The United States Navy commissioned the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) during a ceremony held on March 28 in Boston Harbor.
According to the Navy, USS Massachusetts is the seventh Block IV Virginia-class submarine and was built under a teaming agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding. The submarine was christened in May 2023 at Newport News Shipbuilding and is the 12th Virginia-class submarine delivered by the yard.
Cmdr. Michael Siedsma, the submarine’s commanding officer, said: “To the crew, the plankowners, the Iron Patriots of the USS Massachusetts, we did it.” He added: “Your hard work and unshakable dedication is evident. I am amazed and humbled by what we have accomplished.”
During the ceremony, ship sponsor Sheryl Sandberg gave the traditional order to bring the submarine into service, stating: “In three months, our nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But as many of you here know, the Navy already celebrated this milestone last October.” She added: “What does that tell us? It tells us: We don’t have a Navy because we have a country; we have a country because we had a Navy!”
Adm. William Houston, director of Naval Reactors, said: “Massachusetts is playing an incredible role in our security.” He added: “Your crew represents the best that our Navy and our nation has. You train relentlessly to bring this warship to life and earned the trust placed on you.”
USS Massachusetts is the fifth U.S. Navy vessel to carry the name and follows the World War II-era battleship USS Massachusetts (BB 59), which served in multiple Pacific campaigns.
Virginia-class submarines are nuclear-powered fast-attack platforms designed for multi-mission operations, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence collection, and strike missions. The class incorporates advanced stealth features, sensors, and special warfare capabilities.
The submarine has a displacement of approximately 7,800 tons, a length of 377 feet, and a beam of 34 feet. It is powered by a nuclear reactor designed to last for the life of the ship without refueling, enabling extended deployments and reducing maintenance requirements.
Virginia-class submarines are used to conduct covert surveillance, track adversary submarines and surface ships, and support strike operations with precision-guided weapons. Their stealth characteristics allow them to operate undetected in contested maritime environments.
The commissioning of USS Massachusetts adds to the Navy’s inventory of fast-attack submarines, which are considered central to undersea warfare and deterrence. These platforms provide the ability to operate in denied environments and project force without visible presence.
The Block IV configuration of the Virginia-class is designed to reduce lifecycle maintenance requirements and increase deployment availability compared to earlier variants. This enables a higher operational tempo with fewer maintenance periods over the submarine’s service life.