Namesake Submarine Trades History with Museum

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Myers, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

June 22, 2010 - GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Representatives from the Battleship North Carolina Museum in Wilmington, N.C. visited their namesake submarine June 17 to present a piece of history to the crew.

Museum representative Kim Sincox and retired Capt. David Stryker, a former submarine commanding officer and a member of the museum board of directors, presented Virginia-class submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) with a large, antique silver service carried aboard two previous vessels named for the people of the Tar Heel state.

The service contains a punch bowl with platform, a ladle with 24 punch cups; coffee and tea service; 24 finger bowls and trays; 24 ice cream trays; a water pitcher and tray; four match and cigar holders with two lighters; one special cigar case; and three wine decanters with coasters.

"The name North Carolina means a lot to me," stated Stryker to the submarines crew. "You have a great legacy to live up to, and I know you will do it with tremendous professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm." Stryker's father served aboard the USS North Carolina (BB 55) as navigator and later as the executive officer.

"It is a tremendous honor to carry with us such an amazing piece of history," said Cmdr. Wes Schlauder, North Carolina's commanding officer and New London native.

The silver was made for the armored cruiser North Carolina (ACR 12) and was presented to that vessel off the coast of Beaufort, N.C. in July 1908. The set is engraved with a nautical rope border with cotton and tobacco plants and eagles, sea shells, sea weed, and other nautical devices. One side of the principal piece has an etching of the cruiser, while the other side has the State Capitol.

The inscription reads: "From citizens of the state of North Carolina to the battleship North Carolina by the legislature of 1907. Joint committee: Governor R. B. Glenn, Lieutenant Governor Francis D. Winston, chairman; Speaker E. J. Justice, Senator John C. Drewery, Representative C. U. Harris, and Representative C. F. Hankins."

Schlauder also presented Sincox with artifacts from the submarine, including a ship's coin, a wardroom table setting, several North Carolina wardroom water glasses, personalized officer coffee mugs and napkin rings. The boat will also send a Brow Banner and a qualified junior officer's coveralls to the museum.

Submarine North Carolina is the fourth ship to bear the name and is the fourth submarine of the Virginia class. North Carolina is a powerful and versatile platform capable of several diverse missions, including conventional submarine warfare, strike warfare, mining operations, and delivery of special operations personnel and equipment.