New USS Arizona submarine to honor fallen Pearl Harbor ship: 'Never forgotten'

Over 80 years ago, the U.S. Navy battleship USS Arizona BB-39 was destroyed in the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, sinking to the bottom of the sea and killing 1,177 officers and crewmen in a barrage of air-dropped explosives.

Now, a new nonprofit organization, USS Arizona Legacy Foundations, will honor the memory of the fallen battleship and its crew with a new naval submarine. The ship will be known as the USS Arizona SSN-803 and is designed to be the successor to the original.

"This submarine will inspire pride across the entire state for decades to come," said former Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett in a statement, who also serves as chairman of the foundation. "We are eager to connect the citizens of Arizona with this advanced-technology submarine and her crew."

According to the organization, the USS Arizona Legacy Foundation is "dedicated to honor, expand and nurture the memory of the historic USS Arizona battleship," with a mission to "forge the future" while preserving the legacy of the past.

The foundation will also focus on community outreach and education on the history of Pearl Harbor as well as providing "a framework of support" for the new submarine's naval crew, serving as a link between them and the citizens of Arizona.

The USS Arizona Legacy Foundations hosted a celebration of the ship on Monday at the Arizona Heritage Center in Tempe. It also kicked off Phoenix Navy Week, a program that's designed to introduce landlocked states to "Navy culture" and educate the public on the importance of naval service.

USS Arizona BB-39 will 'never be forgotten'

The new vessel, scheduled for completion in 2026, is officially sponsored by Nikki Stratton from Denver, the granddaughter of a survivor of the original USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Stratton, who ceremoniously welded her initials into a keel plate that was then affixed to the inside of the SSN-803, said it was her grandfather's dying wish for Pearl Harbor and the original USS Arizona BB-39 "to never be forgotten."

"I just really want the movers and shakers of Arizona to see just how big of a deal having another ship named 'USS Arizona' is," said Stratton. "And just how much of an incredible legacy this will be for the state."

The historic USS Arizona BB-39 was commissioned in 1916, with the state raising funds to lend its name to the ship to honor its newly appointed statehood.

Barrett said it would be the first time a U.S. naval ship would carry the name "Arizona" since the destruction of its predecessor in 1941 and the fourth one to bear the name overall.

"It means a lot to the state of Arizona that the Navy has chosen that name," said Barrett. "Because the USS Arizona has such a heritage, the reverence that we have for that name was very carefully thought."

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New ship will be the first of its kind

According to Stratton, the new USS Arizona SSN-803 will be a "fully-functioning, battle-capable and battle-ready US naval vessel" by 2027 or 2028. It is under construction in Groton, Connecticut.

Along with patrolling the world's oceans, the ship's primary duties will also include anti-submarine warfare and intelligence-gathering operations.

The warship is described as "the first of its kind" by US Navy Commander Tom Digan, who will captain the ship. It will be complete with torpedoes and cruise missiles and will be operated by a 135-man crew.

The ship, which has been in planning since 2019, will also include visual representations of Arizona to make sailors "recognize and be proud of the namesake."

New USS Arizona is 'incredible honor'

Tanya Wheeless, the president and CEO of the USS Arizona Legacy Foundation, added that the new naval vessel being named after the state is "an incredible honor."

"For us at the foundation, we feel a great duty and responsibility to make sure that we honor the past while also supporting our future sailors and the crew," said Wheeless. "The fact that we get to continue the legacy of the USS Arizona battleship makes it even more significant."

Gov. Katie Hobbs, who was in attendance as a guest speaker, also welcomed Digan to Arizona, stating that he and his crew will "always have a home" in Phoenix.

In addition to honoring the memory of the BB-39, Stratton said it is important to commemorate each milestone as the project nears its completion. This includes taking an active role in introducing sailors and crewmembers of the new warship to the culture of Arizona.

"Getting the crew to visit (Arizona) allows them to integrate the state's unique and diverse culture into their own," said Stratton. "They can see the passion of Arizonans."

While remembrance of the BB-39 is "critical," the foundation committee also hopes to inspire future generations with the updated iteration of the USS Arizona, allowing for a "new chapter" of the battleship to be forged, according to Stratton.

"The American Dream cost military lives to keep it going on for another generation," said Stratton. "This new generation of Arizona is going to continue that legacy of protecting our country."

For Stratton, the SSN-803 will serve as a "connection to the past" while helping to usher in a "new era" for next-generation Arizonans.

"My hope is that future generations will continue to uphold the legacy of what the original battleship stood for," said Stratton. "And to make (the USS Arizona SSN-803) their own."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: USS Arizona legacy lives on with new ship 80 years after Pearl Harbor