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Career
Ordered:	14 August 2003
Laid down:	January 2004
Launched:
Commissioned:	2011 (scheduled)
Decommissioned:
Fate:	Under construction in US by Navy, unassigned to fleet
Stricken:
General characteristics
Displacement:	7800 tons
Length:	114.9 m (377 ft)
Beam:	10.3 m (34 ft)
Propulsion:	S9G reactor
Speed:	In excess of 25 knots
Armament:
Motto:	"Defendemos nuestra tierra" (Spanish for "We defend our land")

PCU New Mexico (SSN-779), a Virginia-class submarine, will be the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 47th state. The contract to build her was awarded to Northrop Grumman Newport News in Newport News, Virginia on 14 August 2003. Construction began in January 2004 ([1]) and is scheduled for completion in 2011 (http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_7613850).

Ship's crest

The crest of the USS New Mexico was designed by Emilee Sena, a senior at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her winning design was chosen by the crew of the New Mexico out of 180 submitted from schools through out the state.

The design incorporates an image of a New Mexico sunset, representing the beauty that makes New Mexico the “Land of Enchantment.” The Sandia Mountains are shown at the time of the day when they demonstrate why they are called the Sandias – their pink shade. The red in the upper right corner represents the red in our nation’s flag, symbolizing valor and the blood that has been shed to protect our country. The blue in the lower left corner represents the blue of the American Flag, symbolizing justice, vigilance, and perseverance. The Zia Symbol represents the state flag, as well as the prominence of the sun in New Mexico. The shape of the emblem is unique because it reflects the influence of the Native American people in New Mexico, the shape is a design that can be commonly found in Native American Art, such as blankets and pots.

The naval dolphins on the sides are symbols for naval submarines. They shine with a white color because they represent the white on the American flag. This color symbolizes purity and innocence. The submarine in the center represents what the USS New Mexico is – a Virginia class submarine. It has a bow wave in front of it because it is in motion. The people on top of the ship are naval officers, holding a flag proudly for the world to see. This represents pride in the U.S. The gold in the border symbolizes courage, prosperity, wisdom, and confidence. These are all essential qualities for members of the Navy.

There is a nuclear symbol in the bottom left corner for two purposes, one to represent that the Virginia class submarines are nuclear submarines and that a lot of nuclear development has taken place in New Mexico at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, and so this honors the people that have, and will contribute to the growth of nuclear advancements.

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases.