‘Iran, stay out of the way?” US nuclear submarine rushes to Middle East

▲ ‘Iran, stop interfering?’ U.S. nuclear submarine urgently dispatched to the Middle East / Photo=U.S. Central Command X (former Twitter)

In an effort to prevent the escalation of the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the U.S. has urgently dispatched a strategic nuclear submarine to the Middle East.

According to U.S. CNN and other outlets on May 5th (local time), the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced through a statement that an Ohio-class nuclear submarine has been deployed in its jurisdiction. The U.S. owns 14 Ohio-class submarines, but it has not been revealed which one has been dispatched.

In the photo released by the U.S. Central Command, a ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) can be seen passing under the Al Salam Bridge northeast of Cairo in the Suez Canal.

▲ A view of the underwater launch of a Trident II(D5) missile. / Photo=Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This submarine has a total of 24 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launch tubes. The Trident II(D5) missiles loaded on these tubes each have 12 W88 thermonuclear warheads, reaching up to 475kt. If all nuclear weapons are launched, 192 nuclear warheads, each with the power of 32 times the Hiroshima atomic bomb, will be dropped on the enemy’s major cities and facilities. Especially, these missiles are known to be capable of flying towards Russia or China from the U.S. mainland coast due to their long range.

CNN explained that this announcement is unusual as the U.S. military rarely discloses the routes or operations of ballistic missile submarines, and that the dispatch of the submarine to the Middle East is a clear message of deterrence aimed at the enemy to prevent escalation.

▲ A view of the Ohio-class nuclear submarine, the USS West Virginia. / Photo=U.S. Navy photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The last time the U.S. publicly revealed a ballistic missile submarine in the Middle East was a year ago when Michael Erik Kurilla, the U.S. Central Command, was aboard the USS West Virginia(SSBN-736). He said in a statement at the time, “Nuclear submarines are key assets of the U.S. triad of nuclear power, along with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and long-range bombers,” and “They demonstrate the flexibility, survivability, readiness, and capabilities that the U.S. Central Command and Strategic Command have at sea.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. military is strengthening its military power in the Middle East by urgently supplying weapons and military supplies to Israel. Last month, the Gerald Ford and Dwight Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike groups were forward-deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. The U.S. Air Force also deployed squadrons of F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighters in the region. The move also aims to fundamentally block Iran and Lebanon from intervening in this war.

Reporter Yoon Tae-hee th20022@seoul.co.kr