Collins, King Announce Another Navy Vessel Named After Augusta
U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced yesterday that the newest U.S. Navy vessel will be named in honor of Maine's capitol: The USS Augusta, according to King's website.
This isn't the first time Maine has received a nod in the naming of a U.S. navy ship; the original USS Augusta was a 600-foot heavy cruiser commissioned in 1931 and went out of service after World War II, in 1946.
It's a no-brainer that Maine should be recognized in the form of a Navy ship. We have the most veterans per capita and thousands of skilled workers who build and maintain our Navy’s fleet at Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In short, Maine plays a pivotal role in our national security.
“Maine has a storied history of service in the defense of our nation and our freedoms, and the naming of the <i>USS Augusta</i> reflects the dedication of generations of Maine men and women who have served in uniform and worked in our shipyards,” Senators Collins and King said. “We would like to thank U.S. Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer for recognizing our state’s important contributions to the Navy and to our national security, and we look forward to continuing our close work together to protect the country and strengthen the Maine economy. With the naming of the <i>USS Augusta</i>, Maine is once again proudly ingrained in the annals of American history.”
The new ship is a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), designed to dominate conflict on the water while providing U.S. forces with assured access to coastal areas. The ship is being built at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.
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