EckerNet.Com

The US Navy today announced that the next Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine will be designated the USS Minnesota (SNN 783). The Virgina class subs are a huge advance over the aging Los Angeles class and cold war era Seawolf class. They are designed with littoral operations in mind and incorporate fly-by-wire technology that not only allows more efficient/effective structuring of the ship but also improves handling. It also is designed with the possibility of “special operations” in mind. For other subs/ships, it sports the Mark-48 torpedo. For land based targets it sports the UGM-109 Tomahawk.

The USS Minnesota is expected to be delivered in 2014, and will be the last of the Virginia class Block II.

Of course, they also announced the first submarine for the Block III class of subs, the USS North Dakota (SNN 784). The Block III submarines have a revised bow and will incorporate additional technology from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines.

Naming that submarine the North Dakota seems pretty unfair to me. I mean North Dakota is already the world’s third strongest nuclear power. Do they really also need a submarine after them?? Can’t they just be happy with being able to destroy the entire human race?? Greedy bastards.