The U.S. Navy's newest fast attack submarine, the USS New Jersey (SSN796), is set to be commissioned on Saturday, September 14, at the Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey. This marks the third naval vessel to bear the name of the state of New Jersey.
The USS New Jersey, which arrived at Sandy Hook on Friday morning, had to undergo rigorous testing and sea trials before officially becoming part of the Naval fleet. The submarine was seen about 100 yards from the shoreline, raised about 30 feet above the water, a sight that drew a crowd of spectators.
The commissioning ceremony is a time-honored tradition marking the official inclusion of a vessel into the Naval fleet. The State of New Jersey has the rare honor of hosting the commissioning for a vessel that bears the state's namesake. Middletown Mayor Anthony Perry expressed his excitement for the historic event, stating, "Middletown is honored to host the commissioning ceremony for the USS New Jersey! After months of planning, we couldn’t be more excited for this historic event to take place right here in our town."
The ceremony will be available to livestream beginning at 10:45 a.m. on September 14th. For those unable to attend the ceremony in person, updates on the ceremony can be found on the official commissioning website.