About USS New Jersey (SSN 796)
The USS New Jersey (SSN 796) is a Virginia-class submarine homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. She is the third Navy vessel to carry New Jersey's name and the first designed from the keel up for a mixed-gender crew.
SSN 796 by the numbers
Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Virginia, SSN 796 is the Block IV version of the Virginia class. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced her name on May 24, 2015, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.
| Class and type | Virginia-class submarine |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 7,800 tons |
| Length | 377 ft (115 m) |
| Beam | 34 ft (10.4 m) |
| Draft | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Propulsion | S9G reactor, auxiliary diesel engine |
| Speed | 25+ knots (46 km/h) |
| Endurance | Up to 3 months submerged |
| Test depth | Greater than 800 ft (244 m) |
| Officers | 15 |
| Enlisted | 120 |
| Armament | 12 VLS tubes (Tomahawk), 4 torpedo tubes (Mk-48) |
Mission types
- Clandestine intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
- Clandestine insertion and recovery of Special Operations Forces
- Strike operations against land targets with Tomahawk cruise missiles
- Clandestine offensive and defensive mine warfare
- Anti-submarine warfare
- Anti-surface ship warfare
The history of USS New Jersey (SSN 796)
Name announced
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the name USS New Jersey at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey on May 24, 2015.
Commissioned
USS New Jersey (SSN 796) was commissioned on September 14, 2024, at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey. She is the 23rd Virginia-class submarine.
Underway from Norfolk
Following dry dock upgrades, the crew rejoined fleet operations from their home berth at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. SSN 796 is active and ready.
The command triad
3 leaders. 135 sailors. One boat representing the Garden State beneath the Atlantic.
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Virtute Ignis pro Libertas
About the boat's crest
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01
Battle heritage ring
The outer edge lists the 3 wars that Battleship New Jersey (BB-62) fought and the battle stars she earned. SSN 796 carries that honor into the future.
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02
The Jersey Devil
Horns at the top and a tail at the bottom were added by the crew after the initial crest was commissioned. The crew calls themselves "Devils of the Deep."
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03
Washington crossing the Delaware
Inside the New Jersey state outline sits George Washington crossing the Delaware River. It represents the crew's drive for freedom, tenacity, and perseverance.
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04
Battleship BB-62
A faded image of Battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) connects past and present. SSN 796 carries the name and legacy forward.
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05
The motto and the dolphins
"Virtute Ignis pro Libertas" — Firepower for Freedom — is the motto of both vessels. The dolphins are the symbol of all who patrol the depths and call the sea home.
3 ships. 1 proud name.
SSN 796 is the third Navy vessel to carry New Jersey's name. Each one represents the state's commitment to naval service. The tradition runs deep.
Battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62)
America's most decorated battleship. Now berthed on the Camden Waterfront as a museum ship. BB-62 served through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. She is the direct predecessor whose legacy SSN 796 carries forward. Visit BB-62 in Camden
USS New Jersey (SSN 796) — today
Commissioned September 14, 2024. Homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The first fast-attack submarine designed for a mixed-gender crew. 135 sailors representing the Garden State beneath the Atlantic Ocean.
The commissioning site
Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey hosted the commissioning ceremony. Middletown is also home to Jon David Kryscnski, a materials engineer whose career contributed to multiple generations of Virginia-class submarines. Read their stories in our news section
Common questions about SSN 796
What type of submarine is USS New Jersey (SSN 796)?
USS New Jersey (SSN 796) is a Block IV Virginia-class fast-attack submarine built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Virginia. She is the 23rd Virginia-class submarine, displacing 7,800 tons at 377 feet in length.
When was USS New Jersey (SSN 796) commissioned?
USS New Jersey (SSN 796) was commissioned on September 14, 2024, at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced her name on May 24, 2015, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
Who commands USS New Jersey (SSN 796)?
The command triad consists of Commanding Officer Commander Ronald Simmons, Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Andrew Hutchison, and Chief of the Boat Master Chief Joseph Calhoun.
What does the USS New Jersey SSN 796 crest symbolize?
The crest features the Jersey Devil horns added by the crew, George Washington crossing the Delaware River representing perseverance, a faded image of Battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) linking past to present, and the Latin motto "Virtute Ignis pro Libertas" meaning Firepower for Freedom.