US Pres. Trump Orders Two Nuclear Submarines for Potential Response to Russia’s Medvedev: A Look at US Sub Fleet and Their Missions
In response to remarks made by Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia and current deputy chairman of its Security Council, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that two US Navy nuclear submarines will be deployed to strategic locations.
In a post on Truth Social, the President explained that the move was intended to ensure preparedness, stating, “I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be stationed in key regions, should these provocative and incendiary comments prove more than mere rhetoric.”
The White House did not disclose the specific models of submarines or their destinations. Typically, the Pentagon maintains secrecy regarding the movements of its submarine fleet.
The US Navy operates three distinct types of nuclear-powered submarines. Although all are nuclear-propelled, only one is equipped to carry nuclear weapons. Here’s an overview of the American submarine fleet:
14 Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs), commonly known as “boomers,” make up a significant portion of the US Navy’s submarine force. According to a Navy fact sheet, SSBNs are designed for stealth and precise nuclear warhead delivery. Each vessel can carry 20 Trident ballistic missiles, capable of multiple nuclear warheads. Tridents have a range of up to 4,600 miles (7,400 kilometers), enabling them to attack Russia from the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, or Arctic oceans without needing to approach closer.
SSBNs serve as potent nuclear deterrents due to their ability to withstand an adversary’s initial strike. Information about their movements is among the Navy’s most closely guarded secrets. Each Ohio-class sub measures approximately 170 meters in length, displaces nearly 19,000 tons submerged, and hosts a crew of 159. Their top speed reaches 23 miles per hour.
In the 1990s, the Pentagon decided that fewer Ohio-class SSBNs were needed for nuclear deterrence purposes. As a result, four were converted into guided-missile submarines (SSGNs). The design specifications of these subs remain the same as those of the boomers, but they carry Tomahawk cruise missiles instead of Trident ballistic missiles. Each SSGN can carry 154 Tomahawks with warheads weighing up to 1,000 pounds and boasting a range of about 1,000 miles.
SSGNs are also capable of transporting troops covertly through lockout chambers in former ballistic-missile tubes, according to the Navy. The movement patterns of SSGNs are highly classified; however, in recent years, the Navy has occasionally acknowledged their presence near military hotspots to send a message of deterrence.
The remaining bulk of the US Navy’s submarine fleet consists of fast-attack subs designed for hunting and destroying enemy submarines and surface ships with torpedoes, as well as striking land-based targets with Tomahawk missiles (albeit in smaller numbers than SSGNs).
Fast-attack subs come in three varieties: the Virginia, Los Angeles, and Seawolf classes. The Virginia class, which includes 23 vessels commissioned as of July 1, is the most recent addition to the fleet. These subs measure between 377 to 461 feet in length (depending on configuration), displace up to 10,200 tons, and accommodate a crew of 145.
The Los Angeles class is the oldest fast-attack sub type still in service, with 23 units remaining. Measuring 360 feet long and displacing 6,900 tons, these subs carry a crew of 143.
Lastly, the Seawolf class features the smallest number of vessels in the US fleet. Two subs, USS Seawolf and USS Connecticut (each measuring 353 feet and displacing 9,100 tons), share characteristics similar to standard attack boats, armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles.
The third submarine in the Seawolf class, the USS Jimmy Carter, stands out as one of the Navy’s most specialized craft. Its hull has been extended by 100 feet, providing space for advanced technology and enhanced warfighting capabilities, according to the Navy.