“With each Virginia-class submarine delivery, the Navy strengthens its partnership with the shipbuilding industry to maintain our undersea dominance,” said Capt. Mike Hollenbach, Virginia Class Submarine program manager. He added, “I’m proud of the work thousands of shipbuilders and Navy personnel have put into reaching this important construction milestone. Together, we continue build the best submarines in the world.”
Massachusetts is the 25th Virginia-class submarine built jointly by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding under a long-standing teaming arrangement. It is the seventh of 10 Block IV submarines and the 12th Virginia-class boat delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding.
Once in service, Massachusetts will add significant warfighting capacity and reinforce the United States’ advantage at sea. The Virginia-class design provides enhanced stealth, advanced surveillance systems and special warfare capabilities to meet multi-mission demands.
SSN 798 was christened on 6 May 2023 at the Newport News shipyard by the ship’s sponsor, Sheryl Sandberg. The future USS Massachusetts will be the fifth Navy vessel to carry the name, following ships that served from the Mexican-American War through the Second World War, including the battleship BB 59 that earned 11 battle stars before decommissioning in 1947.
Source: Naval Sea Systems Command.
