The future USS Wisconsin build is steadily taking shape

*Cover photo provided by https://www.usswisconsinsub.org

Five years into its ambitious construction journey, the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) is steadily taking shape as a cornerstone of the Navy’s next-generation fleet. To celebrate this milestone and the vessel’s connection to the state, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum will host a public event on August 27, 2026. The morning begins at 9:15 a.m. with a formal reading of a proclamation from Governor Evers, which officially designates the date as USS Wisconsin Day in recognition of the submarine’s hull number, 827. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with officials from the USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) Association to learn more about the boat’s development.

The museum gallery will feature significant artifacts from the build, including a casting from one of the submarine’s torpedo tubes and a collection of images documenting its construction. As the third U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name of the state, the Wisconsin represents a deep-seated tradition of naval service. Museum Director Kolakowski noted that the institution is proud to serve as the keeper of memories for the veterans who served on previous ships of this name while beginning to tell the story of this newest nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine through these physical pieces of its history.

Technically known as a Columbia Class Ballistic Missile Submarine, the SSBN 827 is currently being built through a partnership between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries. The project is a massive undertaking with significant local impact, as more than 300 defense contractors and suppliers from across the state of Wisconsin are actively contributing to the design and development of this critical class of submarines.

On October 28, 2020, Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite announced that the second Columbia-class submarine would bear the name Wisconsin. This came from a bipartisan push from U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, who cited Wisconsin’s history of shipbuilding as a reason to name a new submarine after the state.

The Columbia-class submarines are set to replace the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine. Construction of the lead boat USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826) officially began on October 1, 2020. She is scheduled to enter service in 2031.