Posted on 10/20/2022 3:32:51 AM PDT by FarCenter
TOKYO -- Once submerged, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine typically remains under water for 70 days. Virtually undetectable, the Ohio-class SSBN is the stealthiest submarine in the U.S. Navy fleet.
Unlike the Los Angeles-class or Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that carry conventional weapons and can make port visits around the world, nuclear-missile equipped SSBNs typically do not make public appearances. In the rare case that they do, it is either in U.S. waters or in the ports of America's top ally, the U.K.
But on Thursday morning, Asia time, the U.S. Central Command tweeted that its commander, Gen. Michael Kurilla, had visited the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) at an undisclosed location in international waters in the Arabian Sea.
The unprecedented move in the Indian Ocean region, roughly equidistant from Moscow and Beijing, had analysts contemplating who the signaling was intended for and what the message was.
The timing comes as China holds a weeklong national congress of the Chinese Communist Party, where President Xi Jinping is expected to be given an unprecedented third term as leader. At the meeting, Xi described the unification of Taiwan with mainland China as "a historic mission" of the party and threatened to use force, if necessary, to achieve it.
...
The SSBN appearance also comes roughly a month after Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised speech that Russia would defend its territorial integrity "by all means" after suffering a series of losses on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine -- in effect warning that it might use tactical nuclear weapons.
The West Virginia is one of the six SSBNs stationed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. While the speed at which an SSBN travels underwater is classified, the month since the Putin statement could match the time it would take for the West Virginia to travel from its home base on the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. to the Arabian Sea.
Russian subs are a joke and te location of every single one is known
An uneccessary provocation.
No. The stealthiest sub in the USN is the Seawolf class USS Jimmy Carter. At. 100 feet longer then the other two Seawolves, it boasts a midsection that can deploy divers, diving and rescue submersibles. It likely has a propulsion system similar to the Ohio class and is modified to be able remain stationary for extended lengths of time (like over a pipeline). Loves steaming into it’s home port with a jolly roger flying. Apparently that indicates a successful mission. I wonder where they’ve been recently
http://s3.amazonaws.com/content.washingtonexaminer.biz/web-producers/TL_20170914_GrayishSub.jpg
The Russians know when we put to sea and when we return. There’s no need to drop our drawers and flash them.
Did it have a for sale sign on it ?.
When you make a threat, you had better be prepared to carry it out. In the past our enemies knew we would carry out that threat, our civilian leaders or at least our military leaders would do so. With the current bunch of civilians and Milley and his prancing joint chiefs will we be taken seriously? What if the Russians or Chicoms call our bluff-—we are bluffing here, there is nobody in this administration or on the joint chiefs who will go to Defcon 1 and give the order to launch.
Where’s that comparison pic with General Eisenhower’s picture only showing a couple of ribbons on his uniform.
The Seawolf class is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines.
My guess is that flying the jolly roger would indicate that they intercepted and trailed an enemy sub without being detected.
Sort of like painting red stars on Fighters that shoot down enemy aircraft.
They paid a visit to the pipeline.
Aw, Come on man, do ya have to ask?
Would anybody follow Biden's order if he did? I mean anybody who is around him for 5 minutes knows he isn't of sound mind. The Commander-in-Chief's chair is vacant.
I must have missed something. Why are you posting a photo of an Army officer in a pigboat thread?
I must have missed something. Why are you posting a photo of an Army officer in a pigboat thread?
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Yep you missed the entire article - which was about an army officer touring a U.S. submarine in Arabian Sea
“But on Thursday morning, Asia time, the U.S. Central Command tweeted that its commander, Gen. Michael Kurilla, had visited the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) at an undisclosed location in international waters in the Arabian Sea. “
You are right we live in dangerous times.
[We live in very dangerous times.]
You got that right.
Hello from the future!
The folks in Groton do a fine job.
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