US Reveals Nuclear Submarine in China's Backyard

The United States has deployed a nuclear-powered submarine, armed with over 100 long-range missiles, to the Western Pacific Ocean amid China's rapid naval fleet expansion.
The deployment of USS Ohio, a guided-missile submarine, reflected America's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Submarine Group Seven, which commands submarines deployed in the Western Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea, told Newsweek.
Newsweek has also reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Photos released by the U.S. Submarine Group Seven on Tuesday show the Ohio arrived at Naval Base Guam on April 23. The island of Guam is home to several U.S. military bases, serving as a major staging area to project America's power against China, which is 1,800 miles away.
Under a U.S. containment strategy, Guam is part of the Second Island Chain, which aims to restrict China's naval access to the Pacific Ocean by leveraging U.S.-aligned territories.
The Ohio is one of four U.S. Navy Ohio-class guided-missile submarines, along with USS Michigan, USS Florida, and USS Georgia. These submarines were converted from nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines to carry conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Each of these submarines can be armed with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of hitting land targets precisely from 1,000 miles away. They are also designed to support special operation missions by accommodating up to 66 personnel and their equipment.
The Chinese navy-the largest in the world by hull count, with over 370 vessels, including 12 nuclear-powered submarines and 48 diesel-electric-powered submarines-has highly prioritized modernizing its submarine force, the Pentagon said in a report.
The missile-armed submarine, which is homeported in Bangor, Washington, was conducting what it called "routine operations" in the U.S. Seventh Fleet, according to a photo caption. The Fleet's area of operations covers both the Western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
The submarine was still in Guam as of May 6, when it conducted an exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps at the base. The drill was part of ongoing efforts to provide "flexible, forward-postured, and quick-response options" to regional commanders, another photo caption read.
The Ohio and its sister ships provide "unprecedented strike and special operation mission capabilities" from a stealth, clandestine platform, the U.S. Submarine Group Seven said in response to a Newsweek inquiry, adding that they are ready to operate globally at any time.
According to ship spotters, the Ohio left its homeport in late February for a westward voyage to Hawaii. It set sail again in early April, departing from Pearl Harbor en route to Guam.
This marked the third deployment of an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine to the Western Pacific Ocean in less than a year. The Florida and the Michigan made port calls in Guam in early July and early November in 2024, respectively, Newsweek previously reported.
While the Michigan shares its homeport with the Ohio, the Florida and the Georgia are based out of Kings Bay in Georgia. A satellite image captured in mid-April appears to show the Georgia docked at the island of Diego Garcia, a remote U.S. base in the Indian Ocean.
The U.S. Navy said: "The [guided-missile submarine] is a key element of the Navy's future fighting force. With its tremendous payload capacity, dual crew deployment concept, and inherent stealth, each [guided-missile submarine] brings mission flexibility and enhanced capabilities to the warfighter."
The U.S. Submarine Group Seven said: "Submarine Group [Seven] will advance the interests of the United States and the security of prosperity of the region by effectively employing forward deployed, combat capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare. We will endeavor to prevent conflict but remain prepared to win decisively."
It remains to be seen whether the Ohio will continue its deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean or transit toward the Middle East to supplement American naval forces in the region.
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