"USS New Jersey SSN-796 joins the ranks of the United States Navy to further strengthen the Virginia-class group as well as nuclear-powered capabilities of the service."
SSN New Jersey (SSN-796) is one of the latest nuclear-powered attack submarines to join the U.S. Naval Fleet. The boat was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News, VA) and saw her keel laid down on March 25th, 2019. She was launched on April 14th, 2022 and given the fighting motto of "Firepower for Freedom". The vessel is part of the ultra-important Virginia-class submarine group which stands to feature some 66 total hulls.
The Virginia-class was selected to succeed the complex and expensive Seawolf-class of the late-Cold War period, a capable stealth boat whose group ended up with no more than three completed hulls of the planned 29. The newer Virginia-class began construction in 2000 with the first hulls entering commissioned service in 2004. USS Virginia (SSN-774) became its lead-ship.
The Virginia-class has, itself, been succeeded on paper by the still in-development, Next Generation SSN(X) type not expected to enter service until 2042.
As with the other boats-in-class, USS New Jersey is of 7,800-ton displacement and has a running length of 377 feet with a beam of 34 feet and a draught of 32 feet. Propulsion power is provided by an S9G series nuclear reactor unit giving it essentially unlimited range while reaching submerged speeds of 25 knots while remaining submerged for up to three total months. Aboard is a complement of 135 officers and enlisted personnel. Armament is 4 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes (Mk.48 torpedo family) and 12 x Vertical Launching System (VLS) tubes supporting the BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile.
The boat has the ability to hunt ships, enemy submarines, and attack land targets all while remaining submerged. Inherent stealth features and near-silent operation give it an advantage in contested waters as well.
Externally, the class carries a traditional modern submarine form with the sail set well forward of midships. The bow is of a rounded blunt shape with the bow-facing torpedo tubes set to either side of the forward section. The dive planes are also located on the hull (and not the sail). Aft of the sail are the rows of Tomahawk VLS launchers. The stern tapers sharply to form a cone housing the propulsor unit. A traditional cruciform arrangement is used for the tail planes allowing for the needed underwater control. The sail is home to various systems, sensors, and processing systems.
The Virginia-class has been built in two distinct production batches designated Block I through IV and Block V. The primary difference is the displacement increasing from 8,700 short tons to 11,200 short tons, respectively. As one of the latest boats of the class, USS New Jersey belongs to the more advanced and heavier Block IV group.
USS New Jersey is set to be commissioned into US Navy service on September 14th, 2024.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS New Jersey (SSN-796).
1 x S9G nuclear reactor driving single propeller at the stern. Propulsion
25.0 kts 28.8 mph Submerged Speed
Essentially Unlimited Range
Structure The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS New Jersey (SSN-796).
135 Personnel Complement
377.0 ft 114.91 meters O/A Length
34.0 ft 10.36 meters Beam
32.0 ft 9.75 meters Draught
10,200 tons Displacement (Submerged)
Armament Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS New Jersey (SSN-796).
4 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes (bow-facing, Mk.48 torpedo family).
12 x Vertical Launching System (VLS) tubes for BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles.
Ships-in-Class (24) Notable series variants as part of the USS New Jersey (SSN-796) family line as relating to the Virginia-class group.
USS Virginia (774); USS Texas (775); USS Hawaii (776); USS North Carolina (777); USS New Hampshire (778); USS New Mexico (SSN-779); USS Missouri (SSN-780); USS California (SSN-781); USS Mississippi (SSN-782); USS Minnesota (SSN-783); USS North Dakota (SSN-784); USS John Warner (SSN-785); USS Illinois (SSN-786); USS Washington (SSN-787); USS Colorado (SSN-788); USS Indiana (SSN-789); USS South Dakota (SSN-790); USS Delaware (SSN-791); USS Vermont (SSN-792); USS Oregon (SSN-793); USS Montana (SSN-794); USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795); USS New Jersey (SSN-796); USS Iowa (SSN-797); USS Massachusetts (SSN-798); USS Idaho (SSN-799); USS Arkansas (SSN-800); USS Utah (SSN-801); USS Oklahoma (SSN-802); USS Arizona (SSN-803); USS Barb (SSN-804); USS Tang (SSN-805); USS Wahoo (SSN-806); USS Silversides (SSN-807); USS John H. Dalton (SSN-808); USS Long Island (SSN-809); USS San Francisco (SSN-810); Unnamed Boat (SSN-811)
Operators Global operator(s) of the USS New Jersey (SSN-796). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.
Shipbuilder(s): Huntington Ingalls Industries - USA
[ United States ]
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Lead-ship USS Virginia pictured as representation of USS New Jersey.
Going Further... USS New Jersey (SSN-796) Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine appears in the following collections:
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