US sends nuclear submarine to Middle East as tensions peak

The US has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East by deploying a guided missile submarine, announced the Pentagon on Sunday. This move comes as tensions in the region escalate, with the US already dispatching a carrier group and deploying F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the area.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to safeguarding Israel and highlighted the enhancement of US military capabilities throughout the Middle East in response to the growing regional tensions.

The Pentagon‘s statement said the US was ready to take all necessary measures to defend its allies.

The Pentagon statement said the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered vessel, is being deployed to the Middle East.

While submarines are regularly sent to various regions as part of patrols, it is unusual for the US to make an official statement, disclosing the destination. According to media reports, the USS Georgia had been stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, as of July.

USS Georgia – a submarine with a long history

The USS Georgia, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, has a long history of service. It was laid down in April 1979 at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, and launched in November 1982. The submarine was officially commissioned on February 11, 1984 at the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory in New London, Connecticut.

Initially based in Bangor, Washington, USS Georgia began its first strategic deterrent patrol in January 1985. The submarine has been recognised with multiple commendations for its operations during the 1980s and was awarded the Battle Efficiency “E” by Commander, Submarine Squadron 17 in 2001.

In October 2004, USS Georgia was redesignated as a guided-class submarine (SSGN) after successfully completing the “Silent Hammer” exercise, a proof-of-concept operation for its new role. Following an overhaul and conversion, it was relocated to Kings Bay, Georgia, in December 2007.

The USS Georgia is equipped with a formidable arsenal, including 154 Tomahawk missiles and four torpedo tubes, and is capable of exceeding speeds of 20 knots when submerged. The vessel’s crew comprises 15 officers and 150 enlisted personnel.

In addition to the submarine, the US is also sending the USS Abraham Lincoln, among its biggest aircraft carriers to the Middle East, along with the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. The USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been stationed in the Asia-Pacific region, is expected to arrive in the Middle East by the end of the month as Pentagon issued a statement that the carrier strike group had departed Guam.

It added that the aircraft carrier was ordered to “accelerate its transit” to the US’ Central Command area.

The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group consists of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), embarked staffs of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Three and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Nine, USS O’Kane (DDG 77), USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), and USS Spruance (DDG 111) of DESRON 21.

The aircraft carrier is equipped with F-35C and F/A-18 fighter jets, further enhancing the US’s military capabilities in the region.

This deployment underscores the precariousness of the situation in the region as the US boosts its existing military presence in the Middle East.

Read: US boosts military capability in the Middle East, sends F-22 jets