US Navy commissions USS New Jersey SSN 796 latest Virginia-class submarine.

According to information published by the US DoD on September 14, 2024, the Navy commissioned its newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, USS New Jersey (SSN 796), in a ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey.
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Block IV Virginia-class submarine USS New Jersey. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Block IV Virginia-class submarines represent a key evolution in the U.S. Navy's fast-attack submarine fleet, balancing advanced capabilities with cost-saving innovations. These submarines, like others in the Virginia class, are designed for a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and launching land-attack cruise missiles. They are replacing older Los Angeles-class submarines as the backbone of U.S. naval operations.

One of the primary improvements in Block IV submarines is a significant reduction in maintenance requirements. Unlike earlier blocks, Block IV submarines are designed for fewer and shorter maintenance periods over their service lives. This change allows them to conduct more deployments—up to 15, compared to 14 for previous versions—enhancing their operational availability by about 25%. This was achieved through better component durability and upgrades that target maintenance efficiency, reducing overall life-cycle costs.

Block IV subs retain the advanced systems seen in previous variants, including the use of photonics masts instead of traditional periscopes and the integration of sophisticated sonar systems. These vessels are equipped with Mark 48 advanced torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles, with the ability to launch them through vertical payload tubes. They also have enhanced capabilities for special operations, with a lock-out chamber to deploy SEAL teams.

The overall design of Block IV maintains the 377-foot hull length, with a displacement of 7,835 tons and speeds exceeding 25 knots. Powered by a nuclear reactor, they can remain submerged for extended periods without the need to resurface. These submarines are also optimized for operations in shallow waters.

Their construction is split between two shipyards—General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries—under a cooperative arrangement that helps ensure continuous production. This industrial strategy not only helps maintain shipbuilding capacity but also guards against disruptions in case one facility becomes inoperable.