USS Arizona Name, Memory Lives

[elektra]

In a keel laying ceremony in Rhode Island today, on the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor...

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Arizona (SSN 803)​

Arizona (SSN 803) will be the first U.S. Navy warship to carry the name Arizona since the loss of the battleship USS Arizona (BB 39) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

This is the granddaughter of one of the survivors, the boat's sponser. She is welding her initials on a plaque that is mounted in the boat.

A great day today, indeed. And yes, I am here, a honor to be an American.

 

[elektra]

Keven Grainey is the President of Electric Boat, which builds our submarines.

 

[1srelluc]

Well I guess a Virginia Class SSN is about as close in projected power you can get to a BB.

 

[whitehall]

Why can't they just retire the name? It's kind of insulting to name a new submarine after a WW2 battleship that is still technically commissioned.

 

[Mushroom]

Why can't they just retire the name? It's kind of insulting to name a new submarine after a WW2 battleship that is still technically commissioned.

I agree with the sentiment, and believe that the name should be "officially retired".

However, it is not in commission. She was decommissioned on 29 December 1941, and stricken on 1 December 1942. That is the final step that removes the name of a ship from the Naval Register, and can then be used again.