American sub in Scotland after ‘message’ to Russia

Earlier this month, the USS Tennessee participated in a rare joint operation in the Norwegian Sea.

The exercise also included the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and an E-6B Mercury.

The U.S. Navy told me that this routine port visit to Faslane “reinforces the United States’ commitment to our Allies and partners in the region”.

This multi-domain naval exercise was part of a broader show of force intended for Russia. The USS Tennessee’s involvement in this operation is particularly noteworthy because ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) rarely surface during missions, making this visible presence a significant signal of deterrence.

The U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet highlighted the exercise on social media, stating: “Multi-Domain Readiness in action. Guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy and ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee steam alongside in the Norwegian Sea while a P-8A Poseidon and E-6B Mercury fly overhead.”

The submarine is now berthed at HMNB Clyde. The base is sited at Faslane in the west of Scotland not far from Glasgow, one of Britain’s largest cities. It’s one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy, the others being HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth. It is best known as the home of Britain’s nuclear weapons, in the form of nuclear submarines armed with Trident missiles.

The Ohio-class submarines are a cornerstone of the United States’ nuclear deterrent strategy, forming part of the nuclear triad along with the U.S. Air Force’s strategic bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The USS Tennessee, like other Ohio-class SSBNs, is capable of carrying 24 Trident II missiles, making it one of the most potent assets in the U.S. Navy’s arsenal. These submarines collectively carry about half of the U.S. active strategic thermonuclear warheads. The Ohio class is expected to be gradually replaced by the Columbia class beginning in 2031.

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