US submarine carrying 'war messenger' missiles approaches Iran

The USS Florida submarine, carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles, has been deployed to the Persian Gulf to deter Iran, according to an unnamed U.S. official.

Unnamed U.S. officials said on November 7 that Washington deployed the nuclear submarine USS Florida to the Persian Gulf to project power and deter Iran. This is the first time U.S. officials have revealed the name, location, and mission of this submarine.

The information was released after the US military announced that an Ohio-class nuclear submarine had been deployed to the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of ​​operations, but provided no further details. CENTCOM is responsible for US combat operations in the Middle East, including the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf, and Israeli territory.

A US submarine passes beneath the Al Salam Bridge in northeastern Cairo, Egypt, on November 5. Photo: CENTCOM

The operations and voyages of nuclear submarines are always kept secret by the US, as they need to remain highly hidden to maintain deterrence and be ready to launch a preemptive strike against an adversary. The location and images of submarines are only released by the US on rare occasions, when regional and international tensions escalate.

The USS Florida is an Ohio-class nuclear submarine, the largest submarine in US naval history, with a submerged displacement of 18,750 tons and a length of 175 meters. A total of 18 Ohio-class submarines were built between 1976 and 1997, each carrying 24 Trident ballistic missiles and valued at nearly $3 billion today.

The USS Florida was converted by the US in 2003, removing its ballistic missiles and replacing them with Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. It carries 154 Tomahawk missiles in 22 launch tubes, more than an entire surface fleet. All of these missiles can be launched in salvo from underwater within 6 minutes.

Location of the Persian Gulf and Iran. Graphic: CSIS

The Tomahawk is often called the "messenger of war," as it has frequently been fired by the US as a preemptive strike against adversaries in numerous wars, from the Gulf War to the present day. This missile costs $1.5 million per unit, is fitted with a 454 kg warhead, has a range of approximately 1,600 km, and is guided by a Global Positioning System (GPS).

Converted Ohio-class submarines like the USS Florida can also carry 66 Navy SEALs and are equipped with a compartment behind the command tower, allowing this force to be secretly deployed while the submarine is submerged.

Vu Anh (According to Times of India )

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