USS North Dakota Arrives at Pearl Harbor to Join Submarine Squadron 1

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS North Dakota (SSN 784) arrived at its new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Nov. 13, 2026, DVIDS reported.

The relocation marks a significant shift in the vessel’s operational footprint, moving the submarine from the Atlantic to the Pacific Fleet theater. This transition follows an Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The move integrates the vessel into Submarine Squadron 1, where it becomes the squadron’s sixth Virginia-class fast-attack submarine.

“The crew of North Dakota is excited to call Pearl Harbor our new home,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Christopher Marolt, commanding officer, North Dakota.

The arrival comes on the heels of a demanding maintenance period. Marolt said that the crew managed the shortest availability in the history of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard while simultaneously preparing for the complexities of a homeport change.

By moving to Hawaii, the USS North Dakota bolsters the Pacific Submarine Force’s ability to execute a wide range of mission sets. These capabilities include strategic deterrence, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and precision land strikes. The force also provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, and special warfare capabilities globally.

The deployment of battle-tested assets to the Pacific is a cornerstone of maintaining a strategic advantage in the region. The crew brings a high level of recent operational success to the waterfront, having earned the 2024 Retention Excellence award and the Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Battle Efficiency (“Battle E”) award for both 2024 and 2025.

“It is an honor to welcome the Sailors and families of North Dakota to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam as the newest addition to the waterfront,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Christopher Hedrick, commodore, Submarine Squadron 1. “It is the dedication of this crew that brings this boat to life. We are proud to have you on the team, supporting our strategic advantage in the Pacific.”

The crew’s transition involves more than just moving hardware; it requires the integration of families into the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam community. This human element is a critical component of maintaining readiness during long-term deployments in the Pacific theater.

The USS North Dakota carries a name steeped in naval history. While the current Virginia-class submarine was commissioned on Oct. 25, 2014, it is actually the second U.S. warship to bear the name. The original USS North Dakota (BB-29) was a battleship that served during the World War I era.

For the crew, the move represents both a departure from a supportive community and a commitment to a new mission. Marolt described the farewell to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as bittersweet due to the support provided by the local community during the maintenance and preparation phases.

“However, bringing a battle-tested, back-to-back Battle ‘E’ crew into the Pacific Fleet theater is an incredible honor,” Marolt said. “We carry the proud heritage of our namesake and our recent successes with us as we stand ready to project power and support our allies and partners in this vital region.”

The submarine’s arrival ensures that Submarine Squadron 1 maintains its technological and tactical edge in one of the world’s most contested maritime environments.