The US Navy has christened a combat ship in honor of New Hampshire's largest city.
Navy officials held a christening ceremony for the USS Manchester Saturday in Mobile, Alabama, where it was built.
New Hampshire US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ship's sponsor, she spoke just before breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne over the Manchester's bow.
"It's an honor to christen her today," Shaheen said. "I look forward to bringing this ship officially to life when she's commissioned, which we are already lobbying to have happen in Portsmouth, New Hampshire."
The Manchester is an advanced high-speed and agile 419-foot combat ship.
Some of its components and systems came from Granite State Manufacturing in Manchester.
The Manchester is the second Navy ship to be named for the city. The first USS Manchester served three combat tours in the 1940s and 1950s.
