USS Iowa (SSN-797)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Iowa.

USS Iowa (SSN-797)

Iowa being delivered to the US Navy in 2024
History
United States
Name	USS Iowa
Namesake	State of Iowa
Ordered	28 April 2014 [1]
Builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down	20 August 2019 [2]
Sponsored by	Christie Vilsack
Christened	17 June 2023 [3]
Acquired	21 December 2024
Commissioned	5 April 2025
Identification	Hull number: SSN-797
Motto	"Our Liberties We Prize, Our Rights We Will Maintain" [4]
Status	Delivered
General characteristics
Class and type	Virginia-class submarine
Displacement	7,800  tons
Length	377 ft (115 m)
Beam	34 ft (10.4 m)
Draft	32 ft (9.8 m)
Propulsion	S9G reactor auxiliary diesel engine
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Endurance	can remain submerged for up to 3 months
Test depth	greater than 800 ft (244 m)
Complement	15 officers 120 enlisted men
Armament	12 x VLS tubes 4 x 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes BGM-109 Tomahawk

Iowa (SSN-797), a Virginia-class submarine, will be the fourth U.S. Navy vessel named for the state of Iowa. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus officially announced the name on September 2, 2015, during a news briefing at Iowa State University. ^[5]

Construction and career

Iowa's keel was laid down on 20 August 2019 at the Quonset Point Facility of General Dynamics Electric Boat in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. ^[2] She was christened on 17 June 2023 by Christie Vilsack, the boat's sponsor and former First lady of Iowa. ^{[3] [6]}

References

1. "Naval Vessel Register".
2. "Electric Boat Hosts Keel Laying Ceremony for Submarine Iowa". EB Landing (Press release). Electric Boat. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
3. "Electric Boat Christens Submarine PCU Iowa on June 17". EB Landing (Press release). Electric Boat. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
4. https://ssn797.com/ ^{[ bare URL ]}
5. Petroski, William (1 September 2015). "New Navy submarine will be named USS Iowa". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
6. Weig, Nick (17 June 2023). "Navy christens USS Iowa, the first submarine named after the state". KGAN. Retrieved 17 June 2023.