Navy To Name New Submarine USS New Jersey

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A U.S. military submarine in the process of being built will be named the USS New Jersey, the Navy announced Sunday.

The vessel will be the third in the U.S. Navy named after the Garden State.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said the submarine will receive the name after it's completed and commissioned in about five years.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez had been pushing for a ship to be named after his state.

Menendez was on hand Sunday at the announcement in Jersey City.

"This is a great day for the Navy and a great day for New Jersey,'' Menendez said. "We are honored to have our state's name added to the proud fleet of Virginia Class submarines.''

According to Menendez, the first modern submarine was designed and built in New Jersey. The Holland VI was made in Elizabeth and launched in 1897.

Previously, two battleships have been named the USS New Jersey. The most recent one was decommissioned in 1999 and is now docked in Camden and open for tours.

The original USS New Jersey was in service in World War I. The U.S. Army sunk it in bomb tests in 1923.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)