Visits by nuclear-armed submarines 

For the first time since the 1980s, a U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) will visit South Korea. SSBNs rely on secrecy and rarely make public stops in foreign ports


Apr 26, 2023: U.S. President Joe Biden announces visit by Ohio-class submarine. Washington has pledged to deploy more so-called “strategic assets” to South Korea to deter North


1. SSBN: Crew of 15 officers, 144 enlisted. Ohio-class submarine carries up to 20 Trident D5 missiles with eight multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). Four missile tubes deactivated under Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

2. Pressure hull enclosed by hemispherical heads at both ends

3. Outer hull acts as main ballast tanks

4. Sonar array

5. Sonar room, radio room

6. Attack scope, data and communications masts

7. Snorkel for diesel generators

8. Four 533mm torpedo tubes

9. Engine room with two 45MW steam turbines driving single shaft and propeller, one auxiliary 242kW diesel engine

10. Pressurized water nuclear reactor

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Crews’ berthing within missile compartment


Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat Division

Length: 170m 
Beam: 10m 
Draft: 10.8m

Speed: 20 knots (37km/h) surfaced 
25 knots (46km/h) submerged


MK-48 torpedo, length: 5.8m


ICELAND. Apr 2023: Los Angeles-class USS San Juan stops off coast

NORWAY. 2021-23: Nine American and one British nuclear submarine visit Grøtsund

UK. Jul 2022: Ohio-class USS Rhode Island arrives at Faslane

CYPRUS. Apr 2023: Los Angeles-class USS San Juan makes visit to Limassol

DIEGO GARCIA. Oct 2022: Ohio-class USS West Virginia makes port visit

GIBRALTAR. Nov 2022: USS Rhode Island makes port visit

PACIFIC, off Hawaii. May 2022: ABC News visits Ohio-Class USS Maine

GUAM. May 2023: Leaders of navies of Japan and South Korea visit Ohio-class USS Maine

ARABIAN SEA. Oct 20, 2022: Ohio-class USS West Virginia surfaces to receive Middle East commander Gen. Michael Kurilla

SINGAPORE. Apr 2023: Los Angeles-class USS COLUMBIA makes port call at Changi Naval Base


AUSTRALIA. Mar 2023: Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville visits Perth

Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean

1,600km 1,000 miles


Sources: Federation of American Scientists, H.I. Sutton, Naval News, Reuters, Seaforces online Picture: Getty Images 
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