Ocean County Leader

Asbury Park Press USA TODAY NETWORK – NEW JERSEY

New Jersey’s Sandy Hook Bay witnessed the commissioning of the most complex warfare machine ever built in the country — the USS New Jersey, now dubbed as the fastest submarine in the U.S. fleet and the first to be designed with gender inclusion in mind.

The commissioning ceremony took place Saturday at the Naval Weapon Station Earle in Middletown, where close to 4,000 attendees including veterans, sailors' family members, and Navy and government officials.

“It’s an absolute honor to be here with all of you today in this beautiful state, the birthplace, yes, the birthplace of the United States Submarine Force,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro.

Gov. Phil Murphy was present at the event and said he was proud to witness the launch of this Virginia-class submarine, now nicknamed “Jersey Girl.”

“This ceremony is a proud and joyous occasion, but it is also one that marks the beginning of a journey that will take the officers and crew of the USS New Jersey far from home,” Murphy said.

“On behalf of your nine-and-a-half million-member New Jersey family, let me say thank you for your service and thank you for your commitment to maintaining peace and freedom in our fragile world,” he added.

The submarine is very Jersey. Besides the nickname given to the vessel by Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin, its interior spaces were decorated with all things Jersey. The walls of this nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine feature posters from Rutgers University, New Jersey Devils memorabilia, a guitar gifted by Jon Bon Jovi and more. Members of the crew said they are even considering making the communal eating area look like a New Jersey diner.

This is the third naval vessel named after Garden State. The first two vessels were battleships that contributed to Navy efforts during World War I and World War II respectively. Vessel BB 62 also participated in Korean, Vietnam and Persian conflicts and is one of most decorated ships in Navy history.

The new USS New Jersey is prepared to continue legacy of ships with same name that preceded it being now most complex warfare machine ever built in U.S., said vessel’s commander Steven Halle. Code named SSN 796 this submarine counts with enhanced stealth special warfare enhancements sophisticated surveillance capabilities can even detect sound waves from sea animals far away.

“The deterrence that this USS New Jersey helps to procure makes us safer,” said Chris Smith U.S Congressman for New Jersey’s 4th district. “Of course you never want war but way you prevent war is by having credible defense deterrence,” Smith added.

It wasn’t until 2010 when Navy started allowing women serve aboard submarines. Since then some submarines have been modified accommodate women aboard however USS New Jersey embraced gender-inclusive design from its inception. That means bathrooms come longer stalls more privacy shower rooms secluded berths sleeping.

“So before older submarines they didn’t have like as much privacy bathrooms would have spaces stalls there wasn’t specific berthing set aside could closed off completely,” said Claudia Casillas sailor on USS New Jersey trained inside vessel about one year.

USS New Jersey has 131-member crew 29 them women according roster USS New Jersey.“I think it’s about time whole year I’ve been here it’s been pretty obvious U.S females are just capable just as much sometimes even more than males on boat,” she said.At ship crew decided assign some berth rooms for women only while keeping some co-ed berths specifying which beds exclusively reserved for women.“I think everything comes brand new there’s gonna be struggles there’s going confusion problems but I think jersey has been able overcome every problem she has had.”