USS Seawolf (SSN-21), the lead shipof her class, is the fourth submarineof the United States Navynamed for the seawolf, a solitary fish with strong, prominent teeth and projecting tusks that give it a savage look. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric BoatDivision of General Dynamicsand Newport News Shipbuildingon 9 January1989and her keel was laid down on 25 October1989. She was launchedon 24 June1995sponsored by Mrs. Margaret Dalton, and commissionedon 19 July1997, with Commander David M. McCall in command. Seawolfwas a product of the Cold War, designed as a replacement to the Los Angeles classsubmarines and as a response to the Soviet Akula class. It is said that the Seawolf is quieter at its tactical speed of 25 knots than a Los Angelessubmarine is pierside. Originally 29 were planned for production, but with the end of the Cold war, the cost was judged to be prohibitively high and only 3 were built in favor of the smaller, yet more expensive, Virginia class. On July 22, 2007, the submarine transferred from its previous homeport of New London, Conn., to permanently reside at Naval Base Kitsapin Bremerton, Washington. Adding support personnel as well as ship's crew, there are 140 personnel attached to the Seawolf ^.