SSN 780

Finally, a name is known for the SSN 780. She is now declared the USS California.

Six ships have previously carried this name for the US Navy, starting with a wooden steam boat originally named the USS Minnetonka (launched July 3 1867, renamed May 15, 1869) during the Civil War and culminating with CGN 36, the lead ship of a nuclear powered cruiser class, she was decommissioned in Oct 1, 1998.

During the interim, the intervening ships were:
ACR-6, a Pennsylvania class armored cruiser,
SP-249, protected NYC harbor during WWI,
SP-647, protected San Franscisco harbor during WWI, and
BB-44, sunk during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 she was refloated, repaired and took the fight to the enemy in the following combat actions: the invasions of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, the Leyte Campaign (including the Battle of Surigao Strait), the Battle of Lingayen Gulf (where she was damaged in a kamikaze attack, but sailed on for two weeks in support of the operation), and the Okinawa Campaign (http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/bb44.htm).

Now SSN 780 will be joining this historical and honored tradition.