THE WATCH STAFF
In a first for a U.S. Navy vessel, the nuclear attack submarine USS Delaware was commissioned while underwater in 2020 as COVID-19 spread across the land.
Since then, the submarine has been in training — until Saturday, April 2, 2022.
That’s when, in a public ceremony delayed two years by the pandemic, U.S. President Joe Biden commissioned the USS Delaware, saying it would enhance national security.
The commander in chief told a crowd of invited guests and dignitaries assembled on a restricted dock in Wilmington, Delaware, that the latest Navy vessel to carry the state’s name “is part of a long tradition of serving our nation proudly and strengthening our nation’s security … not just us, but our allies and partners around the world as well. In fact, it’s already been doing that for some time,” he said, according to The Associated Press.
(Pictured: The Sailors of the USS Delaware pose for a photo with President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and distinguished guests after the commissioning ceremony.)
Despite its delay, the ceremony followed a traditional commissioning in every way, according to a story from the Navy press office. First lady Jill Biden filled the traditional role of ship’s sponsor. During the ceremony, she called for the crew to “bring (the USS Delaware) to life.” The Sailors then ran to the submarine and lined up on deck.
“This vessel will always uphold the First State’s motto of ‘liberty and independence,’ ” the first lady said, according to the Navy press office story. “It’s difficult to put into words what it means to be a part of the USS Delaware family. It’s an incredible honor that I take seriously. I’ve seen the heart of this crew and it makes me proud and humbled to be your shipmate for life.”
After the ceremony, the president took a private tour of the Delaware.
The commissioning came after Biden announced a budget blueprint that proposes spending U.S. $795 billion on defense, which would mean an increase for the Pentagon.
The USS Delaware is the 18th Virginia-class submarine built, as well as the eighth and final Block III Virginia-class sub. The Block III subs are notable for replacing 12 vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) with two larger, 87-inch diameter launch tubes, capable of carrying larger payloads, among other advancements, according to the Navy.
The sub, which is 377 feet long, carries a crew of 136 Sailors. It can dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds of more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed to operate for more than three decades without needing to refuel, according to the Navy.
This is the first time in a century the name “Delaware” has been used for a Navy vessel, according to a Defense Department statement, and marks the seventh naval ship named after the state that Biden represented in the U.S. Senate for 36 years. The first ship to be named Delaware was a 24-gun frigate launched in July 1776, the month the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, according to the Navy.
Cmdr. Matthew Horton, commanding officer of the Delaware, told the attendees that his vessel followed in the proud wake of the battleship Delaware, which also visited the Port of Wilmington 112 years ago to celebrate commissioning.
“USS Delaware stands before you as the ideal ship,” Horton said, according to the Navy press office story. “Limitless in range; unmatched in power, precision, and stealth. Her engineering renders her nearly undetectable; her sensors reveal the presence of any foes. Capable of dominating across the spectrum of warfare, she excels in all her assigned missions.”
The Navy describes fast-attack submarines as multimission platforms enabling five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities: sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence.
IMAGE CREDIT: SPC. 2ND CLASS T. LOGAN KEOWN
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