Ship Naming

On 3 March 1819 an act of Congress formally placed the responsibility for assigning names to the Navy's ships in the hands of the Secretary of the Navy, a prerogative which he still exercises. This act stated that "all of the ships, of the Navy of the United States, now building, or hereafter to be built, shall be named by the Secretary of the Navy.

Indiana (SSN 789)'s Naming Ceremony

On June 22, 2012 Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus held a ceremony in front of the War Memorial in Downtown Indianapolis. During this ceremony he named the 16th Virginia-class fast attack submarine Indiana. The fourth ship to be named Indiana, SSN 789 will be the first ship to bear the name in over 70 years.

Photos

An artist rendering of the Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789).
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus provides remarks during the ceremony celebrating the naming of the Virginia-class submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789), at the Indianapolis War Memorial.
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus greets Navy veterans during a ceremony celebrating the naming of the Virginia-class submarine, USS Indiana (SSN 789), at the Indianapolis War Memorial.
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus, right, speaks with WWII submarine veteran Paul Rash, 88, after a ceremony celebrating the naming of the Virginia-class submarine, USS Indiana (SSN 789), at the Indianapolis War Memorial. Rash joined the Navy on Dec. 4, 1941 and served aboard USS Plunger (SS 179) and USS Barbero (SS 317).

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