Nuclear attack sub gets state support committee

The submarine that will carry Montana’s name now has a state-based committee to make sure the landlocked Treasure State is represented in the underwater vessel.

The 377-foot-long USS Montana is scheduled to be completed by 2020.

The U.S. Navy authorized three ships to bear the name of Montana. Only one was ever finished, an armored cruiser commissioned in 1908.

Two following attempts to create a USS Montana only existed in drawings or scale models — including one that wasn’t built in time to join World War II.

Jim Booth was in the audience Friday night when USS Montana committee members met with Montana submarine veterans for the first time. He served as a submarine sonar technician from 1975 to 1995 and already wears a “USS Montana” hat.

“When you take a look at all the names of the submarines, it will be nice to have Montana represented,” he said. “I was in the Navy for 20 years, traveled all over the world and this is where I choose to live.”

Committee Chairman Bill Whitsitt told the gathering of veterans the USS Montana will be among the most advanced submarines in the world. The submarine is under construction in Newport News, Virginia.

“She’ll be extremely stealthy, able to conduct critical surveillance and intelligence gathering operations,” Whitsitt said. “She’ll be lethal, able to protect carrier and expeditionary strike groups as well as hunt and destroy enemy attack and missile submarines and surface ships.”

He said the USS Montana will be able to deploy and detect mines, launch Tomahawk cruise missiles against land targets and release platoon-size Navy SEAL special-operations teams “all while submerged.”

The statewide commissioning committee is tasked with making sure the submarine is well-connected to its namesake. The group will help with the ship’s expected 2020 commissioning, including arranging ceremonial events for the crew, Montanans and dignitaries.

The ship’s yet-to-be-named commanding officer and senior-enlisted personnel will travel to Montana to meet residents and talk about USS Montana’s role in the water.

The committee may also help provide Montana-themed crew living space aboard the new ship and displays of Montana history and culture. “Ships need strong support from their states,” Whitsitt said. “It’s important to the crew to have that connection — it gives [their ship] a unique feel.”

Montana’s 2017 Legislature passed a joint resolution recognizing the “importance of the USS Montana.” The resolution also acknowledged the work people supporting the ship’s commissioning as well as “all those who sail her.”

Whitsitt said as a father of two sons who served in the Navy, the state action felt like validation for the committee’s effort.

He said the committee can grow as much as there is interest. He said members will range from directors to voting members.

“There’s no obligation to do anything except be a supporter and stay in touch,” he said. “Raising money is secondary at this point. We want to make sure people know what’s happening.”

Booth today serves as the secretary of the Montana branch of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc. The local chapter has roughly 140 members.

Booth said not many people know there’s a submarine veteran community in Montana.

“We’re somewhat a quiet group — it’s kind of the nature of what our business was,” he said.

Booth said the organization has veterans from World War II to service members who retired within the last decade.

“Even though we’ve served on diverse platforms and in different times in our lives, we have one thing in common: we will always be submariners. And anything that is submarine will always be very dear to us,” he said.

For more information about the USS Montana Committee, go to http://www.ussmontanacommittee.us.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.