The Virginia class, or the SSN-774 class, is the newest class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The class is designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations. They are scheduled to replace older Los Angeles-class submarines, many of which have already been decommissioned. Virginia-class submarines will be acquired through 2043, and are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later submarines expected to operate into the 2070s.
A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that carries and launches cruise missiles as its primary armament. Missiles greatly enhance a warship's ability to attack surface combatants and strike land targets; although torpedoes are a more discreet option for submerged submarines, missiles give a much longer stand-off range, shorter time to impact the target, as well as the ability to engage multiple targets on different headings at the same time. Many cruise missile submarines retain the capability to deploy nuclear warheads on their missiles, but they are considered distinct from ballistic missile submarines due to the substantial differences between the two weapons systems' flight characteristics; cruise missiles fly aerodynamically using flight surfaces like wings or fins, while a ballistic missile uses its engine power alone as it may exit the atmosphere.
United States ship naming conventions for the U.S. Navy were established by congressional action at least as early as 1862. Title 13, section 1531, of the U.S. Code, enacted in that year, reads, in part,
The vessels of the Navy shall be named by the Secretary of the Navy under direction of the President according to the following rule: Sailing-vessels of the first class shall be named after the States of the Union, those of the second class after the rivers, those of the third class after the principal cities and towns and those of the fourth class as the President may direct.
USS North Dakota (SSN-784) is a Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine of the United States Navy. She is the second U.S. Navy vessel to be named for the U.S. state of North Dakota, the first being World War I-era battleship USS North Dakota (BB-29). The contract to build her was awarded to Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, on 14 August 2003. Her name was announced on 15 July 2008. and her keel was laid down on 11 May 2012. She was floated on 15 September 2013 and was christened on 2 November 2013, sponsored by Katie Fowler, wife of Vice Admiral Jeff Fowler. She was commissioned in Groton, Connecticut, on 25 October 2014.
USS Colorado (SSN-788) is a nuclear powered United States Navy Virginia-class attack submarine, named for the State of Colorado. She is the fifteenth of her class and fifth of the significantly redesigned Block III, including a revised bow and VLS technology from the Ohio class of guided missile submarines. She was constructed by Huntington Ingalls Industries in partnership with the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Newport News, Virginia, with the initial contract awarded on 22 December 2008.
Oregon is a nuclear powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. She is the fourth vessel to carry the name Oregon, the 33rd state of US, and the 20th Virginia-class submarine. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced her name on 10 October 2014 at a ceremony hosted at the Battleship Oregon Memorial in Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon.
USS New Jersey (SSN-796), a Block IV Virginia-class submarine, is the third United States Navy vessel named for the state of New Jersey. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the name on 25 May 2015, at a ceremony in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Montana (SSN-794) is a Virginia-class attack submarine of the United States Navy. She honors the U.S. State of Montana. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the name on 3 September 2015 at a ceremony hosted in Billings, Montana with U.S. Senator Jon Tester.
USS Massachusetts (SSN-798), is a Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine currently being built for the United States Navy. She is the 25th submarine of the class, and is named for the U.S. state of Massachusetts—the eighth such vessel.
Oklahoma (SSN-802) will be a Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine in the United States Navy. She is to be the second vessel named for the state of Oklahoma, and the first to carry the name since the loss of the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37) during the attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the US involvement in World War II. Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly announced the name on 24 December 2019, in a press release. Oklahoma, first of the Virginia-class Block V boats, was authorized for construction on 2 December 2019. Unlike the following Block V boats, Oklahoma will not be equipped with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), which will instead be fitted first to USS Arizona (SSN-803).
Arizona (SSN-803), a Block V Virginia-class submarine, will be the fourth United States Navy vessel named for the state of Arizona, and the first vessel to carry the name since the loss of the USS Arizona (BB-39) during the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, which pulled the US into World War II. Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly announced the name on 24 December 2019, in a press release. Arizona was authorized for construction on 2 December 2019. Arizona will be the second Block V boat, and the first boat to feature the Virginia Payload Module.
USS Barb (SSN-804) will be a Block 5 Virginia-class submarine with third United States Navy vessel named for the barb fish. She will also be the first Virginia-class submarine to be named after an aquatic animal and the first US Navy submarine to be named after an aquatic animal in more than 30 years. Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite officially announced the name on 13 October 2020, in a ceremony unveiling plans to construct a new National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, D.C. This particular variation from the naming convention is in reference to the World War II era submarine USS Barb (SS-220), which achieved one of the most outstanding combat records in US Navy history, specifically under the command of Commander Eugene B. Fluckey who was awarded the Medal of Honor while Barb received the Presidential Unit Citation.
USS Tang (SSN-805) will be a nuclear-powered, Virginia-class attack submarine in the United States Navy. She will also be third United States Navy vessel with the name tang, a large family of tropical fish. Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite announced in a 17 November 2020 press release that the submarine will be named USS Tang, in honor of a storied WWII submarine. This is the second of four new Virginia class members named in honor of WWII submarines with very successful combat records. Ordered on 2 December 2019, she is the fourth of the Block V boats, the first boats of the class to include the Virginia Payload Module.
USS Wahoo (SSN-806), a Block V Virginia-class submarine for the United States Navy, will be the fifth United States Navy vessel named for the USS Wahoo (SS-238). It was ordered on 2 December 2019. Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite officially announced the name on 17 November 2020, in a press release.
USS Silversides (SSN-807) will be a Block 5 Virginia-class submarine for the United States Navy, its third warship named for the USS Silversides (SS-236). It was ordered on 2 December 2019. Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite announced the name on 15 January 2021 during a visit to the USS Constitution.
USS John H. Dalton (SSN-808) will be a nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarine for the United States Navy, the seventh of the Block V attack submarines and 35th overall of the class. She will be the first U.S. Naval vessel named for John Howard Dalton, the 70th Secretary of the Navy and a former submariner who, after graduating with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964, served aboard the attack submarine USS Blueback (SS-581) and the ballistic missile submarine USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630).
USS San Francisco (SSN-810) will be a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the United States Navy, the ninth of the Block V boats and the 37th overall of her class. She will be the fourth US naval vessel named for San Francisco, California, one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S. The first San Francisco (C-5) was a nineteenth-century cruiser, later converted to a mine-layer, that saw action during the Spanish-American War and World War I, while the second (CA-38) was a heavy cruiser and one of the most decorated ships of World War II. The third, (SSN-711), also an attack submarine, is a Los Angeles-class boat that after decommissioning, became a moored training ship for the Nuclear Power School in South Carolina.
USS Miami (SSN-811) will be a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the United States Navy, the tenth of the Block V boats and the 38th of her class overall.
USS Baltimore (SSN-812) will be a nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarine of the United States Navy, the eleventh Block V attack submarines and 39th overall of her class.
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