US Navy commissions newest fast-attack Virginia-class submarine USS New Jersey 

The US Navy has commissioned the fast-attack Virginia-class submarine USS New Jersey (SSN 796) in a traditional ceremony held at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey.

The ceremony, held on September 14, culminated a years-long process for commissioning the New Jersey, the third U.S. Navy ship named after the state of New Jersey.

The submarine is 377 feet (115 meters) long, has a 34-foot (10-meter) beam and is able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet (243 meters) and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots. New Jersey has a crew of nearly 135 navy personnel.

Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six navy maritime strategy capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare, and mine warfare.

Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.

In April this year, the vessel was delivered to the US Navy from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division.