BOSTON (AP) — The USS Massachusetts officially joined the Navy fleet on Saturday after a commissioning ceremony, marking it as the first submarine named after the Bay State.
Christened on May 6, 2023, by Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta, this Virginia-class fast attack submarine can dive to depths greater than 800 feet and features the capability to carry 24 Tomahawk cruise missiles. It is the 25th Virginia-Class submarine co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding, and the fifth vessel named after Massachusetts.
“It’s amazing to see a ship built from the ground up and brought into Boston Harbor,” said commanding officer Mike Siedsma, a seasoned Navy veteran of 21 years. “We haven't had a submarine in Boston Harbor since the late '80s or early '90s.”
The USS Massachusetts, costing over $2.8 billion and weighing approximately 8,000 tons, has a crew of 147, including 39 women. This reflects the inclusive nature of modern naval service, following the lifting of the ban on women serving on submarines.
Sandberg expressed pride in the crew's diversity. “Twenty-five percent of this crew is female. These sailors inspire not just me but every little girl to believe they can achieve anything,” she said.
The commissioning also reminisced about Massachusetts’s historical role in American independence and freedoms. It highlights the enduring legacy carried forward by the Navy.
As geopolitical tensions remain apparent, Siedsma reaffirmed the importance of the USS Massachusetts: “What we’re doing proves the power of the United States Navy.”
The Navy's historic connection to Massachusetts dates back, as this is the fifth vessel to carry the state's name. The first USS Massachusetts was commissioned in 1845.
