US Department of Defence defends submarine name

BBC News ^ | Saturday, 1 April 2006 | Unknown

[IonImplantGuru]

Strengthening relations between wartime allies basis for naming latest US Virginia class after British Princess.

A long, black submarine lurks beneath the ocean waves, carrying a full arsenal of ship-killing weapons. No other class of warship can find it, fight it, or even defend against it. If current US military planners have their way, the latest of these fearsome weapons will be named the USS Princess Diana.

"We have a destroyer named after Winston Churchill, and the 72nd Secretary of the Navy was named England (Gordon England), why can't we honor the late Princess Diana with the power and majesty of a Virginia class US sub," says Navy Spokesman Andrew Williams.

Veteran submariners are strongly inclined to disagree. "What's next, we name a carrier after the Queen?" objects Captain Wilfred Miller. "I understand political payoffs are a necessary evil but couldn't we honorably bestow the moniker Princess Diana on a cargo dingy or a humanitarian resupply vessel?"

[IonImplantGuru]

It's the Beeb, right? So it must be true!

[IonImplantGuru]

(((Ping!))) - and one ping only - to Steely-eyed Killers of the Deep list.

[wildcatf4f3]

Kinda a new wrinkle on "Princess DI"

[tet68]

Thank God it's the First of April.

[Gay State Conservative]

I hope this sub doesn't collide with a tunnel support beam under the street of Paris.

[wildcatf4f3]

and a slap in the face to that islamophile twit Charles

[txroadhawg]

Must be April Fools!

[NaughtiusMaximus]

"Princess DI"

Yeah, that's wicked kewel!

[sitetest]

From the very bottom of the article at the original URL:

"April fool from SUBSIM.com"

April is my favorite month.

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

Gives a new meaning to the phrase, "Going down", doesn't it?

...

What? Do they sound the "di-di-di" alarm when she goes under?

[BenLurkin]

[patton]

I had forgotten it is april first.

[Tribune7]

Since it can lay mines, I guess somebody in DOD has a sense of humor.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

There was a destroyer during WW-II, USS England (DE-635), named for Gordon England. (Destroyers during WW-II were named for persons.)

Having fought U-Boats in the Atlantic, she was sent to the Pacific to teach sub killing to the Pacific Fleet. She distinguished herself by sinking six Nip, excuse me, Jap, subs in 12 days during May, 1944.

[CaptIsaacDavis]

APRIL FOOLS>..

[JCEccles]

April 1st, is it?

[SkyDancer]

So like the sub named after Jimmy Carter is a joke too????

[Loud Mime]

Well, a submarine if full of sea men, right?

[Blueflag]

I smell, I smell ...

April fool's day

ROFL

[Doohickey]

No, the new diving alarm is the sound of tires screeching followed by a crash.

I think this is a terrific idea.

[Blueflag]

Nip is half of Nippon

Jap if 'half' of Japan

no worries

[Loud Mime]

No, the new diving alarm is the sound of tires screeching followed by a crash.

....with loads of strobes a-poppin...

[Eaker]

sinking six Nip, excuse me, Jap

LOL!!!

[PzLdr]

No. The sub's real. Jimmy Carter is the joke.

[Cvengr]

I don't know,..we name other weapon deliver systems after foreign nationals...

[Uncle Fud]

Actually, Princess Di has done less damage to my country than some of the tax-sucking career politicians who have has USN ships named after them in recent years, so why not?

[SkyDancer]

You can't be serious? The USS Peanut?????? I thought politicans had to be dead before a ship is named after them ... oh, wait, never mind ......

[doberville]

well said.

[headstamp]

And the flag is known as the "meatball".

(grin)

[ContraryMary]

I've got no problem with the Navy naming the submarine after someone British. After all, Winston Churchill served not only Britain, but the free world as well.

HOWEVER, naming the boat after a high-school dropout with the intelligence of a pea and whose major claim to fame was the extent of her fashion wardrobe strikes me as ludicrous.

[ContraryMary]

Okay. I guess I should read the whole article. April fool -- that's me.

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

sinking six Nip, excuse me, Jap

And it's a darn good thong we nipped that joke in the bud, before it blew up in our faces in a big crash of blinding strobe lights!

[maica]

http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/england_bio.html

GORDON ENGLAND

Deputy Secretary of Defense

A native of Baltimore, Mr. England graduated from the University of Maryland in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

######

Since he is my age, I do not think a WWII ship was named for him.

[GSlob]

Naming a floating bordello/R&R ship could be more appropriate.

[SmithL]

Maybe a fossil-fueler would be more appropriate for her.

don't make me explain that

[Kenny Bunk]

^This is no Joke: Repeat, No joke:

We are building an entirely new class of sleek and deadly submarines: The Queens:

The first shall be named for HRH Queen Elizabeth II

The second submersible for Queen Marie of Rumania

The third vessel, whose keel is to be laid at the Groton facility, is the Rock Hudson, following closely behind, the Liberace.

Rock was a Navy man, and although not a submariner oft......................,bbbxcvvZ

[SkyDancer]

Don't you just love April Fools Day ....

[Rakkasan1]

British paper actually have fun with April Fools day.
Here in the US, we already know most MSM outlets to be an everyday joke so the humor would be lost on us.

[IonImplantGuru]

No, the new diving alarm is the sound of tires screeching followed by a crash. I think this is a terrific idea.

Finally! I now understand where the term 'crash dive' comes from. Thanks ever so much, Doo!

[EricT.]

Oh! Ya got me! Arrrgh!!!

[Kieri]

April Fools Day or not, my grandfather came home from WWII on the "Grey Ghost."

Also known as the "Queen Mary."

She was a cruise ship, true, but she served her country well, even stripped and decked out in grey paint.

[Smokin' Joe]

I always found Fergie more attractive, m'self.

[IonImplantGuru]

Since he [Gordon England] is my age, I do not think a WWII ship was named for him.

Correcto mundo!

The USS England, DE635, is named for Ens. Charles England, who was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7DEC41.

[IonImplantGuru]

Mr. Bunk, you forgot the real deal: USS Queenfish, SSN-651!
more info here.

[Kenny Bunk]

I certainly meant no disrepect to the Navel Service. They do yeoman work in transporting fighting women to where they might do some good. I understand the Navy. As a retired member of the USAF, I was denied the privilege of serving in a military organization myself.

Just for your information, after 'Rock Hudson' had her keel laid, it was announced that she would serve as the fagship of this impressive force. In the new Navy, technology and seamanship go-hand-in-hand.

[Tallguy]

The sub isn't the joke, the former-president is the joke.

[Kenny Bunk]

Keep an even strain on your pingline, sailor!

Posting a disrespectful photo of Santa Claus in front of a Queenfish may lead children to question his orientation, and give aid and comfort to our enemies.

[Bob]

There was also the Leahy-class DLG-22 (later redesignated CG-22) named the England.

USS England link

[ncountylee]

Thought a crash dive was a speed Lewinski.