While the Mayor was in Portsmouth, NH this past week, he was able to catch a glimpse of a sub aptly named "California". This ship does not make a big impression-there's not much to see from any point of view. When " surfaced", about 98% of the sub is still under the surface of the sea. This ship is built for speed when submerged. Hence, its designation: fast attack submarine, or in the old naval parlance- a hunter/killer boat.
The ship came to the naval station for some routine maintenance and provisions. In 30 days or less, she will return to her assigned patrol duties, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
The name given has been used before on at least 5 former ships. Perhaps the most notable, is the battleship California. That ship was built at Mare island shipyard in 1919. She carried 12- 14' naval guns in 4 turrets, 2 forward, 2 aft. Remodeled in 1929, she was equipped with a wide array of antiaircraft guns to protect the fleet from the new aerial threat. On Dec. 7th, 1941, she was in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. She was torpedoed, and sunk. Raised 3 months later, she was towed to Washington state for repairs. She returned to duty in January, 1944, and saw action at many landings, including Guam, Tinian, Saipan, and Okinawa.
The new CALIFORNIA is one of the Virginia class of nuclear subs. Smaller than their missile launching cousins, the Virginia class subs have a different mission: find and sink enemy subs. This boat has yet to reach her namesake state, but the Mayor may try to arrange a good will tour; but, it probably won't make it up the Truckee River.
The crew complement of 130 men reflects the smaller over all size. It needs only about as many as a WWII fleet sub.
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