Over the course of the weekend, the U.S. Navy commissioned into service its 24th Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, which will bear the name USS Iowa (SSN 797). The corresponding ceremony was held at the New London Submarine Naval Base, located in the state of Connecticut, representing the entry into service of the third vessel of the institution to be named in honor of the aforementioned state.
Among those who attended the event, it is worth highlighting the presence of the recently appointed Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, who stated: “It is an honor to commission the newest nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Navy here in Groton, the submarine capital of the world. The USS Iowa will strengthen and make our fleet more lethal. As it sets sail, the Iowa does so with a single mission: to ensure that the adversaries of the United States never doubt our determination.”
It should be remembered that the vessel was ordered by the U.S. Navy in 2014 and its keel was laid in 2019, while it was christened in 2023 and finally delivered to the institution in December 2024. As such, it is the 24th of its class, although it is the thirteenth built by General Dynamics Electric Boat. At the same time, it can be mentioned that it is the sixth Virginia-class submarine manufactured under the Block IV configuration, which is mainly focused on reducing the maintenance periods to which they are usually subjected, thereby increasing their operational availability.
Expanding briefly on the known characteristics of the platform, we can mention that the new USS Iowa has a length of 114 meters and a beam of 10 meters, within which are contained the 7,800 tons it displaces and the 135 crew members needed to operate it. The submarine would be capable of reaching speeds above 25 knots, with a propulsion plant that will not require refueling during its service life, and it could dive to an estimated 244 meters.
Finally, reviewing the current submarine capabilities of the U.S. Navy, it should be remembered that in addition to the two dozen Virginia-class submarines already incorporated in their different configurations, the force still maintains units of the Seawolf class (3 units) and Los Angeles class (23 units). Precisely, it is this latter class that submarines like the USS Iowa are to replace, having been the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s SSN capabilities for more than four decades. In total, the force has another 18 submarines of the Ohio class, which are equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and are its main pillar in terms of nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Image credits: Chief Petty Officer Joshua Karsten; John Narewski
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