U.S Navy Set To Commission 24th Virginia-Class Fast-Attack Submarine USS Lowa

The U.S. Navy is set to commission the 24th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, the future USS Lowa or SSN 797 in a ceremony on April 5, 2025, at the Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn. The submarine’s 140 crew stationed there will be present at the ceremony.

The submarine was constructed by Groton-based General Dynamics Electric Boat and is the 13th Virginia-class submarine completed by Electric Boat.

Lt. Commander Scott Carper, who will serve as USS Iowa’s second-in-command, said that it had been tiring since the crew had to balance the difficulties regarding the construction of the submarine and also train to operate the ship.

One of the submarine’s pilots, Mathew Holt said that they have special trainers on the base which helped the crew practice operating it in all kinds of scenarios.

The crew members look forward to their duty onboard the USS Lowa to the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

USS Lowa is the 3rd Navy Vessel named after the state of Lowa and the first submarine to have the state’s name.

The previous ship with the same name was the battleship USS Lowa or ‘Gray Ghost’ which remained in service from 1943 to 1990 and participated in the Second World War, the Korean and also the Gulf Wars.

The new submarine pays homage to this battleship with its slogan “Fight Iowa, fear the ghost.”

It has a nuclear reactor and torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles which can strike land and sea targets.

These submarines cost around $2.4 billion to manufacture.

The next Virginia-class ship will be named after the state of Idaho and will be commissioned by next spring, per Navy officials.

The company has many Virginia-class submarines which are under construction or in the planning phase.

Reference: U.S Navy

Source: Maritime Shipping News