The USS Idaho is the fifth ship in the US Navy to be named for the Gem State—and the most recent since a World War I-era battleship.

The United States Navy’s silent service has a new submarine in its fleet. On Saturday, the Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Idaho (SSN-799) was commissioned into the Navy at a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut—marking the culmination of a year-long effort to prepare the vessel for service.

The 26th boat of the Virginia class, SSN-799 was launched at the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility in Rhode Island in August 2024, after being formally christened in March of that year. Construction of USS Idaho, the fifth US Navy vessel named for the Gem State, began in 2017.

Present at the ceremony in Connecticut was Idaho Senator Jim Risch, who delivered the principal address and served as the event’s keynote speaker. Also in attendance was Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, USS Idaho commanding officer Cmdr. Chad J. Guillerault, and Teresa Stackley, wife of former naval officer Sean Stackley, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition from 2008 to 2017.

“The Idaho connection is more than a name, it is a legacy—a legacy built before us that is being reborn today,” said Guillerault. “I am incredibly proud to be the commissioning captain of a vessel so steeped in tradition… and most importantly, honored to be the captain of a crew so mighty that they have outshone all those before them.”

Why Was the USS Idaho Named After a Landlocked State?

Although it will be several months to a year before SSN-799 heads out on its first patrol, which will only begin after final shipyard fixes and crew certification are completed. However, Saturday’s ceremony saw Mrs. Stackley give the order, “Man our ship and bring her to life,” and the crew ceremonially ran to man the boat.

“This moment is for you, Cmdr. Guillerault, and your crew,” Stackley said. “Please note that when you sail, my heart sails with you.”

With those words, USS Idaho is now an “active” submarine in the United States Navy. Her first deployment is expected to begin later this year or sometime in early 2028.

Stackley had christened the Block IV Virginia-class fast-attack submarine with water she had collected from several lakes in the Gem State, including Lake Pend Oreille, Payette Lake, Henrys Lake, and Redfish Lake.

That was somewhat fitting.

Although Idaho is a landlocked state—making it an odd choice to name a naval vessel after—it is home to the US Navy’s Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD), which conducts tests on Lake Pend Oreille, the state’s largest and deepest body of water. At 1,150 feet in depth, it is also the quietest body of water, providing an ideal environment for acoustic testing without the attendant problems and costs of open ocean operations.

SSN-799 is the fifth US Navy ship named for the Gem State and the first in more than a century since the New Mexico-class battleship BB-42 was commissioned in 1919.

The Virginia-Class Submarine’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 2004
• Number Built: 24 (69 planned)
• Length: 377 ft (115 m)
• Beam (Width): 34 ft (10.4 m)
• Displacement: 7,800 tons
• Engines: S9G nuclear reactor; auxiliary diesel engine
• Top Speed: 25 knots (28.8 mph, 46 km/h)
• Range: Unlimited
• Armaments: 12 VLS tubes, four 21-inch (530mm) torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes; BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles
• Crew: 135 (15 officers, 120 enlisted)

USS Idaho is the eighth of the Block IV Virginia-class boats to be built as part of a “teaming agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding,” the US Navy explained in a media statement announcing the commissioning.

Since entering service in 2004, the Virginia-class subs have supported five of the US Navy’s six maritime strategy core capabilities, including sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

The SSNs are equipped with a fly-by-wire ship control system that also provides improved shallow-water ship handling, while subs were also designed to deploy special operator forces, including Navy SEALS. A reconfigurable torpedo room can accommodate a large number of special operations forces and all their equipment for prolonged deployments and future off-board payloads.

The fast-attack boats were designed for use in both the open ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and intelligence-gathering operations.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

The post Meet the USS Idaho, the US Navy’s Newest Virginia-Class Submarine appeared first on The National Interest.