Navy clears USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) for fleet tasking

Washington — The U.S. Navy says it has completed shakedown trials for the USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) and declared the fast-attack submarine ready for operational tasking. Citing the boat’s material condition and combat readiness demonstrated during trials, the service also opted to forgo the post-shakedown availability, a yard period that typically follows a new ship’s initial time at sea.

According to the Navy, the decision was driven by the performance of the submarine during testing and the need to put additional undersea capability in the hands of fleet commanders sooner.

Shakedown trials are a key milestone in a warship’s entry to service, designed to verify systems performance and crew proficiency under operational conditions after construction and initial testing. Post-shakedown availabilities commonly address deficiencies discovered during those early operations and can last several months; waiving that step accelerates the path to full tasking.

USS Massachusetts is a Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, part of a program jointly built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding. Virginia-class boats conduct a range of missions, including undersea warfare, intelligence collection, strike, and support to special operations.

The Navy did not immediately release details on the submarine’s forthcoming schedule or homeport.