The USS Ohio’s visit to Brisbane comes in advance of the upcoming 80th anniversary of World War II in the Pacific, and highlights the significance of the Australian city.
The United States Navy rarely discloses the exact whereabouts of its ballistic missile or cruise missile submarines, which routinely spend much of their time undersea while on patrol. However, this past weekend, the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN-726) arrived in Brisbane, Australia, with much fanfare as part of a previously scheduled port visit.
The submarine joined the forward-deployed Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS-40), which arrived in Queensland a day earlier, enabling the nuclear-powered SSGN to be replenished while “down under.”
How the US Navy Keeps the Silent Service Running
Although all of the US Navy’s nuclear submarines have virtually unlimited range, the crews still need to be fed, and the submarines periodically need to undergo maintenance. To ensure that the boats can be resupplied while deployed, the sea service operates two submarine tenders, which serve as portable mobile supply and repair facilities.
Along with the USS Emory S. Land (AS-39), USS Frank Cable remains the only submarine tender currently in service. AS-39, which had been passed in Perth, Australia, last year, carried out a first-of-its-kind “voyage repair” on the Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN-766). It was the first time a submarine had been serviced overseas since the Second World War.
Both tenders were commissioned in 1979, but their planned retirements are fast approaching. Current plans call for AS-39 and AS-40 to be retired in 2029 and 2030, respectively; both boats will be replaced by the future AS(X) class now in development.
What Makes the USS Ohio‘s Visit to Australia Historic?
SSGN-726’s and AS-40’s visit to Brisbane comes in advance of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Second World War in the Pacific, and highlights the significance of the Australian city.
“During World War II, Brisbane served as a major submarine hub, hosting over 70 US Navy submarines and three submarine tenders,” the US Navy explained in a statement.
As reported by USNI News, “The Pentagon is selective in broadcasting the deployments of the four guided-missile Ohio-class submarines,” as the “goal is to project uncertainty in potential adversaries using the combination of stealth and firepower.”
All About the Ohio-Class Submarine
The US Navy currently operates four conventionally-armed Ohio-class cruise missile nuclear-powered submarines (SSGNs), converted from ballistic missile carriers under the 1993 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II). Though no longer part of the US military’s nuclear triad, the boats remain well-armed vessels, each equipped with 22 missile tubes that can hold seven Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM), for a total of 154 missiles.
In addition, the converted submarines were also given the space and necessary changes to host up to 66 Special Forces (SOF) personnel and two missile tubes modified to lockout-out chambers for Dry Deck Shelter (DDS). The conversion also resulted in these vessels trading their SLBM control-related facilities for the Common Submarine Radio Room (CSRR) and two High-Data-Rate antennas. That greatly expanded the communication capabilities of the boats, and each was equipped with the necessary systems to act as a forward-deployed Small Combatant Joint Command Center for the Special Forces onboard.
When on a Strategic Deterrent Patrol, each Ohio-class submarine (both the SSBNs and SSGNs) operates with a crew of up to 170, including officers and enlisted sailors, and spends roughly 70 days at sea, followed by a 25-day maintenance period. Two crews are assigned to each of the boats, designated “Blue” and “Gold,” allowing the submarines to increase their deployments and to average 66 percent of their time at sea. Each crew has its own captain.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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