America’s newest nuclear submarine — the USS Illinois — is being built in Groton, CT, as we speak, and members of the Aurora Council of the Navy League are playing a key role in its commission.

“This is the first naval ship to be named USS Illinois since 1897,” said Len Wass of Oswego, chairman of the USS Illinois Commissioning Committee, himself a retired U.S. Navy submarine captain. “Two others were never completed because of the ending of the world wars.”

The committee’s purposes are to promote awareness within the state of Illinois of the construction of the USS Illinois, to provide support for the crew during construction, to help organize and raise money for the events surrounding the launching and commissioning, and to provide ongoing support for the ship and its crew after it is commissioned.

This is one very cool $2.7 billion project, and you can hear the excitement in Wass’ voice when he talks about it.

“The USS Illinois is a Virginia Class fast attack nuclear submarine with incredible capabilities to help protect our country in peacetime and in war,” he said. “It is designed to operate at long distances as well as close to shore. It can have an entire platoon of Navy Seals swim out from it submerged, all at the same time. It carries torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles. It also has a cyber warfare capability and is a great intelligence gathering platform.”

The USS Illinois launching is set for June 2015, and its commissioning in December 2015.

The committee was formed from volunteers from all over the state and led by the Navy League of the United States, Aurora Council, and members are hoping to raise $800,000 to help honor Illinois’ newest namesake ship.

The Navy League of the United States is a 501(c)(3) corporation and monetary gifts to the commission are tax deductible when made through the Navy League of the United States and designated for supporting the USS ILLINOIS (SSN-786) events associated with the launching, commissioning, and post-commissioning support of the ship and crew. Click here to make a donation.

Feb. 6 Event at East Aurora High School

On Feb. 6, the general public will have an opportunity to  meet and greet the commanding officer of the ship, Captain Jesse Porter, as well as several of his officers and crew. Refreshments will be served during this “meet and greet” from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. outside the auditorium of East Aurora High School.

The event is free of charge to the public.

Gjovik Auto Sales in Sandwich, IL, is funding the refreshments for the public. At 7 p.m., Porter will deliver a slide presentation on the peacetime and wartime capabilities of the Virginia Class submarines (of which the USS ILLINOIS is the most recent) and allow for Q&A afterwards.

Honorary USS Illinois Commissioning Committee

• Major General John Borling, USAF (Ret.) Former Fighter Pilot, Hanoi Hilton POW, Commander “Hat in the Ring” Squadron, & Commander of USAF Think Tank (Checkmate)
• Brigadier General Thomas V. Draude, USMC (Ret.) President, Marine Corps University Foundation, Quantico, VA
• Senator Richard Durbin,U.S. Senator from Illinois
• Rear Admiral Howard Habermeyer, USN (Ret.); Former Commander Submarine Group Two
• Senator Mark Kirk; U.S. Senator from Illinois
• General Charles C. Krulak, USMC (Ret.); Former Commandant of the Marine Corps & Member Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
• Captain James A. Lovell III, USN (Ret.); Former Apollo Astronaut
• Admiral Joseph Preuher, USN (Ret.); Former Commander in Chief Pacific & US Ambassador to China
• Brigadier General Stewart Reeve, USA (Ret.); Former Deputy Commanding General, 35th Infantry Division, Ft. Leavenworth, KS & Current Director Illinois State Military Museum
• Illinois Senator Mark Q. Rhoads; Former Illinois State Senator & Current Historian of the Illinois State Society, Washington, DC
• Vice Admiral N. Ronald Thunman, USN (Ret.); Former Commander Submarines Pacific & Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Submarine Warfare)
• BGEN William H. Weir, USA (Ret.); Judge, 16th Judicial Circuit; Marine Corps & Army Combat Veteran

USS ILLINOIS (SSN-786) Mission

The Virginia-class submarine, USS ILLINOIS (SSN-786), is built to dominate the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions.

Stealth and speed are standard in submarines, but this next generation of attack submarines offers an improved level of capabilities to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the 21st century.

The USS ILLINOIS (SSN-786) is poised to meet the Navy’s multi-mission requirements from open ocean anti-submarine warfare to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to projecting power ashore with Special Operation Forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.

SOURCE: ussillinois.org