The Navy christened its newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, the future USS Iowa (SSN 797), during a Saturday, June 17, 2023, ceremony at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut.
The Virginia Class USS Iowa (SSN 797) is the fourth U.S. Navy vessel and first submarine named for the state. Previous ships named Iowa included the Iowa Class battleship of World War 2 (BB-61).
“Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. These capabilities allow the submarine force to contribute to regional stability and preservation of future peace while operating everywhere international law allows, so everyone else can too”. Source – U.S. Navy.
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