USS Columbia (SSN-771)

USS "Columbia" (SSN-771), a "Los Angeles"-class submarine, was the eighth ship of the United States Navy to bear that name. The earlier "Columbia"s were given their names for differing reasons; SSN-771 was specifically named in honor of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia, Missouri, and Columbia, Illinois. There are other Columbias in the United States; see that disambiguation page for a complete list.

The contract to build "Columbia" was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 14 December 1988 and her keel was laid down on 21 April 1993. She was launched on 24 September 1994 with the traditional slide down a 1300-foot wooden ramp, the last American submarine expected to be launched in this dramatic fashion. Future submarines built in the United States will be launched by flooding the dry dock where they are built. "Columbia" was sponsored by Hillary Rodham Clinton, and commissioned on 9 October 1995, with Commander Dale Govan in command.

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