BATH, Maine (AP) -- A Navy destroyer was launched Saturday bearing the name of former British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill -- an honor rarely afforded foreigners.
Lady Soames, Churchill's only living child, joined Defense Secretary William Cohen, British Defense Minister George Robertson and other Churchill relatives to watch the 505-foot warship Winston S. Churchill slide down a greased ramp at the Bath Iron Works into the Kennebec River."The naming of this ship is very special and stands out in a class of its own," said Soames, 76, the youngest of his five children.
Churchill served as Britain's fiery prime minister from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. He vowed during the early days of World War II that his country would never fall to Germany.
The $950 million vessel will weigh more than 8,000 tons when fully loaded and delivered to the Navy. Advanced radar enables the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to simultaneously wage battle with planes, ships and submarines.
The ship's arsenal will include Tomahawk cruise missiles, Harpoon missiles and torpedoes. It is capable of speeds up to 30 knots.
Britain named an attack submarine in honor of Churchill 20 years ago. The vessel was removed from service in 1990.