Warship Commissioned in Honor of Congresswoman
In the long-honored tradition of naming U.S. Navy ships after those who have server our country, welcome into service the USS Gabrielle Giffords. The newest littoral combat ship is named for the former Arizona congresswoman who was severely injured during a 2011 shooting.
The Woman
Gabrielle Giffords is a survivor of a vicious attack while speaking at a public event in Tucson Arizona in 2011. Six people died and twelve others were injured when a single gunman opened fire on speakers and the crowd. Giffords sustained a gunshot to the head from the assailant who was apprehended and eventually sentenced to life in prison. The wounds were so severe, it was doubtful at the time that she would survive, much less recover. Now retired, she is partially paralyzed and has permanent brain damage which limits her language abilities. But the incident showed how she is a tough survivor, relentless, and beat the odds. These are many of the same desirable traits for a crew and capability of a combat ship.
The Ship
The USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) is part of the Independence variant of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class. It is about 400 feet in length, displaces 3400 metric tons, can travel at over 40 knots, and costs $475 million. It is the ninth ship to be produced in this class.
The U.S. Navy is well known for its ‘blue water’ ships, that can openly traverse and conduct combat operations in any major ocean in the world. But given the shift in global conflicts, engagements moving to asymmetrical combat with smaller units, the Navy needed a new class of ship, fast and agile to handle missions in coastal areas.
This class of high speed vessels are purpose built to operate in shallow coastal areas, known as littoral waters, while still capable of open-ocean service.
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Ship Christening
In 2012 the U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said that the LCS 10 ship would be named after Representative Gabrielle Giffords because her reputation had become "synonymous with courage" and that the congresswoman had "inspired the nation with remarkable resiliency."
The USS Gabrielle Giffords is the 16th ship to be named after a woman and only the 13th ship to be named for a living person. Most ships are named posthumously. In the christening ceremony, former congresswoman Giffords told the crowd and crew “You make me proud. You make America proud”.
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"I will never forget this day or the crew of the USS Gabrielle Giffords. Fair winds and following seas" – Gabrielle Giffords
Image Sources: http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2015/12/05/armynavy-game-our-navys-littoral-combat-ships-and-usnas-running-backs/ http://media.defenceindustrydaily.com/images/SHIP_LCS-GD_cutaway.png
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man, 40 knots for a ship that size?! that's insane, nearly on par with a Cigarette (minuscule by comparison) in choppy waters. I've gotta get me one of those. ain't gonna worry about sea pirates ever again after that! lol
The tri-hull and a huge power plant make it capable of keeping pace with fast-boats that smaller countries/warlords like to use to harass and attack other ships.
What an honor.
Agreed! Maybe I am just a war-monger, but I want a combat ship named after me! ..but not posthumously
Yea I also wouldn't want to get shot in the head either.
That would be a deal-breaker for me too.
Very cool looking ship!
on the bright side, she can say i have a military ship in my name
I remember hearing about this a while back, its a miracle that she lived. What a courageous woman. I think its great that they're naming the ship after her!