Posted on 08/14/2005 2:48:09 PM PDT by presidio9
Former President Jimmy Carter today completed his first submarine dive since he left the Navy in 1953, but this time it was in a new nuclear vessel bearing his name.
The USS Jimmy Carter pulled into this Navy submarine base after a night of cruising below the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the Georgia coast.
Carter was accompanied by his wife, Rosalynn, and a crew of 151. For Mrs. Carter, the boat's sponsor, it was her first submarine dive.
The submarine is the first named after a living ex-president. Carter was a submariner during his time in the Navy after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Carter called it "the finest ship in this Navy or in any Navy."
The USS Jimmy Carter is the most heavily armed submarine ever built, and is the last of the Seawolf class of attack subs that the Pentagon ordered during the Cold War's final years. It is 453 feet long, weighs 12,000 tons and carries 50 torpedoes. It cost $3.2 billion.
I believe it's "nucular" to Jimmy Carter, as well. But in his case, it's quaint.
And he still can't pronounce "nuclear" correctly!
Whatever honor, Jimmy Carter earned, he has more than squandered by his despicable behaviour as predident and since. He has cozied up to Fidel, Chavez and every other communist dictator in the Western Hemisphere and probably many others.
The man is a disgrace and he has brought disgrace to America. I attended the memorial service to the men who died in the abortive rescue mission. At first I thought it was the one thing he did, that I agreed with despite it's outcome. I have since changed my mind.
Most Sailors don't really give much thought to the namesake of their ship. I am sure that there were no race riots on the USS Richard B. Russell, although he was such a segregationist that it cost him a shot at the Presidency. That is not to say that there is not pride in your boat, but it is in what you can do, not what some dead (or not so dead) guy did.
Here you go.
(SSBN-598) George Washington
(SSBN-599) Patrick Henry
(SSBN-600) Theodore Roosevelt
(SSBN-601) Robert E. Lee
(SSBN-602) Abraham Lincoln
(SSN-603) Pollack
(SSN-604) Haddo
(SSN-605) Jack
(SSN-606) Tinosa
(SSN-607) Dace
(SSBN-608) Ethan Allen
(SSBN-609) Sam Houston
(SSBN-610) Thomas A. Edison
(SSBN-611) John Marshall
(SSN-612) Guardfish
(SSN-613) Flasher
(SSN-614) Greenling
(SSN-615) Gato
(SSBN-616) Lafayette
(SSBN-617) Alexander Hamilton
(SSBN-618) Thomas Jefferson
Carter was a submarine officer so I'm sure that's why they decided to name it after him. The final decision is made by the Secretary of the Navy and the USS Carter was named back in 1998, so that helps explain it. There are only two other Seawolf class submarines right now and they are the USS Seawolf and the USS Connecticut (they're built at Groton, CT).
Just damn
Jimmy was worse than useless as a President. He was dangerous.
However the Sailors on the boat bearing his name are honorable and I give them my heartfelt admiration and thanks.
Perhaps we can head the next one off at the pass, anyone know of a good garbage scow in need of a name? I'm thinking it might make a great USS Clinton.
Naming a military vessel after Jimmy Carter is like naming a new car factory after Ralph Nader.
(My apologies to the crews of all garbage scows in this, and any other, country)
Ping. Great minds think alike!
We have a sub named "The Appeaser"? I think that's a bad idea.
LOL!
Instead of "crazy ivans" they'll have to be called "crazy imams".
Now that's funny !
OK by me, Chief....but only if used as a target ship.
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