The U.S. Navy's newest nuclear submarine, the USS Texas, will sail up
the Thames River Sunday on the way to its new homeport at the Naval
Submarine Base.
It will join its sister ship, the USS Virginia, which was sent to
Groton after its commissioning in October 2004.

The Texas returned from successful sea trials in May and was
commissioned Sept. 9 in Galveston, Texas, by first lady Laura Bush. The
377-foot vessel will carry a crew of 134 sailors and can be armed with
an array of mines, torpedoes and cruise missiles.

The submarine was the first Virginia-class ship to be built primarily
by Northrop Grumman's Newport News facility in Virginia.

The Texas will join Squadron Four at the submarine base. The Lone Star
State's flag and a pair of longhorns should be visible from its sail as
it heads up the river about mid-morning and docks at the base by 10
a.m.

Donal has something to be proud of now.

Joe