US Navy USS Massachusetts Submarine: The U.S. Navy has now added a new nuclear-powered attack submarine to its force. The submarine is called USS Massachusetts (SSN-798), and entered the service during a commissioning ceremony held in Boston Harbor on March 28, 2026.
This boat is part of the Virginia-class program, which is a very important submarine program for the Navy’s future. It is the 25th Virginia-class submarine to be commissioned. The submarine was built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding after years of work, testing, and sea trials before it was finally ready to serve.
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At the ceremony, Navy leaders made it clear that this submarine is ready for real duty. Commander Joshua Hightower, the submarine’s executive officer, said, “Today, USS Massachusetts is tested and battle-ready,”. That line showed the main message of the event. The Navy sees this submarine as a serious combat platform that is ready to do hard missions under the sea.
Submarine Built for Modern War
USS Massachusetts is a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, which means it is made for many different jobs. It can hunt enemy submarines, collect secret information, and strike targets with precision weapons.
The submarine is around 377 feet long and weighs roughly 7,800 to 8,000 tons. Because it uses a nuclear reactor, it can stay underwater for a long time without needing refueling. U.S. Navy reporting and major news coverage say it can move underwater at about 25 knots and dive deeper than 800 feet. It also carries Tomahawk cruise missiles and torpedoes, so it can attack ships or hit targets on land while staying hidden below the ocean surface.
This submarine is also the seventh one built in the Block IV version of the Virginia-class line. That matters because Block IV submarines were designed to need less repair time during their service life. In simple words, that means they can spend more time doing missions and less time sitting in maintenance. The Navy wants these submarines to be flexible and useful in many kinds of conflict, especially in modern situations where surveillance, stealth, and fast response all matter a lot.
The commanding officer, Cmdr. Mike Siedsma, spoke about how special this moment was for the crew. He said, “To be able to take a ship from new construction and watch it be built together by the shipyard, train with our team, and bring it into Boston Harbor for the first time, it’s very amazing,”.
From Construction to Service
Work on USS Massachusetts started in December 2020. After that, the submarine went through a long process of building and testing. Before the Navy accepted it, the boat completed sea trials in the Atlantic. These tests checked many important things like the propulsion system, navigation gear, combat systems, and how well the submarine moved underwater. The Navy took delivery of the submarine in November 2025, and now it has fully joined the fleet.
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Navy officials say the Virginia-class was made for new-age undersea warfare. These submarines are not built for just one job. They are made to handle different missions in difficult situations. They can support intelligence work, help special forces, and carry out long-range strikes when needed. Speaking during this time of global tension, Siedsma said, “The geopolitical situation is very interesting,”.
He then added, “What is important to remember is that what we are doing is proving the power of the United States Navy,”. That made clear how the Navy views this submarine not just as a ship, but as a sign of American undersea strength.
The submarine will have a crew of about 147 sailors, including 39 women. According to AP reporting, about a quarter of the crew is female. This reflects the Navy’s gradual move toward mixed-gender submarine crews after old restrictions on women serving aboard submarines were removed over the last decade.
Sheryl Sandberg, the submarine’s sponsor and former Meta chief operating officer, spoke about the crew during the ceremony. She said, “The ship is intentionally designed to be served on by both women and men,”. She also said, “Those sailors just don’t inspire me. They inspire every little girl out there to believe that she could do anything.”
A New Chapter in a Long Massachusetts Navy Story
The new submarine also carries an old and proud name. It continues a long naval history linked to the state of Massachusetts. Recent Navy and AP coverage says this is the fifth U.S. Navy vessel to carry the Massachusetts name, and it is the first submarine to do so. One of the earlier ships with this name was the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59), which served in World War II and fought in major Pacific operations.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey also spoke during the ceremony and connected the submarine to the state’s long naval past. She said, “The commissioning of the USS Massachusetts is a proud moment for Massachusetts and our country,”. She added, “This ship carries forward a long tradition of service and reflects the strength and dedication of the sailors who will serve aboard it.”
