Washington, DC -- House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) commended the Secretary of the Navy for announcing that a new Virginia class attack submarine will be named the USS Missouri (SSN-780).

 “I want to thank Navy Secretary Donald Winter for his decision to give the name USS Missouri to one of our nation’s new Virginia class attack submarines.  I am absolutely pleased that another ‘Mighty Mo’ will be joining the Navy’s fleet, this time in the silent service,” said Skelton.

 “The name Missouri has a distinguished naval history.  The first USS Missouri was a steam/sail vessel commissioned in 1842, only 21 years after Missouri was admitted to statehood.  The second USS Missouri, a battleship commissioned in 1903, was still in active service during World War I, with my father serving on that ship in 1918.  The last USS Missouri, commissioned in 1944 and known as the ‘Mighty Mo’, hosted the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay that ended World War II.  This battleship also played an important role in the 1991 Persian Gulf War,” said Skelton.

 “I know that when this new submarine is christened and commissioned, many Missourians will attend the ceremonies to pay tribute to the fourth American warship named after our state.  I am confident that the sailors who will serve on the submarine USS Missouri will make us proud as they write a new chapter in naval history,” said Skelton.
 
 In addition to the naming of the USS Missouri, the Secretary of the Navy announced the naming of two more submarines, the USS California (SSN-781) and the USS Mississippi (SSN-782). 

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