship-naming ceremony at the Western Idaho Fair on Saturday to announce that SSN 799, a Virginia-class attack submarine, will bear the name USS Idaho.
The future USS Idaho will be the fifth naval vessel to bear the name. The last Idaho was a New Mexico-class battleship launched on June 30, 1917 and saw action in World War II.
The Maritime Executive reports Virginia-class attack submarines provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy. They have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable them to meet the Navy’s multi-mission requirements.
