American nuclear missile sub departs Scotland

A U.S. Navy Ohio-class submarine departed HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane on Friday afternoon after a short visit to the submarine base.

The ballistic missile submarine was observed leaving the base on the Gare Loch before transiting the Firth of Clyde and heading into the North Atlantic. The U.S. Navy has not publicly identified the vessel, consistent with its policy of not discussing the movements of strategic submarines.

Faslane, located near Helensburgh on Scotland’s west coast, is home to the United Kingdom’s submarine fleet and serves as the operating base for the Royal Navy’s Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines and Astute-class attack submarines.

The Ohio-class forms the backbone of the United States’ sea-based nuclear deterrent. The ballistic missile variants are equipped with Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and conduct extended deterrent patrols as part of the U.S. nuclear triad. Each Ohio-class submarine displaces around 18,000 tonnes submerged and measures approximately 170 metres in length. Powered by a nuclear reactor, the vessels are designed for long-endurance deployments, with operational cycles supported by two rotating crews.

Port visits by U.S. submarines to the United Kingdom take place periodically and are part of long-standing defence cooperation between the two countries. The United States and the United Kingdom operate closely aligned nuclear deterrent forces and both deploy variants of the Trident D5 missile from their ballistic missile submarines.

The base is also being upgraded to support the Royal Navy’s next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines. The Dreadnought-class boats, which will replace the Vanguard class, are currently under construction and are expected to enter service in the early 2030s.