The US Navy has commissioned the 24th Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), the USS Iowa (SSN 797).
As disclosed, the ceremony took place at Naval Submarine Base New London, in Groton, Connecticut, on April 5, 2025.
The submarine Iowa is the fifth naval vessel named for the state and, once commissioned, will be the third-placed in service. Battleships named for the Hawkeye State include the USS Iowa (BB 4), which was commissioned in 1897 and saw action in the Spanish-American War and World War I, and the highly decorated USS Iowa (BB 61), which was commissioned in 1943 and served in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Each Virginia-class submarine has 7,800 tons and a length of 115 meters. The vessel has a beam of 10 meters and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship.
Iowa is designed with stealth, surveillance capabilities, and special warfare enhancements to meet the US Navy’s multi-mission requirements. Its keel was authenticated on August 20, 2019, and it was christened on June 17, 2023. The unit was delivered in December last year.
The submarine was built under a teaming agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding; both companies build certain portions of each submarine and then alternate deliveries. SSN 797 is the 13th Virginia-class submarine delivered by GDEB.