US Navy Facing Difficulties To Deliver Submarines

Columbia-class submarine construction remains a Pentagon priority. (US Navy) 

James: Struggles continue for US Navy to meet submarine-building requirements, commitments 

The US Navy (USN) has continued to face difficulties in delivering Virginia-class attack submarines (SSNs), maintaining existing vessels, and gearing up for the construction and delivery schedule for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) meant to replace the Ohio-class boats for the US fleets. 

Meeting the requirements for the trinational Australian, UK, and US (AUKUS) agreement to bolster the Australian submarine fleet will likely mean a dip in the US submarine fleet below its future goals and needs, according to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

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Update: The Sinking Submarine Industrial Base (War On The Rocks)  

WNU Editor: Cost overruns are also becoming a problem .... US Navy’s $20 Billion Program To Develop 12 Columbia-Class Submarines In Financial Trouble (EurAsian Times).

U.S. Navy Accelerating Its Life Extensions For Some Ohio-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines Earlier Than Expected

The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine Wyoming returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in 2014 following routine operations. (MC1 Rex Nelson/U.S. Navy)  

Defense News: US Navy may accelerate investments to extend some Ohio subs’ lives 

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. — The U.S. Navy may begin investing in life extensions for some Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines earlier than expected, with the service secretary telling a crowd that spending could begin in fiscal 2025. 

The Navy requires at least 10 of these submarines are available for operations at any given time. These ballistic missile submarines lurk in waters around the globe with nuclear missiles onboard, their sole mission being to remain hidden and ready if called upon in a doomsday scenario. 

As a hedge against shortfalls in the 2030s as the Ohio class reaches the end of its life and the Columbia class enters service, the Navy has considered extending select Ohio boats by a few years. In November, submarine community leaders said a decision would be made by FY26 so work could start in FY29.  

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WNU Editor: Talk about a lack of confidence that the new Columbia class submarines will be entering the service on time.

U.S. Nuclear Submarines Are Making Their Presence Known

The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Alaska returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay following a patrol, in Kings Bay, Georgia, in May 2014. | U.S. NAVY / VIA REUTERS  

Japan Times/Bloomberg: U.S. submarines are popping up more often and it's not clear why 

A U.S. nuclear-armed submarine will make a publicly announced visit to South Korea within months, prompting debate about the wisdom of a heightened public role for what’s long been known as the Navy’s “silent service.” 

Pentagon officials confirmed that one of the Navy’s 14 Ohio-class vessels will visit, as President Joe Biden signaled in announcing a “Nuclear Consultative Group” during last month’s White House visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. 

The submarines, nicknamed Boomers, gained the silent service description because they are designed to glide undetected, and their port calls have seldom been disclosed — much less trumpeted — by their usually taciturn commanders. Each of the subs carries up to 20 D-5 Trident ballistic missiles. 

The U.S. has occasionally showcased its submarines in the past, but the pace picked up in the last year with publicized port visits by nuclear-armed Ohio-class submarines as well as Los Angeles-class subs carrying conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Biden administration’s Nuclear Posture Review endorsed such demonstrations last year. 

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WNU Editor: Its all about sending a message .... The US Navy is putting its submarines on rare public display in a message to Russia's growing undersea force (Insider).

U.S. Navy Plans To Expand Its Submarine Fleet At A Cost Of $200 Billion

The recently commissioned USS Oregon pulling into base in Groton, Connecticut. John Narewski/U.S. Navy © John Narewski/U.S. Navy  

Newsweek: Exclusive: Navy Will Spend $200 Billion—Equal to Ukraine's GDP—on Subs It Barely Uses 

The U.S. Navy plans to expand its submarine fleet at a cost of $200 billion, equivalent to the GDP of Ukraine. But as Republicans hotly debate ongoing military aid to Kiev, neither party has questioned the far more costly submarine program—allowing the Navy to conceal a startling fact about America's submarine fleet. The Navy calls its submarines "the most lethal and capable force." It is also the "silent service," shrouded in secrecy, the nature of its operations closely guarded. 

The American attack submarine force—the "fighting" submarines—exists in order to pursue enemy submarines and ships, eavesdrop on adversaries and support operations by special forces. Hollywood productions like The Hunt for Red October have created the impression of submarines tracking the enemy while moving noiselessly under the sea, operating stealthily for months on end. The reality is markedly different. The U.S. Navy can deploy barely a quarter of its attack submarine force at any one time, and last year, despite a war raging in Ukraine and China's rise as a global superpower, only 10 percent of its submarines operated stealthily by spending more than 30 days fully submerged. 

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WNU Editor: I am surprised to learn that only a fraction of the US submarine fleet is deployed at any one time.

U.S. Navy To Get New Unique Submarine

The U.S. Navy plans a single Mod VA SSW submarine. Work is already underway at famous submarine builder Electric Boat in Groton. The main observable difference from other Virginia's will be the special mission insert with extended drop keel.  

Naval News: U.S. Navy To Get New Unique Submarine: Virginia SSW 

The USS Jimmy Carter is widely regarded as the most secretive submarine in the U.S. Navy. It is especially equipped for Seabed Warfare, unreported missions deep below the waves. Now a new seabed warfare submarine, using a Virginia Class hull, is planned. 

The USS Jimmy Carter is currently the U.S. Navy’s principal seabed warfare submarine, specially fitted for covert spy missions deep beneath the waves. Now plans are underway to build a follow on special spy submarine using the newer Virginia Class hull. 

A single Mod VA SSW (Modified Virginia, Subsea and Seabed Warfare) version of the Virginia Class is expected to be built.  

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WNU Editor: This new sub will be a successor to the USS Jimmy Carter (more on the USS Jimmy Carter is here).

U.S. Navy Has Started Repairs On The USS Connecticut (SSN 22) 16 Months After Being Damaged In A Collision

USS Connecticut (SSN 22) gets assist from a tug as it leaves San Diego harbor on December 15, 2021. Note the sheared off bow and the lack of a sonar dome. San Diego WebCam photo via USNI News 

Naval News: U.S. Navy Commences USS Connecticut (SSN 22) Repairs 

Naval News reached out to NAVSEA to ask the status of repairs on the Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, USS Connecticut (SSN 22). The submarine hit a seamount in international waters in the INDO-PACOM area on October 2, 2021. According to a previous Naval News story on the Connecticut, repairs supposedly started in February 2023. 

In general, the U.S. Navy considers submarine operations “Classified Secret”. Therefore, information on submarine repairs remains elusive at best. A search of government contracting websites reveals no (detailed) information on the ordering of parts for the USS Connecticut as of March 2023.  

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WNU Editor: 16 months to start repairs on a critical US Navy submarine. This is just more evidence on the US Navy's lack of infrastructure to take care of its fleet. 

Update: The reason for the accident was revealed in an investigation that was made public last year .... Investigation: USS Connecticut South China Sea Grounding Result of Lax Oversight, Poor Planning (USNI News).

U.S. Nuclear Attack Submarine Makes A Port Call In South Korea

The USS Springfield nuclear-powered fast attack submarine arrives at a naval base in Busan, Saturday. Courtesy of US Pacific Fleet  

EurAsian Times: US Nuclear Submarine, USS Springfield, Makes Port Call In South Korea Amid Flaring Tensions With North 

On Saturday, the US 7th Fleet announced the arrival of its fast-attack submarine USS Springfield at the naval base in the South Korean port city of Busan in an apparent show of force aimed at the North. 

“The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) pulled into port in Busan, February 23,” the fleet said on social media. 

Los Angeles-class submarines make routine port calls in South Korea as part of the US navy’s forward-deployed submarine force in the Indo-Pacific. 

The length of the submarine’s stay was not revealed. USS Springfield is billed as one of the most capable ships in the entire US navy. Its home port is in Guam, in the western Pacific.  

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Update #1: Nuclear-powered sub arrives in South Korea amid NK provocations (Korea Times)  

Update #2: U.S. nuclear-powered submarine arrives in Busan (Yonhap News Agency)  

WNU Editor: The US and South Korea are sending the North a message. North Korea is sending its own message .... North not backing down ahead of South-U.S. joint military exercises (The Korea JoongAng Daily).

US Navy Nuclear Submarines Off The Coast Of Europe Has Doubled Since The Start Of The Russia - Ukraine War

Few images of LA Class departing this afternoon.

🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿#Submarines #submariner #shipsinpics #navy #submarine #faslane #usnavy #usnavy #hmnbclyde pic.twitter.com/QCM5d9bwmy

— Dougie Coull Photography 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@DougieCoullPics) December 2, 2022

UK Defense Journal: The number of US Navy nuclear submarines off the coast of Europe has doubled 

The number of sightings of American nuclear submarines visiting Scotland this year has doubled over the same period last year. 

We reported previously that while visits themselves are common, the frequency of visits is not common. Neither is it common for visits to be publicised by the U.S. Navy or Royal Navy unlike the visit of the USS Rhode Island, a Trident-armed nuclear submarine, that arrived (and departed) earlier this year. 

In figures reported here, it is claimed that double the usual number of NATO submarines have been spotted heading to and from the key Faslane naval base. 

"Sightings so far this year stand at 85 compared with 43 for the whole of 2021, and include a string of America’s most advanced Virginia-class fast-attack submarines.”  

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Update #1: The number of US Navy nuclear submarines off the coast of Europe has doubled (Mezha)  

Update #2: Number of US submarines off UK's coast have DOUBLED this year as NATO allies send a message of strength to Russian menace Vladimir Putin (Daily Mail)  

WNU Editor: The US Navy is not in the habit of publicizing where their nuclear submarines are deployed. But no one should be surprised that in view of tensions in Europe, the US Navy has increased its presence in the region.

In A Sign That Nuclear Tensions Are Rising, A US Nuclear Ballistic Submarine Has Entered The Mediterranean

A Mexeflote barge loaded with shipping containers is seen here positioned alongside the hull of USS Rhode Island at His Majesty's Naval Base Gibraltar. William Jardim  

Daily Express: World’s largest nuclear submarine leaves Gibraltar to make way for Black Sea 

The USS Rhode Island left port in the British overseas territory amid concerns of a Russian false flag operation. 

The world’s largest nuclear submarine has been spotted leaving Gibraltar under intense protection from the Royal Marines as it reportedly heads towards the Black Sea. 

The USS Rhode Island’s departure comes as fears grow over what Vladimir Putin will do after another humiliating retreat. 

Yesterday, the Russian President called for civilians to leave Kherson in the south of Ukraine due to the advancing counter-offensive on the occupied city.  

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Update: U.S. nuclear submarine dubbed ‘rider of the apocalypse’ enters the Mediterranean -- Asia Markets  

WNU Editor: I am skeptical that Turkey will permit the USS Rhode Island to cross the Bosporus Strait to Enter the black Sea. Turkey has made it very clear that they will permit no warships to cross the strait with the current war now underway. 

But should it cross and enter the Black Sea. I will consider such a move as proof to me that US nuclear forces are now at Defcon 2.

US Navy Sub Leaders Are Saying “We Are In Our Most Dangerous Decade Right Now With The Geopolitical Threats We Face”

The attack submarine USS Virginia (SSN 774) arrives at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for an extended drydock selective restrictive availability. (US Navy)  

Breaking Defense: As AUKUS looms, US Navy sub leaders sound alarms at home  

“We are in our most dangerous decade right now with the geopolitical threats we face,” said Vice Adm. Bill Houston, commander of submarine forces.  

WASHINGTON — The US Navy’s top submariners gathered this week just minutes away from the Pentagon and with increasing levels of urgency, conveyed a similar and at times ominous message: The need for the silent service to “get real, get better” is both immediate and imperative. 

“We are in our most dangerous decade right now with the geopolitical threats we face,” said Vice Adm. Bill Houston, commander of submarine forces. The Navy has significantly increased the physical size of the submarines it is building in the past decade, but “we’re doing this with an industrial base that has actually shrunk.”  

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WNU Editor: One can debate how dangerous the next decade will be. But there is no debate that these US Navy sub commanders want to have more subs .... US Navy wants to avoid shortfall of nuke-armed subs in 2030s (Defense News). More here .... Navy Expanding Attack Submarine Presence on Guam as a Hedge Against Growing Chinese Fleet (USNI News).

US Navy Wants A Block Buy For The Next Five Columbia-Class Subs

Artist rendering of the future Columbia-class nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), which will replace the Ohio-class submarines. Construction work on the submarine program helped drive first quareter sales at GD. (Illustration: U.S. Navy)  

Breaking Defense: Navy plans to seek block buy for next five Columbia-class subs 

A five-sub buy would have the potential to save billions in taxpayer dollars if executed well. 

WASHINGTON — The Navy wants to purchase the next five hulls for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program in a five-ship block, a plan that will require special permission from Congress but also has the potential to yield billions in savings. 

Rear Adm. Scott Pappano, the program executive officer for strategic submarines, told an audience here at the Naval Submarine League symposium the choice to purchase hulls three through seven in a block is meant to send a “positive signal” to the industrial base as well as maintain the program’s notoriously thin schedule margin. 

 “That was the most cost-effective method of trying to mitigate the transition risk of Ohio to Columbia in the mid-2030s,” he said, referring to the Navy’s eventual transition from the legacy Ohio-class submarines to the new Columbia class.  

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Update: Navy Planning Five-Ship Block Buy Of Columbia SSBNs, Little Margin Left On First Sub (Defense Daily)  

WNU Editor: There are also plans to extend the life of 5 Ohio-class subs .... US Navy wants to avoid shortfall of nuke-armed subs in 2030s (Defense News). More here .... A Handful of Ohio Subs Could Get Yet Another Service Life Extension (Defense one), and here .... Navy Could Extend Life of Five Ohio-class Ballistic Missile Boats to Hedge Against Columbia Program Delays (USNI News).

Another U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarine Makes A Public Appearance

The USS Rhode Island in Gibraltar on November 1, 2022. DM Parody 2022 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidparody/) 

Warzone/The Drive: Second U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarine Makes Unusual Appearance In Just Two Weeks  

USS Rhode Island’s public port call in Gibraltar follows the even more unusual Navy disclosure about the USS West Virginia in the Arabia Sea.  

The U.S. Navy's Ohio class ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island has made a very uncommon public port visit to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The public announcement about this stopover is also unusual and even more so coming nearly two weeks after the U.S. Central Command made the extremely curious decision to disclose that another one of these submarines, the USS West Virginia, was operating in the Arabian Sea. As in that case, it's difficult not to view Rhode Island's ostensibly scheduled stop in Gibraltar as messaging aimed at potential adversaries, such as Russia, as well as allies and partners.  

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WNU Editor: Another Ohio class ballistic submarine showing up. The U.S. is making the world aware that America's nuclear forces are present everywhere.

US Discloses Presence Of U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarine In The Arabian Sea

Today the CENTCOM Commander embarked the USS West Virginia Ballistic Missile Submarine pic.twitter.com/fv98lYhD89

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 19, 2022

FOX News: CENTCOM commander visits Navy nuclear submarine in Arabian Sea amid tensions with Pakistan and Iran 

The Navy submarine visit in the Arabian Sea comes amid tensions with Pakistan 

The commander of the Defense Department's Central Command (CENTCOM) visited a nuclear submarine in international waters Wednesday in a possible move designed to send a message to adversaries in the region. 

Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla embarked aboard the USS West Virginia, a U.S. Navy Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, somewhere in the Arabian Sea, a news release said. 

During the visit, he received a demonstration of the vessel's capabilities, which operates globally under the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). 

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US Discloses Presence Of U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarine In The Arabian Sea  

CENTCOM Commander embarks USS West Virginia Ballistic Missile Submarine -- Navy.mil  

US general on rare visit to nuclear-armed sub in Arabian Sea -- AP  

Highly Unusual Disclosure Made Of U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarine’s Presence In Arabian Sea -- Warzone/The Drive  

Stealthiest U.S. submarine makes rare appearance in Arabian Sea -- Nikkei Asia

Why these 4 Ohio-Class Ballistic Submarines Became Cruise Missile ‘Carriers’

The guided-missile submarine USS Georgia, right, transits the Strait of Hormuz with the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal, the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, not pictured, and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 48. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Indra Beaufort) 

Peter Suciu, Natinal Interest: How 4 Ohio-Class Ballistic Submarines Became Cruise Missile ‘Carriers’  

This submarine is one of the most powerful to ever go under the waves. 

The “Buckeye State” may be nearly 500 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, but ask any U.S. Navy submariner about the Ohio-class submarines and they'll tell you it is a platform that should strike fear into America's enemies. The submarine class that serves the Navy was developed as a virtually undetectable undersea launch platform to launch intercontinental missiles. 

As the largest subs ever constructed for the U.S. Navy, and the third-largest submarines ever built, the boats were designed to carry the concurrently developed Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles. A total of eighteen of the Ohio-class submarines were constructed by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics between 1981 and 1997. 

According to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II), which was agreed in June 1992, the number of U.S. Navy strategic missile submarines was limited to fourteen beginning in 2002. Rather than simply phasing out or decommissioning four of the boats, the U.S. Navy opted to convert them to conventionally armed nuclear-powered cruise missile-submarines (SSGNs). 

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WNU Editor: One of these subs is currently in the Persian Gulf .... US Navy sails nuclear sub in Persian Gulf amid Iran tensions (NYPost).

The U.S. Navy Moves To More Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles On Its Submarines In The Pacific

The attack submarine Annapolis launches Tomahawk cruise missiles off the coast of Southern California in 2018. (MC1 Ronald Gutridge/U.S. Navy) 

Defense News: The US Navy is moving to put more ship-killer missiles on submarines 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is pushing ahead with fielding more anti-ship cruise missiles on submarines in the Pacific, the head of U.S. Navy Submarine Forces said Monday. 

As the U.S. fleet grapples with the rising threat of China’s expanding Navy, which now has more ships than the U.S. Navy’s fleet on both coasts combined, the service is packing its submarines with longer-range weapons, including the forthcoming Maritime Strike Tomahawk, Vice Adm. Daryl Caudle said. 

“We’re increasing our range and how we deliver kinetic effects,” Caudle said. "Long-range torpedoes, of course, because that’s our clandestine weapon, but also bringing back Harpoon in the Pacific. We’ve tested that capability — we know it works. The weapon, as everyone knows, has limitations, but still gives us some stand-off capability. And we’re also pressing hard to get the Maritime Strike Tomahawk building as well.”

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WNU Editor: What I found more interesting in the above post is this link from June from the person who is widely expected to be the next US Defense Secretary .... How to Prevent a War in Asia (Michèle A. Flournoy, Foreign Affairs). What she is basically saying is that the US military should be able to “credibly threaten to sink all of China’s military vessels, submarines, and merchant ships in the South China Sea within 72 hours.”

The U.S. Navy's Future Attack Submarine Will Be Bigger, More Lethal, And Stealthier

In this Jan. 9, 2008 photo released by the U.S. Navy, The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Wyoming approaches Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. (Lt. Rebecca Rebarich/U.S. Navy 

FOX News/Warrior Maven: Future Navy attack submarine for 2030 - bigger, more lethal, stealthier 

Slated to emerge in the 2030s, a new SSN (X) class of attack submarines may be closer in size to the Navy’s much larger new Columbia-class of nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines 

The Navy’s future attack submarines for the 2030s will be bigger, faster, more autonomous, networked and stealthier than the existing Virginia-class attack boats because greater size will allow for more advanced quieting technologies to be built into the boats. 

Slated to emerge in the 2030s, a new SSN (X) class of attack submarines may be closer in size to the Navy’s much larger new Columbia-class of nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines, according to quotes from BWXT CEO Rex Geveden cited in a report from the U.S. Naval Institute. 

The Columbia class is planned to displace about 20,000 tons – whereas the current Virginias displace about 8,000 tons. The Columbia-class hulls are about 42-feet in diameter, while the Virginias are 36-feet wide, the report says. 

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WNU Editor: More details here .... BWXT CEO: Navy’s Next-Generation SSN(X) Attack Boat Will Build Off Columbia Class (USNI News).

Update: It looks like this new sub is not going to be cheap .... The U.S. Navy’s New Attack Submarine Could Be Huge—And Expensive (Forbes).

This Is The US Submarine That Will Stop A Russian Submarine Swarm In The North Atlantic

USS 'Seawolf' operates in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations and conducts a brief stop for personnel in the vicinity of Tromso, Norway, on Aug. 21, 2020. U.S. NAVY 

  Forbes: The Russians Have Spent 40 Years Preparing For Undersea Slaughter—The U.S. Navy Built A Submarine To Stop It 

In mid-October 2019, the Russian navy sortied every operational attack submarine in its Northern Fleet into the cold waters of the high North Atlantic. 

Nearly a year later, the U.S. Navy deployed one of its own most capable, and secretive, attack subs through the same volume of ocean. USS Seawolf. 

The separate but similar events clearly were no coincidence. Russia has spent decades preparing its subs to control key volumes of the North Atlantic. 

The United States has spent decades preparing to thwart that plan. Seawolf is an important part of the American effort. 

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WNU Editor: Unfortunately for the US, they have only 3 'Seawolf' type submarines in their fleet.

Submarine Spotted Off The Coast Of Alaska Was American Nto Russian As Initialy Reported

This photo shows a submarine surfaced not far from the shore of U.S.-owned St. Matthew Island, in the Bering Sea. Fishermen thought the submarine was Russian, but defense analysts say it’s a U.S. naval vessel. (Courtesy Mike Fitzgerald)

Forbes: Submarine Scare Off Alaska May Have Been U.S. Navy, Not Russian

There has been speculation about the identity of a submarine that reportedly surfaced off Alaska last week. U.S. Northern Command tweeted that they were monitoring the situation. Analysis of potential Russian Navy submarines pointed to the Omsk, an Oscar-II Class cruise missile submarine. A submarine had been spotted by crews of Alaskan fishing trawlers, who had also seen Russian warships in the area. But now a photo of the alleged submarine has emerged, at least the one seen by the fishing vessels. And it is not Russian.

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Previous Post: Russian Navy Submarine Surfaces Near Alaska (August 28, 2020)

WNU Editor: Yup. That is definitely a US sub.

U.S. Navy Releases Pictures Of The USS Seawolf In A Norwegian Fjord

USS Seawolf on the surface in a fjord near Tromsø, Norway on Aug. 21, 2020. USN

Warzone/The Drive: Navy Makes Unusual Public Display Of Its Secretive Seawolf Submarine's Presence Off Norway

The visible deployment of the advanced submarine is a pointed signal to Russia, which has stepped up its own sub operations in the region.


The U.S. Navy has released a number of pictures of the first-in-class USS Seawolf surfaced in a fjord near Tromsø, Norway last week. The service is typically very tight-lipped about submarine operations, in general, and even more so about its three highly advanced and secretive Seawolf class boats, which are known to be heavily involved in specialized intelligence activities, among other missions. This very rare public appearance in Scandinavia would seem to be intended, at least in part, to send a message to the Russian government about American underwater capabilities in the region.

The Navy first announced that Seawolf had visited Norway and was otherwise operating in that region on Aug. 21, 2020, which was itself an unusual public disclosure. The pictures of the submarine making what was described only as "a brief stop for personnel" appeared online on Aug. 25. It is very uncommon to see official photographs of this submarine, or the others in its class, outside of exercises or its homeport at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington State. Defense journalist Chris Cavas, who follows naval issues closely, noted on Twitter that this also appears to be the first time the Navy has released photos of Seawolf anywhere, in any context in five years.

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WNU Editor: I do not see the public display of this submarine as a signal to Russia. The Russians know that these subs are operating near its borders. I see this display as a message to America's allies in Europe that the US is still committed to the defense of Europe.

The United States Navy’s Submarine Force Is Getting Ready For Combat With Russia And China

Warzone/The Drive: The Navy Now Has A Submarine Aggressor Squadron

The unit is intended to provide Navy submariners and anti-submarine forces with an opponent that fights just like a wide range of potential foes.

The U.S. Navy has stood up an aggressor squadron to train its submariners, as well as anti-submarine forces, about what to expect from their potential opposing counterparts, especially those in Russia and China, and help explore new tactics, techniques, and procedures to counter those threats. One of its focus areas is already on how electronic warfare impacts submarine warfare operations.

The unit, abbreviated AGGRON, is part of the Navy's Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC). It has elements at both the UWDC's headquarters at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut and at the Point Loma Annex in San Diego, California. The Navy formally established the squadron between the Spring and Summer of 2019, according to issues of Undersea Warfare magazine, the official publication of the Submarine Force. The service had first publicly announced its plans to create AGGRON in 2018 as we reported on at the time.

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Update: The U.S. Navy's Aggressor Squadron Is Getting Ready for Combat with Russia and China (National Interest).

WNU Editor: I thought the US Navy always had a submarine aggressor squadron.