The U.S. Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island arrived at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, Scotland for a scheduled port visit, July 1, 2022.
The U.S. Navy say that this port visit to Faslane reflects the United States’ “commitment to our allies and partners in the region and complements the many exercises, training, operations, and other military cooperation activities conducted by Strategic Forces to ensure they are available and ready to safely and effectively operate around the globe at any time”.
The last time a U.S. Navy SSBN conducted a port visit to Faslane was when USS Alaska (SSBN 732) visited in July 2019.
“We’re excited for Rhode Island’s opportunity to visit Faslane. The United States Submarine Force has a rich history of cooperation with our U.K. allies in this strategically significant port,” said Capt. John Craddock, commander, Task Force 69.
“This port visit strengthens the U.S./U.K. cooperation and Rhode Island’s forward presence demonstrates our capability, flexibility, and continued commitment to NATO allies.”
Rhode Island is an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine. It is a launch platform for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, providing the United States with its most survivable leg of the nuclear triad.
The lead submarine of this class is USS Ohio (SSGN 726), commissioned in 1981.
Really surprised that an SSBN on patrol exposes its location via a port visit
It could be that its been relieved and is putting in for a ‘fly the flag’ visit/jolly. The UK let a bomber into Gib for a ‘jolly’ a while back.
We did? When was that Andy? I only recall the occasional Astute not Bombers?
Hi mate, I’m gonna say about 20 years ago. I’ve messaged a few mates to see if they remember. I mind it being a thing because the only jollies bomber ratings got was Kings Bay in Georgia. I’ll let you know when they get back to me. I just hope it wasn’t a dream and I wake up in the shower or something…. 🙄
98 apparently Daniele, turns out one of the guys I contacted was on it at the time.
Thanks mate, with your experience I didn’t doubt you.
Wow. Quite something!
He sent me a few phots and an article in the Navy News about it but its hard to read, I’ll see if I can post on here…..
He mentioned that they had done a ‘mini’ patrol before it to cover another unit but it had been planned for a year before that they were going to Gib. There’s not been one back since, don’t know if its because we don’t want to annoy the Spanish or just down to expense.
Yes mate, it was Vanguard, and a damm good run ashore it was too.
How familiar with the RO’s were you mate, my oppo was a baby RO on it, nearly got trooped for very badly piping the Governor onboard at Gib. 😂
That’s going back a few years mate, probably did know them all being a Dabber. That was my first of two stints on her, so lots of names to put to faces!
And this is why the info we all get from each other on here is priceless. Experience and knowledge, with a serious piss taking banter…..
Absolutely spot on mate.
What is a dabber? I’m a land lover
In house term for Sonar operators.
“Yes mate, it was Vanguard, and a damm good run ashore it was too.”
No bad runs mate, just bad runners. 😉
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That is what I do.. http://www.profit97.com
sad
I think that was one of the ‘Tomahawk’ Ohios
USS Rhode Island is a SSBN so carries nuke ballistic missiles and not conventional TLAMS.
Not so much of an issue for the yanks, bit different to us with only one sub at sea.
It can still disappear as soon as it leaves as well.
I thought the phrase was ‘at least one sub at sea’?
It is, though most of the time it will only be one. I’d hope we have the ability to be able to get a 2nd at sea at short notice if the need arises though.
Probably showing Putin and his stooges that she’s out there and ready to retaliate if need be.
The key thing is for a SSBN not to expose their location between ports.
Besides the point, but I rapidly getting cheesed at ‘excited’, & ‘passion’ for that matter.
I hope this sends a message to Putin to tell him if he has any thoughts of deleting UK with Satan he had better think about a Russia being deleted ditto.
After all UK and USA both use the same deterrent system. Who launches them would be immaterial at first sight.
Yes worth the effort to point out that the NATO nuclear powers are united, working together and in the vicinity if needed ….
If Putin used a tactical nuke I seriously doubt Biden has the balls left to respond in kind. Remember he has said publicly Ukraine is not worth starting WW3.
NATO would respond with massive conventional precision strike. Tactical Nukes are not that effective.
The point is that an aggressor wouldn’t be able to the tell the difference between British and American missiles and would have to attack both anyway, nothing to do with whoever is in office. Unless you mean Biden wouldn’t retaliate against an attack on the USA.
Is it making a delivery of recently maintained missiles? I expect we normally have to visit the US for a missile pool swap but perhaps sometimes they do the delivery and pick up.
You not only want the US to subsidize your nuclear deterrent but want it to deliver too? The Israelis would call this chutzpah.
I don’t think what I want is going to make any difference. It was mearly a question. Is this SSBN on this occassion doing a missile pool swap? Ours are getting very old, perhaps we’ve asked for help this time.
Subsidise?
I’ve never ever heard of that happening and it’s a v poor use of a strategic asset!
Our SSBN visit Kings Bay.
For their SSBN to “deliver” I think their boomer would have to go into the covered loading facility at Coulport to remove them, other wise satellites could see how many.
I don’t think USN SSBNs have ever used that facility.
Are ours any older than the USNs? It’s a joint pool I believe.
Also you’d still need to attach the UK warheads.
This boomer is just making a well publicised port call.