US finishes initial trials of 10,200-ton nuclear super submarine

The US Navy has successfully completed the initial sea trials of the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798), a 10,200-ton vessel and the 25th in its class. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division, the submarine underwent a series of tests including its first submergence and high-speed maneuvers both on the surface and underwater. These trials mark a significant milestone before the submarine’s formal delivery to the Navy. Massachusetts, christened in May 2023, will soon join the Navy’s fast-attack fleet, enhancing its operational capabilities. Virginia-class submarines are highly advanced, versatile platforms designed for a wide range of missions such as anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, Tomahawk missile strikes, intelligence gathering, mine warfare, and Special Operations Forces deployment. Powered by nuclear reactors, they offer superior stealth, mobility, and endurance compared to conventional submarines. The class replaces the aging Los Angeles-class submarines and incorporates modular