The USS Massachusetts has joined the Navy fleet. Saturday's commissioning ceremony made the submarine the first named after the Bay State. The Navy says the nuclear-powered sub has enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements.
Sheryl Sandberg, the ship sponsor of the USS Massachusetts, attends a rehearsal ahead of the commissioning of the Navy's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. BOSTON — The USS Massachusetts officially joined the Navy fleet on Saturday after a commissioning ceremony, making it the first submarine named after the Bay State.
The newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, which can dive to depths greater than 800 feet , was christened on May 6, 2023, by the ship’s sponsor, Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta. This is the 25th Virginia-Class submarine co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding and the fifth U.S. Navy vessel named after Massachusetts. “To be able to take a ship from new construction and watch it be built together by the ship yard, train with our team and bring into Boston Harbor for the first time, it's very amazing,” said the sub's commanding officer, Mike Siedsma, a 21-year Navy veteran who has spent time on four different classes of submarines. “I looked at the history books. I don't think we've had a submarine in Boston Harbor since sometime in the late ’80s or early ’90s.” Siedsma did not say where the sub — which cost over $2.8 billion, weighs about 8,000 tons and can carry 24 Tomahawk cruise missiles — is headed. A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this month in the war with Iran. “The geopolitical situation is very interesting,” Siedsma said. “What is important to remember is what we are doing is proving the power of the United States Navy." The crew of 147 also includes 39 women, 16 years after a ban on women serving on submarines was lifted. The USS New Jersey, which was commissioned in 2024, was the first sub designed and built with modifications for a gender-integrated crew. “The ship is intentionally designed to be served on by both women and men. That is pretty exciting. Twenty five percent of this crew is female,” Sandberg said. “Those sailors just don't inspire me. They inspire every little girl out there to believe that she could do anything.” The Navy said this is the fifth vessel to be named after the state. The first USS Massachusetts was a steamer built in 1845 and the last was USS Massachusetts, BB 59, commissioned in 1942 as a South Dakota-class fast battleship. Most of its time was spent in the Pacific during World War II. For Sandberg, the commissioning also brought to mind the role the state has played in the founding of the United States and how “people are still fighting for the same freedoms that the original colonists were fighting for.” Reporters touring the sub were led past the control room, down into the torpedo room and into the dining hall. The ward room, where officers eat, also features a mug rack featuring wood from counties in Massachusetts. It was donated by “This Old House,” the television home improvement show. “It was an incredible donation. Very great connection to the state and the commonwealth,” Siedsma said. “It's beautiful.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel Claims Iranian Navy Commander Blocking Strait of Hormuz KilledSource of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »
Israel Claims Killing of Iranian Navy Commander, Accuses Iran of Charging Fees in HormuzIsrael's Defense Minister announced the killing of the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's navy, while the GCC accuses Iran of charging fees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Read more »
CENTCOM calls on Iranian navy personnel to abandon posts ‘to avoid further risk’ after commander killedThe United States and Israel have taken out 92% of the Iranian navy's large ships since the start of the war, according to CENTCOM.
Read more »
Japan will test fire cruise missiles west of San Diego with guidance from U.S. NavyThe exercise represents a major deepening of the military alliance between the U.S. and Japan.
Read more »
Death Spiral: Massachusetts Plan to Replace Taxpayers with Migrants CollapsesSource of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »
Taylor Lautner and Taylor Dome Are Expecting Their First Child: See the First Photos HereHere’s everything we know about the happy news, as Taylor Lautner and Taylor Dome share the news they’re expecting their first child together.
Read more »