US Navy’s Virginia-class sub USS Massachusetts enters service

March 30, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Navy’s 25th Virginia-class submarine USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) was commissioned on March 28, 2026, at Boston Harbor.

Credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class Kaitlin Young/US Navy

SSN 798 is the eighth vessel named for the state of Massachusetts, with the first two dating back to the early 1790s as ships of the U.S Revenue Cutter Service, the precursor to the Coast Guard.

The last ship named Massachusetts was a South Dakota-class fast battleship that commissioned in 1942 and participated in nearly every major Pacific campaign from 1943 to 1945. Massachusetts (BB 59) received 11 battle stars for her World War II service.

The battleship was decommissioned in 1947 and is now preserved in Fall River, Mass., as a museum and memorial to those who gave their lives in World War II.

USS Massachusetts is the seventh Block IV Virginia-class submarine, built under a teaming agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding. The submarine was christened at the NNS shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, on May 6, 2023. It is the 12th Virginia-class submarine delivered by NNS and was delivered last November.

US Navy takes delivery of newest Virginia-class sub USS Massachusetts

Vessels

The submarine displaces around 7,800 tons and measures approximately 115 meters in length, with a beam of about 10.4 meters. It is powered by a nuclear reactor designed to last for the vessel’s entire service life without requiring refueling, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing operational availability.

With its entry into active service, the USS Massachusetts brings significant warfighting capability to the US Navy’s submarine force, reinforcing the country’s strategic advantage at sea. As a Virginia-class fast attack submarine, it features advanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance systems, and special operations enhancements, enabling it to perform a wide range of missions.