[American Mil News] The USS Montana was commissioned Saturday during a ceremony at a shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, making it the first Navy ship named after the Treasure State in more than 100 years.
"Today the USS Montana is tested and battle ready," Chris Jessel, executive officer of the submarine, said as more than 100 Montanans sat in the audience at Naval Station Norfolk.
The $2.6 billion Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine will add the next generation of stealth, surveillance and special warfare capabilities to the Navy fleet, officials said.
Gov. Greg Gianforte spoke as he stood near a banner for the submarine that read: "Vigilantes of the deep," a nickname adopted by the crew in an homage to the state’s period of vigilante justice in the 1800s.
"Now more than ever, American strength on the world stage is needed," he said. "Today, the world’s most powerful, advanced and capable Navy adds to its fleet one of the most sophisticated submarines ever built."
Gianforte said missions conducted on the USS Montana SSN 794 will make the nation and world more secure. He hoped the submarine’s crew members would draw strength from the state’s value of resilience, talking about recent flooding that ravaged communities.
"I am proud, honored and humbled you will carry that resilience to all corners of the world in the service of our nation," he said, adding he knew the submarine would live up to its name. 
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