Utah will be the second U.S. Navy vessel named in recognition of the 45th state. The first USS Utah was launched as a Florida-class battleship commissioned in 1911 as BB 31. Utah served the nation well, having fought in the Mexican Revolution and World War I. In 1931, she was demilitarized and converted into a target ship, then later made an anti-aircraft gunnery training ship. In 1941, she was given additional guns to enhance her gunnery training mission and was active with the U.S. Fleet in the Hawaiian area.
On December 7, 1941, while moored at Pearl Harbor, Utah was hit by six Japanese aerial torpedoes and sank. At the time, it was a mystery as to why, in their quest to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Japanese wasted vital resources on a demilitarized target ship. The answer came four years later, after the war, when Japanese officers involved in the attack admitted it was a case of mistaken identity on the part of a young Japanese pilot. The six torpedoes used on Utah could have potentially destroyed a third or fourth battleship, further crippling U.S. naval power in the Pacific and changing the course of the war. Today the hull of Utah remains at Pearl Harbor as a memorial to the 58 officers and crew who lost their lives that day.
Utah’s nickname, the Beehive State, symbolizes industriousness and community cooperation. The name is derived from the early Mormon settlers who likened their cooperative efforts to bees in a hive.
Utah is famous for its stunning national parks and natural landscapes, world-class skiing and snowboarding. Utah’s culture reflects its history as a major destination for Mormon pioneers who settled the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, based in Salt Lake City, is one of North America's oldest musical ensembles.
Other famous attractions include the Sundance Film Festival, dinosaur fossil beds and Southern Utah’s red rock landscapes, including the iconic Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods. Utah is home to five of the country's national parks, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion. In addition to its towering red rock formations, Utah is known for its twisting canyons and thousands of natural sandstone arches. Utah boasts mountains averaging hundreds of inches of snowfall annually, making it ideal for winter sports.
Utah’s spectator sports fans are dedicated to the Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), University of Utah Utes (Competing in NCAA Division I sports) and the Brigham Young University Cougars (Competing in NCAA Division I sports).
The gift for today’s Utah Christening attendees is a box of cookies from RubySnap Bakery based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company has several locations in Utah and is known for its creatively distinctive flavor combinations.
The submarine Utah (SSN 801) is the 28th ship of the Virginia class, which has been designed for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.
These submarines excel in littoral and open-ocean environments and collect intelligence critical to irregular warfare efforts with advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Unobtrusive, non-provocative and connected with land, air, sea and space-based assets, these versatile and powerful vessels are a core component of the Navy fleet.
Ships of the Virginia class embody the commitment by the Navy and industry to reduce costs without decreasing capabilities through a multi-year procurement strategy, continuous improvements in construction practices and cost-reduction design changes.
Electric Boat, its construction partner Newport News Shipbuilding and the U.S. Navy continue collaborating to reduce the cost of future ships while introducing new capabilities to ensure the ongoing relevance of Utah and the Virginia class. Electric Boat’s goal remains unchanged—to provide the U.S. Navy with the most sophisticated undersea warships in the world.