The U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Montana (SSN-794), the newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, during a 10:00 a.m. EST ceremony on Saturday, June 25, at Naval Station Norfolk.

Governor Greg Gianforte of Montana delivered the principal address. Additional speakers include U.S. Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia’s 3rd District; Undersecretary of the U.S. Navy Erik Raven; Admiral James Caldwell, director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; and Ms. Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding.

The submarine’s sponsor is Sally Jewell, former Secretary of the United States Department of Interior. Montana was christened at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Newport News, Virginia, on September 12, 2020. Mrs. Jewell gave the order to «man our ship and bring her to life».

The USS Montana (SSN-794) honors the Treasure State and will be the second commissioned warship bearing the name. The first USS Montana (ACR-13), an armored cruiser, was also built at Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned in July 1908. ACR-13 served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, landed Marines during unrest in Haiti in 1914, and escorted convoys during World War I. The U.S. Navy decommissioned the first USS Montana in 1921, and two other vessels named after the state never saw commissioned service.

«This boat is a true treasure of the U.S. Navy, and will play an integral part in protecting and promoting American prosperity and security abroad», said Secretary of the U.S. Navy Carlos Del Toro. «I am so proud of the brave men and women who will man this submarine, and I look forward to their success on the high seas».

Montana is the third Block IV Virginia-class submarine to enter service, designed to carry out the core missions of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; delivery of special operations forces; strike warfare; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and mine warfare. These capabilities allow the submarine force to operate anywhere, at any time, and contribute to regional stability and the preservation of future peace.

Montana is 377 feet/114.8 m long, has a 34-foot/10-meter beam, and will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet/244 m and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots/28 mph/46.3 km/h submerged. It has a crew of approximately 136 Navy personnel.

General Characteristics

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block IV

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on February 7, 2022 the successful completion of the initial sea trials Friday of fast-attack submarine USS Montana (SSN-794). The Virginia-class submarine, built at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, spent several days at sea to test the ship’s systems and components.

Testing included submerging the submarine for the first time and high-speed maneuvers while on the surface and submerged. HII teams will continue the testing program and will deliver the boat to the U.S. Navy later this year.

«We are very proud to say the Montana and her crew performed exceptional», said Jason Ward, Newport News Shipbuilding vice president of Virginia-class submarine construction. «Taking the ship to sea for the first time is a huge milestone for everyone involved. The crew, thousands of suppliers from around the country and shipbuilders from HII and Electric Boat can be proud the ship was successfully brought to life and will soon be part of the world’s greatest Navy».

Construction of Montana began in 2015. The boat – the 21st Virginia-class submarine built as part of the teaming partnership with General Dynamics’ Electric Boat – was christened in September 2020.

HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s skilled workforce is 44,000 strong.

USS Montana (SSN-794) Sea Trials

General Characteristics

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block IV

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on March 3, 2021 that the Virginia-class submarine USS Montana (SSN-794) was launched into the James River at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division.

The 7,800-ton submarine, which had been in a floating dry dock since being transferred from a construction facility in October, was submerged and moved by tugboats to the shipyard’s submarine pier, for final outfitting, testing and crew certification.

«For our shipbuilders, launching Montana signifies five years of hard work, commitment and dedicated service», said Jason Ward, Newport News’ vice president of Virginia-class submarine construction. «We look forward to executing our waterborne test program, and working toward sea trials and delivering the submarine to the U.S. Navy later this year».

Through the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat approximately 10,000 shipbuilders, as well as suppliers from all 50 states, have participated in Montana’s construction since the work began in 2015. Montana is approximately 92% complete and scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in late 2021.

Virginia-class submarines, a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines, are built for a broad spectrum of open ocean and littoral missions to replace the Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines as they are retired. Virginia-class submarines incorporate dozens of new technologies and innovations that increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth and significantly enhance their warfighting capabilities. These submarines are capable of supporting multiple mission areas and can operate at submerged speeds of more than 25 knots for months at a time.

General Characteristics

* – Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories

Nuclear Submarine Lineup

Block IV