Dimensions & Technology

Specifications:

• Length: 377 ft.
• Beam: 34 ft.
• Displacement (Weight): 7,800 tons (equivalent to 65 blue whales)
• Speed: 25+ knots (28+ miles per hour)
• Maximum Depth: 800+ ft.
• Crew: 15 officers, 117 enlisted

Armament:

• 4 Torpedo Tubes
• 2 Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT), each capable of holding 6 vertical-launch Tomahawk missiles that can strike targets over 1,200 miles away.

Built For Longevity, Stealth, and High Performance

The SSN 797 submarine is a fast-attack submarine built using the latest technology to allow quiet movement and sensitive sonar to track other subs and warships. Armament:

• Photonics masts carrying thermal imaging and low-light cameras; replacing the telescope
• Nuclear reactor which powers the sub for the 30+ year lifespan of the ship
• Pump jet propulsion for quieter movement

Build Details

The SSN 797 is currently being built. The Newport News shipyard is building the reactor and power unit while the forward half of the submarine is being built by General Dynamic Electric Boat in Groton, CT. With the expertise of these experienced companies, USS Iowa will continue to be the pride of the Navy and her namesake state.

 

Designed to visually represent the ship throughout its lifecycle, the official crest is a key element to Iowa’s identity. Filled with symbolism representing the state of Iowa as well as the storied battleship BB61, SSN797’s crest is worth learning about.

The Shield features the Iowa state seal in the background bordered by teak decking, symbolizing the teak deck boards aboard USS Iowa (BB-61) with the text “USS IOWA” above and “SSN 797” below, which is encircled by gold cord with 47 silver stars. These silver stars represent the 47 sailors who tragically lost their lives during the Number Two 16-inch gun turret explosion on 19 April, 1989. On top of this is the profile of the state of Iowa adorned with the colors of the Iowa state flag.

A wreath with a clover at its center is located where the city of Waterloo resides in the state. This pays homage to the 5 Sullivan Brothers who were killed in WWII when their ship, USS JUNEAU (CL 52), was sunk during the battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November, 1942. The wreath represents the symbol of ultimate sacrifice, and the clover leaf pays tribute to the Sullivans brothers’ Irish heritage.

Above the bottom of the flag rides the silhouette of USS IOWA battleship (BB-61) with “GREY GHOST” at the waterline on the hull and 11 stars in the border directly above the battleship. These stars represent the 9 battle stars earned during WWII and the two earned for Korean War service.

The Virginia Class Submarine USS IOWA (SSN 797) protrudes from the center, wrapped by the American flag adorned by the liberty cap. The liberty cap is taken from the Iowa state seal and is an ancient Greek symbol of freedom.

The submarine is bordered by the blue banner of the Iowa state flag, “OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE” in the upper left, and “OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MAINTAIN” in the lower right. Soaring above the hull of the submarine is a Hawk with 797 grasped in its talons. This hawk is the symbol that is the central figure from the seal of USS IOWA (BB-61), which carries the hull number for the Grey Ghost “61” in her talons.

In the forefront is a pair of submarine dolphins, one gold, one silver with red and green eyes respectively. The gold dolphin represents the officers, and the silver, the enlisted of the crew of the ship. The red and green eyes symbolize the port and starboard running lights carried aboard seagoing vessels.

Decommission

In the post-war period, the great battleship rounded Cape Horn to show the flag off Chile. She then steamed to Bremerton, WA for dry dock and refit. She ultimately ended up in New York and decommissioned in 1903. Hardly washed of sea salt, IOWA was back as flagship for the North Atlantic Squadron. On May 13th, 1911, she participated in rescuing passengers from the liner WARD that had collided with the steamship ADMIRAL FARRAGUT in fog.

All 139 passengers survived the sinking thanks to BB 4. The ship served as a training vessel for the next few years, training such luminaries at Raymond Spruance. In 1914 she was again decommissioned in Philadelphia where she sat until the outbreak of World War I. The USS IOWA BB 4 received the Sampson Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Spanish Campaign Medal, and the Cuban Pacification Medal.

Interesting Facts

• She had an innovative form of steel armor with a 14” belt surrounding her.
• The USS IOWA BB 4 boasted 11,000 ihp vertical triple expansion engines During a battle, the Iowa BB 4 experienced an engine room fire that threatened the entire ship.
• Fireman Robert Penn quickly and heroically extinguished the blaze. For his actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor

Decommission

On 19 April, 1989 while firing her 16” guns, Turret 2 exploded, killing 47 men. While NIS (now NCIS) initially decided the explosion was caused by an act of terrorism, Congress failed to accept their verdict. Under non-governmental inspection, the culprit turned out to be very old black powder that was originally milled in 1930. Laboratory tests showed that the powder was very unstable and was ignited by static electricity.

The USS IOWA BB-61 was decommissioned in 1990 and now is a museum ship in the Port of Los Angeles. In her career, she earned 9 Battle Stars, a Naval Unit Citation, a Naval “E” Ribbon with 3 stars, the American Campaign Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal with 2 stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Philippine Unit Citation, the South Korean Unit Citation, the Philippine Liberation Medal, and the U.N. Korea Medal.

Interesting Facts

• Her motto was taken from the Iowa State Flag, “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain”
• In order to facilitate President Roosevelt when aboard, the BB 61 had a bathtub installed
• Specifically designed to squeeze through the Panama Canal, the BB 61 became the Flagship of Battleship Division 7 in the Pacific