HONG KONG (Transatlantic Today) – Analysts say one of the US Navy’s most heavy weaponry made an unusual port visit in Guam, this weekend, delivering a message to major allies and rivals amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions.
On Saturday, the USS Nevada, a nuclear-powered submarine of the Ohio class containing twenty trident ballistic missiles with tens of nuclear warheads, were received at the Navy base in US Pacific territory. It is the first time a ballistic missile submarine, sometimes known as a “boomer,” has been to Guam since 2016, and only the second time since the 1980s.
The operations of the US Navy’s 14 boomers are normally closely guarded secrets. The warships’ nuclear power helps to stay underwater for months at a time, with only the supplies required to keep their personnel of over 150 sailors.
According to the Navy, Ohio-class submarines spend an average of 77 days at sea before returning to port for repairs and resupply.
Outside of their native ports of Bangor, Washington, and Kings Bay, Georgia, it’s not usual for it to be pictured. The “most important survivable leg of the nuclear triad,” which also comprises silo-based ballistic missiles on the US mainland and nuclear-capable bombers like the B-2 and B-52, is the confidentiality around nuclear submarines.
But, as CNN reports, with tensions between the US and China over the position of Taiwan’s self-ruled island and North Korea speeding up missile testing, US can send a statement with its nuclear submarines which neither Beijing nor Pyongyang can.
North Korea’s ballistic nuclear submarine program is still in its initial phase, while China’s projected six nuclear submarine fleet pales in comparison to the US Navy’s. According to an analysis in 2021 by analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, China’s nuclear submarines lack the capability of the US boomers. CSIS analysts stated in August that China’s Type 094 nuclear submarines make twice as much noise than US submarines, making them easier to detect and carry less missiles and warheads.
Guam was last visited by a US Navy boomer in 2016 when the USS Pennsylvania made a stop there.
Analysts say tensions in the Indo-Pacific have risen dramatically since then, and further military shows from Washington are expected in the current scenario.