US Sends Warning to China with Submarine Missile Reload in Guam

The US Navy recently reported that the USS Florida (SSGN-728), an Ohio-class nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarine, carried out a “strategic” reload of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Naval Base Guam earlier this month.

The US Department of Defense released photos on Sunday, July 14, showing the USS Florida carrying out an expeditionary reload of an unknown number of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) alongside the Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) at Naval Base Guam on July 2.

While details of the exact number of missiles reloaded remain classified, analysts see the public announcement itself as a calculated message. After all, America rarely displays transparency in activities like these, and submarines, especially those carrying out covert operations, usually operate undercover.

The timing of the “strategic” reload coincides with growing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing also recently concluded joint military exercises with Russia, which many experts viewed as a challenge to US dominance in the region.

Guam, a strategically located US territory, is a crucial forward base for American military operations in the Western Pacific. The island sits within the “second island chain,” a vital network of islands stretching from Japan in the north all the way down to New Guinea in the south to project US power and deter potential adversaries.

“This operation highlights the US Navy’s strategic capability to reload vital munitions anywhere in the world,” the uploaded photo of the reload caption reads.

The Multifaceted Role of the Florida and the Tomahawk

The USS Florida (SSGN-728), formerly designated SSBN-728, is one of the Ohio-class guided missile submarines (SSGNs) that were converted from nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) alongside its sister ships USS Ohio (SSGN-726), USS Michigan (SSGN-727), and USS Georgia (SSGN-729).

With a displacement of 18,750 tons, the Florida and the other SSGNs can carry a maximum of 154 Tomahawk missiles, which are loaded into up to 22 missile tubes, each containing seven missiles.

It also assists special operations forces (SOF) by accommodating their equipment and housing up to 66 relevant personnel.

Dry Deck Shelters (DDS), which are submersible pods that deploy divers and their equipment directly into the water, have also been given dedicated spaces in the Ohio-class subs.

This unique combination enables SSGNs to function as forward-deployed command centers, providing stealth, mobility, and surprise support to special operations teams.

The Florida is currently deployed in the US 7th Fleet area of operations.

The Tomahawk missile has been a staple of the US Navy’s arsenal since its development in the 1970s. Its first operational use was during the Persian Gulf War (1991). It is a long-range, all-weather, jet-powered, subsonic cruise missile capable of striking targets up to 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) away.

The missile, which can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads, is most commonly launched from surface ships and submarines.

Modernization Challenges: Decommissioning and Pacific Competition Heats Up

The US Navy has emphasized the Ohio-class submarines’ “unprecedented” strike capability, but its most recent activity report contains a sobering note.

All remaining Ohio-class submarines are scheduled to be decommissioned over the next four years, potentially leaving a significant gap in US missile launch capacity. This development adds urgency to the Navy’s efforts to modernize its fleet and develop new capabilities, particularly given China’s rapidly growing naval power.

Projections suggest China could surpass the US in vertical launch system (VLS) capacity by 2027, a key metric for missile-carrying warships and submarines.

A report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) last month said that while the US maintains a significant advantage in VLS cells compared to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), this lead is shrinking fast. Not to mention how China now has a larger overall fleet.

“US ships had 222 times as many launchers in 2004 and now have fewer than three times as many,” wrote CSIS. “If the current trend continues, China will have more launchers than the US Navy by 2027.”

This rapid growth in China’s VLS capability will significantly impact the future balance of naval power in the region.

PLAN will be able to launch more advanced missiles for both offensive and defensive purposes, potentially posing a more significant challenge to the US Navy’s dominance.

The public reload of the USS Florida serves as a potent symbol of American resolve in the Pacific. While the future holds uncertainties, one thing remains clear: the competition for military dominance in the region is intensifying.

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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.