The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed one of its largest Ohio-class submarines, armed with nuclear weapons, arrived in the Middle East over the weekend.
USUS Central Command wrote on X/Twitter:
“On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility.”
On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. pic.twitter.com/iDgUFp4enp
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 5, 2023
The Biden admin still hasn’t released an official statement on the nuclear Sub’s arrival.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) includes 21 countries:
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uzbekistan
Yemen
The AOR stretches from Northeast Africa to the Middle East and Central and South Asia, spanning over 4 million square miles.
The Ohio-class submarine is a nuclear-powered submarine operated by the United States Navy.
The Ohio-class submarines are the largest built by the US Navy, measuring 560 feet long and 42 feet wide, and displace 18,750 tons when submerged in water.
They also have nuclear weapons.
The 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) carry around half of the US’s active strategic thermonuclear warheads, which can obliterate any country from the map.
The Ohio-class submarine has multiple roles, including:
Strategic deterrence: The Ohio-class submarine was designed for extended strategic deterrent patrols. The goal of strategic deterrence is to dissuade adversaries from launching a nuclear attack.
Ballistic missile submarine: The Ohio-class submarine carries twenty-four submarine-launched ballistic missiles that could destroy fourteen separate targets, each with near pinpoint accuracy from 7,000 miles away.
Special operations: The Ohio-class submarine can covertly insert Special Operations Forces.
Spying: The Ohio-class submarine can spy.
Sinking ships and other subs: The Ohio-class submarine can sink ships and other subs.
