This weekend marked a historic moment for both the U.S. Navy and the state of Iowa, as the Navy officially commissioned a new vessel bearing the name USS Iowa.

But unlike its famous predecessor, this USS Iowa is not a massive battleship—it’s a cutting-edge, nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine.

The commissioning ceremony for the USS Iowa (SSN-797) took place on Saturday, April 5, at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

Though the ceremony was marked by cold and dreary weather—something noted by several speakers—the spirit of the event remained celebratory and proud.

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"This is a proud day for the Navy and for the people of Iowa," said Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, who presided over the event.

It was Phelan’s first commissioning as secretary, and he used the occasion to praise both the construction crews who brought the submarine to life and the sailors who will now carry its legacy forward.

The USS Iowa is the fourth Navy vessel to bear the state’s name, but it is the first to do so as a submarine.

Its predecessors include three battleships: one that served during the Spanish-American War, one that was never completed, and the most famous—BB-61, the lead ship of the Iowa-class battleships.

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That last iteration served extensively during World War II and the Korean War and earned the nickname the “Gray Ghost” before being decommissioned in 1990. Today, it resides as part of a maritime museum.

Adm. Daryl Caudle, head of the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Forces Command, highlighted this rich history in his remarks.

“It just feels natural for us to have a warship named Iowa back on the Navy register,” Caudle said. “For decades, the name Iowa reigned supreme amongst the high seas, bestowed upon the most powerful class of battleships of its time.”

Now, the name returns, but in a different form—a stealthy, powerful Virginia-class submarine built for 21st-century warfare.

The USS Iowa is the 24th submarine in the Virginia-class, a series of fast-attack submarines that the Navy says are “designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare, and mine warfare.”

At 377 feet long and equipped with multiple torpedo tubes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Iowa is a formidable addition to the fleet.

What makes the Virginia-class submarines particularly valuable is their endurance.

Powered by a nuclear reactor that is not expected to require refueling during the vessel's entire service life, the USS Iowa can undertake extended missions without the need for maintenance stops that conventional submarines require.

This feature gives the Navy strategic flexibility and operational reach.

The submarine was laid down in 2019 and was officially delivered to the Navy in 2023, after passing a rigorous series of sea trials to ensure its readiness for active duty.

Commander Gregory Coy, the commanding officer of the USS Iowa, expressed pride in the crew and confidence in the ship’s future.

“We are ready to serve and ready to deploy,” Coy said. He also announced that the USS Iowa will embark on its first deployment in November of this year, operating under Submarine Squadron 4.

Secretary Phelan, in his speech, underscored the strategic significance of vessels like the Iowa in the context of modern global security.

“This submarine is not just about strength; it’s about deterrence,” he said, pointing to the combination of stealth, advanced technology, and heavy firepower that make the Virginia-class submarines so essential to the Navy’s mission today.

Despite the gloomy skies over Groton on Saturday, the atmosphere at the commissioning was anything but somber.

Families of crew members, naval officers, and dignitaries gathered to witness the ceremony, marking not just the launch of a submarine, but the continuation of a legacy.

The name USS Iowa carries with it a storied past. From battles in the Pacific during World War II to deterrence patrols beneath the seas in the 21st century, that name once again sails—this time beneath the surface, with silent strength and renewed purpose.

As the latest bearer of the Iowa name prepares for its first mission later this year, it does so as a symbol of innovation, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the U.S. Navy.

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