Rare Maneuver, US Navy Shows Nuclear Armed USS West Virginia Submarine in Arabian Sea

US Navy Shows Nuclear Armed USS West Virginia Submarine in Arabian Sea

International Military - A rare maneuver carried out by the United States (US) by revealing the presence of a nuclear ballistic missile submarine while on patrol in international waters. US Central Command has taken the very unusual step of disclosing the presence of the US Navy's Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia in the Arabian Sea.

The disclosure was framed by a visit by the top commanding officer, US Army General Michael Kurilla, to get a first-hand look at one of America's key capabilities operating in the region. However, it's hard not to see it as a message aimed at potential adversaries, such as Iran or Russia, as well as America's allies and partners.

According to a Central Command (CENTCOM) press release, US Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Navy and Fifth Fleet Central Command (NAVCENT) dated October 20, joined General Kurilla and members of his staff on a visit to the USS West Virginia at an undisclosed location. in the Arabian Sea.

The release did not say how Kurilla, Cooper and the others got to the submarine or when specifically the visit took place. "This submarine is the crown jewel of the nuclear triad, and (USS) West Virginia demonstrates the flexibility, survivability, readiness and capability of USCENTCOM and USSTRATCOM (US Strategic Command) forces at sea," Kurilla said in a statement. , Saturday (10/22/2022).

US Navy's Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia

The US Navy currently has 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs, active in military service. The Ohio SSBN is designed to carry up to 24 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) ​​with the Trident nuclear warhead. However, this maximum capability has been reduced to 20 as part of an arms control agreement with Russia.

The current Trident D5 missile is designed to consist of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Each of these ballistic missiles can be loaded with up to 14 nuclear warheads. There are four more Ohio-class ships in Navy service that have been converted into guided-missile submarines or SSGNs.

While best known for its ability to carry a maximum load of 154 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles, the SSGN Ohio is actually a multi-purpose ship. These submarines can use a variety of unmanned systems, serve as aircraft carriers for special operations forces, and act as underwater intelligence.

Once the secret of its role, the disclosure of a submarine armed with nuclear ballistic missiles is highly unusual. The Navy has generally been tight-lipped about submarine activity, in general, and in particular when it comes to specific locations, which are the most enduring component of America's nuclear deterrent triad.

Despite the images that CENTCOM released along with the press release showing the USS West Virginia on the surface, it doesn't appear to show anything significant. The Ohio-class submarines have certainly been used to transmit “signals”, and in general, have been used several times.

In January, on the eve of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Navy took the same step by publicizing the visit of the USS Georgia Ohio-class submarine to the Port of Cyprus. In late 2020 and early 2021, the USS Georgia has also made a rarely publicized voyage on the surface through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, at a time of tension with Iran.

It is also possible that West Virginia's specific presence in the Arabian Sea offsets concerns about the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons to try to change the course of the current conflict in Ukraine. Moreover, Putin's comments in this regard do not help to assuage these concerns.