Town of Franklin Sails Aboard Navy's Latest Ship

Yesterday, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Massachusetts (SSN 798), a Virginia-class fast-attack nuclear submarine that, in theory,  has the ability to remain undetected as it patrols beneath the seas. The sub, which was built in Virginia and is expected to be homeported in Groton, Connecticut, is the first naval vessel to use the name Massachusetts since the Battleship Massachusetts was decommissioned in 1947 and the fifth overall. 

Thanks to FHS student Chloe Bowser, a little bit of 02038 will be with the Navy crew. Bowser was recognized with twelve other Massachusetts students for winning the USS Massachusetts Historic Essay Contest. Due to her achievements, one of the submarine's twelve berthing rooms will be named after the Town of Franklin.

Chloe will also be recognized locally for her achievements at the Franklin Town Council meeting on Wed. April 1st at 6pm at the Municipal Building.

The commissioning ceremony was held Saturday morning at the Conley Terminal terminal in South Boston. It featured remarks by Governor Maura Healey (who noted that she had been born at Bethesda Naval Hospital), Congressman Seth Moulton, and ship sponsor, Sheryl Sandberg.  The USS Constitution, was towed out to share the limelight, uniting the Navy's oldest and newest commissioned warships.

The submarine’s nuclear reactor, which the Navy calls "a technological marvel," occupies more than half of the vessel’s 377-foot length and produces enough power to run a small city. The ship carries a battery of torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Until the sinking of an Iranian ship off Sri Lanka earlier this month, sub-fired torpedoes had not been used in combat since World War II. The ship's commissioning committee said a commissioning ceremony "is a time-honored event in the life of every U.S. Navy ship" during which "the vessel becomes a United States Ship and its Commanding Officer and crew formally come aboard and bring the ship to life." Boston hosted the commissioning of the USS Thomas Hudner in December 2018 and the commissioning of the USS Nantucket in 2024.