Navy to Commission Jimmy Carter Attack Submarine

By First Coast News Staff

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Navy will commission the newest nuclear-powered attack submarine Jimmy Carter this Saturday.

The ceremony will take place at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

The attack submarine Jimmy Carter honors the 39th president of the United States. Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and served as a commissioned officer aboard submarines.

Rosalynn Carter will give the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

The Jimmy Carter is the third and final submarine of the Seawolf class. The Jimmy Carter has a multi-mission platform, which will allow it to handle the advanced technology required to develop and test a new generation of weapons, sensors and undersea vehicles for naval special warfare, tactical surveillance and mine-warfare operations.

Capt. Robert D. Kelso is the commanding officer of the Jimmy Carter. He will lead a crew of approximately 130 officers and sailors.

After operating out of Groton for about a year and going through a period of maintenance and modernization at Electric Boat, the Jimmy Carter will operate out of Bangor, Washington.

©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.