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Navy Releases Photo of Ballistic Missile Submarine in Gibraltar
The U.S. Navy shared an image of an Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine docked in Gibraltar on Monday. The service said the visit demonstrates American capability and commitment to NATO allies. The disclosure is rare because the locations of nuclear-armed submarines are normally kept secret.
May 12, 5:03 PM·2m read1 source
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The U.S. Navy released a photograph of an Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine docked in Gibraltar on Monday. The Navy said the submarine's visit demonstrates U.S. capability and commitment to NATO allies. The Pentagon shared the image of the vessel, which is designed to carry nuclear Trident II ballistic missiles.
An unnamed U.S. ballistic-missile submarine arrived in Gibraltar amid ongoing tensions with Iran. The Navy release did not mention Iran or the conflict in the Middle East.
The U.S. military rarely discloses the locations of its deployed ballistic-missile submarines, which form the undersea leg of the nuclear triad. When such information is released, it is often intended to send a message. A submarine's location while in port is considered far less sensitive than its position while on patrol.
The Navy has 14 Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines. Each can carry 20 Trident II D5 missiles, and each missile can carry up to eight nuclear warheads. These vessels are specifically designed for extended deterrent patrols, according to the Naval Sea Systems Command.
The submarines are tasked with remaining hidden for months while staying ready to guarantee a retaliatory nuclear strike if necessary. Their survivability depends on stealth and operational secrecy rather than armor or speed. That is why their locations at sea are among the most closely guarded operational secrets in the U.S. government.
Recent Precedents In June 2024, a U.S.
Navy ballistic-missile submarine surfaced off Norway amid tensions with Russia. The Navy did not specify the intention behind that action. In November 2023, during Israel's war with Hamas and wider regional conflicts, U.S. Central Command shared a photo of an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine en route to the Red Sea.
