Pete Comment
I think it is rare that a US SSBN is reported visiting an Indian Ocean port, particularly to occasionally controversial Diego Garcia. Also note, in the Report below, USS West Virginia is home based in the Atlantic (not Pacific) specifically at Kings Bay, Georgia.
This publicized Indian Ocean presence may be partly for Putin's benefit, reminding him that however much he nuclear sabre-rattles, he is surrounded by US SLBMs. This includes central Russia's 31st and 33rd Rocket Army ICBM heartland.
I assume from Kings Bay this SSBN rounded the Cape of Good Hope (Southern Africa) to get into the Indian Ocean. Or perhaps it took the longer way round - around Cape Horn and then around "Australia's" Southern Ocean into the Indian Ocean (certainly not through the narrows of the Indonesian archipelago).
This is also assuming this SSBN does not attempt Arctic Ocean sea-routes that are presumably over-frequented by Russian SSNs and other Russian ASW platforms.
Once Australia's navy has its own SSNs one major role may be contributing to the defence of US and UK SSBNs. This would more directly involve Australia's navy in the US and UK(?) extended nuclear deterrent that covers Australia. Perhaps that has been put into words in a secret part of the AUKUS agreement. SSNs from Australia's main submarine Fleet Base West (near Perth) 2040s onwards, may be well situated to intercept China's increasingly frequent SSNs and even SSBNs entering and leaving the Indian Ocean.
Australia's Fleet Base West may increasingly serve as a more comfortable (also a duplicate) Indian Ocean base for US nuclear sub visits, especially for crew changeovers.
Report
US DoD’s unified Strategic Command, November 28, 2022, reports:
"USS West Virginia visits Diego Garcia during extended deterrence
patrol
By U.S. Strategic Command
Public Affairs
DIEGO GARCIA, British Indian Ocean Territory
- The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia
(SSBN 736) stopped in Diego Garcia for a brief port visit Oct. 25-31, 2022,
during an extended deterrence patrol providing security and stability to our
Allies.
The visit, part of West Virginia's sustained deterrence
operations in the United States Central Command and Indo-Pacific Command areas
of responsibility, emphasizes the unmatched capabilities of a ballistic missile
submarine to deter and, if necessary, respond from anywhere on the globe.
"Every operational plan rests on the assumption that
nuclear deterrence is holding, and SSBNs like West Virginia are vital to a
credible nuclear deterrence for the United States and our Allies," said
Adm. Charles Richard, commander of U.S. Strategic Command.
West Virginia is one of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs that make up the
most survivable leg of the nuclear triad by serving as an undetectable launch
platform for submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Before visiting Diego
Garcia, West Virginia surfaced to embark Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of
U.S. Central Command, in the Arabian Sea and participated in a joint, U.S.
Strategic Command-directed communications exercise to validate emerging and
innovative tactics in the Indian Ocean.
"West Virginia, like each of our ballistic missile
submarines, is specifically designed for extended deterrent patrols," said
Vice Adm. William Houston, commander of Naval Submarine Forces. "The
stealth and response capability of these submarines combined with the crew's
training make our SSBNs the most powerful warships in the world."
The submarine also conducted a complete crew exchange in Diego
Garcia and a subsequent replenishment at sea, highlighting the SSBN force's
readiness and flexibility to remain on patrol for an extended period of time.
West Virginia is one of six ballistic-missile submarines
stationed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, and can carry up to 20
submarine-launched ballistic missiles with multiple warheads.
Submarine Forces execute the Department of the Navy's strategic
deterrence mission in and from the undersea domain. In addition to lending
added capacity to naval forces, Submarine Forces, in particular, are expected
to leverage those unique advantages that come with undersea concealment to
permit operational, deterrent, and combat effects that the Navy and the nation
could not otherwise achieve.
U.S. Strategic Command forces
operate around the world, around the clock, to deter strategic attacks and
employ forces as directed to guarantee the security of our Nation and our
Allies. For more information about U.S. Strategic Command, visit https://www.stratcom.mil/. "
USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) docking at Diego Garcia. See the very short official Stratcom Youtube of the visit.
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Thanks Pete.
ReplyDeleteThinking about this story, and putting aside any debates about where AUKUS might land on SSN designs for Australia, it really is clear how important it is that FBW at HMAS Stirling learn how to maintain nuclear submarines. For UK, USA, (France) or Australia, there is not an allied nation port within 10,000 km that could do full maintenance on a malfunctioning or damaged SSN or SSBN.
I have been reading some media commentary lately about the possibility that B21s could somehow "replace" the capability of an RAN SSN. Even if that were true (and I don't believe that) it ignores the wider picture. Learning how to support SSNs isn't just about Australia.
Hi Anonymous @Dec 6, 2022, 9:12:00 PM
ReplyDeleteThanks for your interesting comments. See my reply "SSN Maintenance at FBW: Also B-21 Turnoffs." of Dec 7, 2022
at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2022/12/ssn-maintenance-at-fbw-also-b-21.html
Regards Pete