USS New Mexico on sea trials

I recently read about the USS New Mexico’s sea trials over on Bubbleheads Blog and gosh how I LOVE seeing that NM flag flying in the sail.  NM just in case you didn’t guess is my home state.

The commissioning date has finally been set and will be March 27, 2010.  I am planning on attending and I’m so very excited!  I have never been to a commissioning before and I can’t wait.

In my research of what to expect, I came across this video of the USS New Hampshire being commissioned.

Even though New Mexico has two other submarines, for some reason I am very excited about this new submarine.  Maybe it is because it is called “New Mexico”, vs Albuquerque or Santa Fe.  I’m seriously considering adopting this boat.  Maybe it has something to do with the galley being called “La Posta”, a local favorite in Las Cruces.

La Posta owner Tom Hutchinson said the naming of the galley after his restaurant has “extra special significance” because he served in the Navy from 1977 to 2002. Nine of those years were in active duty. His service was as an aviator, and he worked with Navy submarines to coordinate the tracking of Soviet Union submarines.

Hutchinson said he plans to name a room in his restaurant after the sub.  read the entire article.

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From navy.mil

Future USS New Mexico Completes Sea Trials

12/3/2009

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) — Pre-Commissioning Unit New Mexico (SSN 779), the U.S. Navy’s newest submarine, successfully completed its initial sea trials, or Alpha Trials, Nov. 26.

The submarine departed Newport News, Va., Nov. 24 to evaluate its seaworthiness and operational performance. New Mexico’s Alpha Trials included diving to test depth, executing an emergency surfacing, and testing the ship’s propulsion plant performance.

Successful completion of these sea trials is a significant step towards ensuring that New Mexico meets all specifications and is ready for delivery to the Navy, which is anticipated by the end of 2009, following completion of Bravo Sea Trials and the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey trials.

“New Mexico’s successful completion of sea trials is a testament to the hard work of the Navy’s shipbuilding team,” said Capt. Michael Jabaley, Virginia Class program manager. “It is this partnership that has helped get New Mexico to where it is today, ahead of original contract schedule.”

New Mexico is the sixth submarine of the Virginia Class and third that Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding will deliver. Delivery of the ship prior to the end of the year would be four months early to its contract delivery date.

When commissioned in early 2010, New Mexico will join the five subs of its class as flexible, multi-mission platforms designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the Submarine Force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; special operations forces; strike; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and mine warfare.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.

	Future USS New Mexico Successfully Completes Alpha Trials

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090328-N-6597H-427 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 28, 2009) A flight deck director gives hand signals to the pilot of an F/A-18C Hornet from the “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 as it moves onto catapult one in preparation for launch from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Husman/Released)

I just love this picture.

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Lt. Jon Sunderland dresses in a Santa suite while directing aircraft operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Christmas Day. [via Navy.mil]

Just when we thought Santa would be recovering from all his travels, here he is having fun on the USS NIMITZ.

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