The US Navy’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), New Jersey (SSN 796), was official transferred to the navy on 25 April 2024.
New Jersey is the 23rd Virginia-class submarine co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) and the 11th delivered by HII-NNS.
“We are excited that another Virginia-class submarine has taken a major step toward deploying with our fleet and enhancing our navy’s warfighting capabilities,” Captain Mike Hollenbach, Virginia-class submarine programme manager, was quoted as saying in a press release from US Naval Sea Systems Command. “A lot of work by the navy and our industry partners went into reaching this significant milestone. Along with this crew and this ship, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to warfighting excellence for decades to come.”
SSN 796 is the third US naval vessel to be named after the Garden State. The first USS New Jersey (BB 16), was a battleship that contributed to the expansion of the US Navy during the First World War. The second, also a battleship (BB 62), had a long and distinguished service life, earning commendations for action in the Second World War as well as the Korea and Vietnam conflicts.
A commissioning ceremony for the future USS New Jersey is planned for 14 September this year.
Virginia-class SSNs are designed for a broad range of open ocean and missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence-gathering operations. They are progressively replacing the US Navy’s fleet of Los Angeles-class SSNs.
Thirty-eight Virginia-class SSNs have been procured through to FY2023, but the US Navy currently has plans for a total of 66 such SSNs. However, because of the SSNs currently in depot maintenance or awaiting depot maintenance, the number of operationally ready SSNs of all types in US Navy service fell to 31 in FY23 (the most recent highpoint was 43 SSNs available in FY15).
Under the September 2021 Australia-UK-US (AUKUS security partnership it was announced that three Virginia-class SSNs that would be sold to Australia, with the potential for up to two more to be sold if needed. The first two boats, which would be sold in FY2032 and FY2035, would be existing boats with 18 to 27 years each of remaining expected service life. The third boat, which would be sold in FY2038, would be a new boat taken directly from the US production line. The US Navy anticipates building additional Virginia-class SSNs in the 2030s as replacements for submarines sold to Australia.
