Attack Sub Texas Comissioned

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 804-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2006
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

Navy Commissions Attack Submarine Texas

The Navy will commission the USS Texas, second ship of the Virginia attack
submarine class, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at the Port
of Galveston piers in Galveston, Texas.

As the Navy's next-generation attack submarine, the Virginia-class submarine is the
first class specifically designed to counter post-Cold War threats, providing the
Navy with the capabilities required for safeguarding the nation's interests in the
21st century.

Texas has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special
warfare enhancements that enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.
With a modular design, Texas along with its other sister submarines of the
Virginia-class, will be able to accommodate technology upgrades throughout its
life.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Laura
Bush, first lady of the United States, serves as the ship's sponsor. In the
time-honored tradition of commissioning U.S. naval ships, she has been invited to
give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

This is the fourth ship of the Navy to carry the name Texas since the original ship
was commissioned in 1895. The second USS Texas was a battleship, which took part in
both World Wars. The most recent ship named Texas was a nuclear-powered guided
missile cruiser, which was decommissioned in 1977.

Texas can attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and
conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters and other sea
forces. Texas also has superior anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare capabilities,
is able to provide special forces delivery and support, and can conduct mine
delivery and minefield mapping. With enhanced communications connectivity, Texas
will also provide important joint task force support and full integration into
strike and expeditionary group operations.

Capt. John Litherland, a 1982 graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle,
will become the first commanding officer of the ship, leading a crew of
approximately 134 officers and enlisted sailors. Texas will be homeported in
Groton, Conn., as a unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Texas is 377 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 34 feet, a navigational draft
of 32 feet, displaces approximately 7,800 tons submerged, can dive to depths
greater than 800 feet, and can sustain speeds of more than 25 knots when submerged.

The ship is also designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling
during the planned life of the ship - reducing lifecycle costs while increasing
underway time.

The superior capabilities of Texas and other Virginia-class submarines will help
ensure the Navy maintains undersea dominance well into the 21st century.

For more information regarding the commissioning ceremony, please contact the
commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs Office (757) 836-1650. For more
information about Virginia class submarines, visit
http://www.subforce.navy.mil/html/texas775.html .