Name USS Columbia Laid down 21 April 1993 Christened 24 September 1994 Launched 24 September 1994 Beam 10 m | Awarded 14 December 1988 Sponsored by Hillary Clinton Construction started 21 April 1993 Length 110 m | |
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Namesake Cities of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia, Missouri, and Columbia, Illinois Builder General Dynamics Electric Boat | ||
USS Columbia (SSN-771), is the 60th flight II Improved Los Angeles class submarine, and is the eighth vessel of the United States Navy to bear that name. The earlier Columbia's were given their names for differing reasons; SSN-771 was specifically named in honor of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia, Missouri, and Columbia, Illinois.
The contract to build Columbia was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 14 December 1988 and her keel was laid down on 21 April 1993. She was the 33rd Los Angeles class built by EB, and was launched on 24 September 1994 with the slide down a 1300-foot wooden ramp, the last American submarine to do so, giving her the title of "The Last Slider."
Columbia was sponsored by Hillary Clinton, and commissioned on 9 October 1995, with Commander Dale Govan in command.
