The Navy's USS Iowa: A Historic First for the Hawkeye State

So, when you think of sub-delivery, you might imagine some hungry person waiting for their sandwich to show up in 30 minutes or less. But, let’s be real—unless it’s a party-size sub, there’s no way a big ol’ Virginia-class submarine is showing up at your door that quickly! Does the Virginia-class come with extra toppings?

Now, imagine if they did deliver subs like pizza, and you had to store that monster sub somewhere. This thing’s huge—way bigger than the usual foot-long! It’d be like an entire fleet of footlongs stacked together. You’d need a parking lot to fit it! Just picture the delivery driver trying to squeeze that thing into your driveway… it’d be a challenge for sure.

But, here’s the twist—I wasn’t talking about a sandwich all this time. Nope, I was talking about the delivery of a Virginia-class submarine. Haha, I've fooled you. You thought I was talking about a footlong, but really, I’ve been chatting about one of the most advanced submarines in the world.

Those babies definitely don’t arrive in 30 minutes—they’re a major deal that takes years to build! Let's not be ridiculous. I'm no sub builder, but an advanced sub built and delivered in 30 minutes? Not even our government would buy that, and they love to buy crazy stuff like $900 hammers, look it up.

I promise I didn’t mean to fool you... okay, maybe just a little. But, have you checked out the new Virginia-class sub? This isn’t just your average delivery. It’s a serious powerhouse in the making! Also, its got a great name.

USS Iowa (SSN 797): A Huge Win for the U.S. Navy!

According to the U.S. Navy, the USS Iowa (SSN 797), the 24th submarine in the Virginia-class lineup, is officially in the Navy’s hands. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding, this cutting-edge submarine is now ready to start its testing phase before it officially enters service.

It's good we have General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII to build these things rather than, oh, I dunno, Kool-Aid. The Kool-Aid Man would just crash through the side, and another sub would be sunk.

Building the Ultimate Underwater Force

Maybe you've heard of the Space Force, but this powerhouse is part of the Underwater Force. Get your foam fingers in the upright and ready position, Navy fans, for some Navy power! The USS Iowa is the second Virginia-class sub delivered this year, and it’s a massive step toward keeping the Navy's undersea advantage as strong as ever. Did someone say Under the Sea? It was undersea, but close enough.

According to Capt. Mike Hollenbach, each new submarine is a win for both the Navy and the shipbuilders. These submarines are the Navy’s secret weapon—packed with stealth, surveillance skills, and special ops enhancements that let them tackle anything thrown their way!

The USS Iowa: The Navy’s Newest High-Tech Superstar

The USS Iowa is not your average submarine—it’s a Block IV Virginia-class sub, which means it’s equipped with the latest and greatest tech. The Navy’s got its hands on some next-level capabilities with this one. Enhanced for undersea warfare, this submarine is ready to keep the U.S. ahead in the water game for years to come.

US Navy/Canva/TSM

The USS Iowa: Honoring Iowa’s Legacy with a Submarine Twist

Well, hello, Mary Lou. Guess what? The USS Iowa is the first-ever submarine to carry the name of the Hawkeye State! It's about time.

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It joins a long line of legendary ships, like the famous USS Iowa (BB 61) battleship, which served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The submarine was christened in June 2023 and will officially join the fleet in April 2025. That’s right, we’re just a few months away from welcoming this powerhouse into service!

If you would like to attend the commissioning of the USS Iowa, you may request tickets here.

NAVSEA: Behind the Scenes, Making it All Happen

Behind every epic Navy ship is NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command), the crew ensuring the USS Iowa and all the Navy’s vessels are ready for action. They translate the Navy’s warfighting needs into actual ships that can take on anything. Whether it’s peace or war, NAVSEA is the reason the Navy can project strength, maintain global presence, and make sure the U.S. is always ready for anything.