John Warner’s parting gift: his very own submarine

By Staff Reports

Published: January 9, 2009

-- The secretary of the Navy yesterday announced that the next Virginia-class attack submarine will be named in honor of recently retired Virginia Sen. John W. Warner.

Warner left office this month after 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate.

The USS John Warner honors Warner's lifetime of service to the nation and Virginia, service that includes time spent as the 61st secretary of the Navy. Warner's five consecutive terms in the Senate made him the second-longest-serving U.S. Senator from Virginia in the 218-year history of the Senate.

The USS John Warner will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping. It is also designed for special forces delivery and support, a subject Warner worked on throughout his career in the Senate.

The Virginia-class is 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.

The USS John Warner will be built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News in partnership with General Dynamics/Electric Boat Corp. Warner was instrumental in developing this construction teaming arrangement concept which was later codified into law.