U.S. Navy Commissions 26th Virginia-Class Submarine USS Idaho At New London Base

The U.S. Navy commissioned the future USS Idaho (SSN 799), the 26th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, during a ceremony held April 25 at Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut.

The commissioning officially placed the submarine into active service.

U.S. Senator James Risch of Idaho delivered the main address. Other speakers included Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Representatives Michael Simpson and Joe Courtney, acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Adm. William Houston, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, and Mark Rayha, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat.

As part of naval tradition, the submarine’s sponsor Teresa Stackley gave the order to “man our ship and bring her to life,” after which the crew brought the submarine to life. With the hoisting of the colors and commissioning pennant, acting Secretary Cao formally placed the submarine in active service.

Teresa Stackley is the daughter of a Navy sailor and the wife of former Naval officer Sean Stackley, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition from 2008 to 2017.

USS Idaho is the fifth U.S. Navy ship to carry the name Idaho. The first was a wooden-hulled steam sloop commissioned in 1866.

The most recent was battleship USS Idaho (BB-42), commissioned in 1919. That ship took part in major Pacific naval battles from 1942 to 1945 and earned seven battle stars during World War II.

Idaho was co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding under their long-standing partnership.

It is the 14th submarine delivered by Electric Boat and the eighth Block IV Virginia-class submarine. The submarine was christened on March 16, 2024, at Electric Boat’s shipyard in Groton.

As a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, USS Idaho brings stealth, surveillance and special warfare capabilities designed for a wide range of missions.

The class is built to support anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, strike missions and other naval operations.

Each Virginia-class submarine displaces about 7,800 tons, is 377 feet long and has a beam of 34 feet.

The submarines are equipped with a nuclear reactor designed to operate through the vessel’s planned service life without refueling, helping reduce lifecycle costs and increase operational availability.

Reference: US Navy