USS New Mexico (SSN-779) is a nuclear powered fast-attack submarine of the United States Navy. She is the second U.S. warship named for the 47th state, after the early twentieth century super-dreadnought<u>,</u> USS New Mexico (BB-40).

New Mexico is the sixth vessel of her class, which is intended to replace the older Los Angeles-class. She represents the most advanced submarine model in the U.S. Navy, incorporating the latest technologies in stealth, propulsion, intelligence gathering, and weaponry. New Mexico is designed to carry out a wide variety of blue water and littoral operations, including anti-ship warfare, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Commissioned in March 2010, New Mexico has undertaken several naval exercises and deployments. In March 2014, New Mexico became the first Virginia-class submarine to surface at the North Pole. Her homeport is Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

Construction

New Mexico is the Navy's sixth Virginia-class submarine. Construction was awarded on 14 August 2003 to Northrop Grumman Newport News, which built the submarine through a joint agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB).

Construction began in January 2004 at the Electric Boat Corporation, Groton, Connecticut and Quonset Point, Rhode Island facilities, for the construction of the straight sections. The individual components were shipped to Newport News for final assembly. She was christened on 13 December 2008, with Cindy Giambastiani, the boat's sponsor and wife of Admiral Edmund Giambastiani. Representative Heather Wilson of the First Congressional District of New Mexico was present as the keynote speaker.

New Mexico was launched on 18 January 2009 and originally scheduled for delivery in August 2009. The date of delivery was pushed back to November and the planned commissioning date postponed to early 2010 after mechanical problems were found with her torpedo room weapons-handling system. New Mexico completed builder's trials at the end of November 2009 and was delivered on 29 December 2009, four months ahead of the contract delivery date. She was commissioned on 27 March 2010.

Operational history

thumb|left|Guided video tour of USS New Mexico in 2020

In February 2012, New Mexico rendezvoused with Royal Navy submarine underwater in the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center, Bahamas, for a series of war games. Present aboard each submarine were the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope and the head of the United States Navy, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert in a historic underwater meeting between the leaders of both navies.

Ship's crest

The crest of New Mexico was designed in January 2007 by Emilee L. Sena, a senior at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her winning design was chosen by the submarine's crew out of 180 submissions from schools throughout the state.

The design incorporates an image of a New Mexico sunset, which casts the Sandia Mountains in the pink shade for which they are named. The red in the upper right corner represents the red in the U.S. flag, which symbolizes valor and the blood that has been sacrificed in battle. The blue in the lower left corner represents the blue of the American flag, symbolizing justice, vigilance, and perseverance. The Zia symbol represents the state flag, as well as the prominence of the sun in New Mexico; the emblem is unique in reflecting the influence of Native American people in New Mexico, as the design is commonly found in indigenous art, such as blankets and pots.

References

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases.

  • USS New Mexico (SSN-779) website – New Mexico Council, Navy League of the United States.
  • USS New Mexico (SSN 779) page – Northrop Grumman