New Mexico sub commissioning delayed

The commissioning of the New Mexico, a Virginia-class attack submarine, has been pushed back to early next year because of mechanical quality issues in its torpedo room weapons-handling system, the Navy announced Thursday.

The date of the commissioning, planned to be held in Norfolk, has been moved from Nov. 21 to sometime in early 2010.

The issues that prompted the delay are like those found aboard the Missouri, another Virginia-class submarine, in early August, the Navy said.

Read more