TUCSON (SSN 770) AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
The City of Tucson, Arizona will be honored at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 9,
1995, at Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia, when the Los Angeles Class fast
attack submarine named in its honor will be commissioned into the fleet.
Tucson (SSN 770) also honors the previous service of a light cruiser (CL 98),
which earned a battle star for service in the Pacific during World War II.
Senator Jon L. Kyl of Arizona will be the ceremony's principal speaker. Also
attending the ceremony will be Congressman Jim Kolbe of Arizona and Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment Robert B. Pirie, Jr.
Attack submarines, with their inherent stealth, endurance and flexibility,
contribute greatly to the U.S. Navy's overall force structure. 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.
Tucson is the 59th of 62 Los Angeles class submarines authorized by Congress
to be built. The ship is equipped with the Tomahawk cruise missile system,
giving it a significant land attack and strike capability. Tucson is one of an
improved version of the Los Angeles class, having a hardened sail and
retractable bow planes for surfacing through the ice during Arctic missions.
Tucson is 360 feet in length, has a beam of 33 feet and displaces
approximately 6,900 tons submerged. The ship will carry a crew of 127 Sailors
and 14 officers. Commander Duane Martin Baker, Jr., USN, a native of Columbus,
Ohio, is the ship's prospective commanding officer.
Media wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Lieutenant Commander Greg
Smith or Senior Chief Gary Smith, Public Affairs Office, Commander, Submarine
Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia, at (804) 444-4848.
