GROTON, CT (KELO.com) -- The latest naval vessel to bear the name South Dakota is a Virginia Class submarine. Pre-Commissioning Unit 790 is now officially known as PCU South Dakota
Deanie Dempsey, wife of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, sponsored the christening. She then broke a bottle of sparkling wine from a vineyard near Sturgis to officially name the ship.
“In the name of the United States, I christen thee South Dakota. May God bless her and all that sail in her”, Dempsey proclaimed.
Senator Mike Rounds thanked the shipbuilders for the hard work and dedication put into the boat.
Governor Daugaard said that all South Dakotans were proud the submarine bears the name South Dakota.
The submarine will officially become the USS South Dakota when the boat is commissioned sometime late next year. She will be the third naval vessel to bear the name. The last was the World War II battleship.