Trump deploys nuclear submarines “closer to Russia”

US-Russia tension: the American president raises the nuclear threat again after Medvedev’s comments. What are these submarines?

Donald Trump has announced the deployment of two American nuclear submarines “closer to Russia”, without providing details on their location, type or mission. The move comes in response to recent statements by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, who threatened the use of nuclear weapons. ‘He threatened us. We must be ready, and we are,’ said the US president. No further details have been provided by the White House or the Pentagon, fuelling international tension.

According to CNN, the US Navy has three categories of submarines, all nuclear-powered, but only one is capable of carrying nuclear weapons: the Ohio-class submarines. The fleet has 14 of them, each of which can carry up to 20 Trident II D5 ballistic missiles, equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) and with a range of up to 7,400 km. This allows them to strike targets on Russian territory without having to enter enemy territorial waters, operating from the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic or Indian Oceans.

The Ohio-class submarines are approximately 170 metres long, accommodate 159 crew members and represent the most lethal component of US nuclear deterrence, as they can survive a first strike and launch a devastating retaliation. In the 1990s, four of these submarines were converted into SSGNs, capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles with conventional warheads, with a range of approximately 1,600 km. They are also used for special missions, including the transport of special forces troops.

In addition to the Ohio class, the operational heart of the US submarine fleet consists of fast-attack submarines, designed to locate and destroy enemy submarines or ships, but also capable of launching cruise missiles:

• Virginia class: this is the most modern class, with 23 units in service. They can launch torpedoes and Tomahawks, are up to 140 metres long and have a crew of approximately 145.
• Los Angeles class: this represents the previous generation. There are 23 active units, with a length of approximately 120 metres and 143 crew members.
• Seawolf class: there are only three operational units, highly silent and armed, designed for advanced submarine warfare. Among these, the USS Jimmy Carter, 30 metres longer than the other units in the class, is equipped with additional space for special operations and technological research.

The movements of nuclear submarines remain strictly confidential, but on some occasions they are made public to send strategic signals to potential enemies. Trump’s decision therefore seems to be part of an explicit deterrence strategy at a time when relations between the United States and Russia appear increasingly tense, including on the nuclear weapons front.

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