Naming your NavyBy Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 6, 2008 7:15:45 EDT
Oct. 13 marks 233 years since the Continental Congress authorized the use of armed ships to harass British shipments of arms to North America — the birth of the U.S. Navy.
Beginning with those wooden sailing ships and continuing to today’s nuclear-powered giants, the Navy has applied the names of thousands of people, places, concepts and fish to its vessels over the centuries.
Some of the names are classics — Constellation, Essex, Enterprise — making consistent appearances in the fleet down the years. Some of the names have taken on a mystique after the exploits of the ships that bore them — Missouri, Parche, Samuel B. Roberts. A few are synonymous with sacrifice — Arizona, Johnston, Cole.
For all of its great ship names, the Navy needs more. The service plans to keep each of its cruisers and destroyers in service for 35 years, meaning it could be 2021 before there can be another Bunker Hill, for example, or 2026 before another ship can be named Arleigh Burke. In the meantime, the Navy needs names for two more San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, two Zumwalt-class destroyers, eight new Burkes, at least six Virginia-class submarines, two Ford-class carriers and 53 littoral combat ships.
Rest of article at:
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_birthday_100608w/%2euhc comment: These boys think BIG!
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In the meantime, the Navy needs names for two more San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks ($500,000,000 each) , two Zumwalt-class destroyers ($10 +billion each), eight new Burkes, at least six Virginia-class submarines ($2.5 billion each), two Ford-class carriers ($11.5 billion each) and 53 littoral combat ships ($600,000,000 each).