Ominous photo sends clear warning to Russia and China

An extremely unusual photo has been released and it’s a clear warning to China and Russia – and a scary sign of what could be to come.

It’s extremely unusual for any nation to reveal the location of any of their nuclear ballistic missile-carrying submarines. So when they appear four times in two months, you know something is going on.

The US navy this week released a photo of its Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee, surfaced, alongside a similar British Vanguard-class submarine somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

That’s odd.

What makes it even more unusual is that it is the fourth display of its super-secretive doomsday weapons since October.

Why?

Analysts say it’s likely to be a pointed reminder to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s Chairman Xi Jinping that “Mutually Assured Destruction” (MAD) is still a very real thing.

#ICYMI: The @USNavy's USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) and a @RoyalNavy Vanguard-class nuclear submarine recently trained together, complementing the 🇺🇸US-UK🇬🇧 Alliance and our long-standing agreement of cooperation in developing & deploying strategic weapons and supporting systems. pic.twitter.com/wfMkiZoBVO

— United States Strategic Command (@US_STRATCOM) December 13, 2022

The enormous, near-silent submarines are built for one purpose: To hide.

Only in the most extreme of circumstances are they supposed to expose their positions by firing volleys of 22 missiles, each carrying multiple nuclear warheads, at opponents who have already done the same.

So when one of these submarines appears in public – it’s a message – loud and clear – that they exist. That they’re ready. And that any nuclear attack will be met with a similar response.

With Putin’s bluster about NATO and Ukraine and Xi’s ongoing belligerence towards India, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia – it’s a disturbing reminder that every nuclear action faces an equal (and opposite) reaction.

On the rise

It’s not the sort of picture military analysts expect to see. The USS Tennessee and the unnamed British Vanguard-class submarine are exposed on the surface. And they’re together.

That’s the opposite of how things are supposed to be.

Then there’s the MH-60R anti-submarine flying overhead. And the “doomsday” E-6B Mercury jet specifically designed to relay nuclear launch codes.

But it’s just the latest example of a series of nuclear signalling incidents around the globe.

The US navy has just 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). About four are at sea at any one time.

USS West Virginia returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, US. Picture: US navy

The UK has six Vanguard-class. At least one is supposed to be at sea at any one time.

In October, the location of another of these immensely powerful – and precious – submarines was revealed in the Arabian Sea. USS West Virginia surfaced to much surprise – and fanfare – in the increasingly contested waterway.

A month later, the USS West Virginia was put on show once again. This time the submarine was visiting the British island of Diego Garcia, the home of a major US military base in the heart of the Indian Ocean.

Today the CENTCOM Commander embarked the USS West Virginia Ballistic Missile Submarine pic.twitter.com/fv98lYhD89

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 19, 2022

At the same time, another Ohio-class submarine, the USS Rhode Island, made a public appearance at the British port of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea opens to the Atlantic Ocean.

Ballistic missile submarines don’t make port visits. “See the world” is not part of their marketing campaign. Instead, it’s all about remaining silent, safe – and unseen.

But, shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the USS Georgia triggered the recent round of posturing when the ballistic missile submarine undertook a rare publicised port visit to Cyprus.

Mutually assured destruction

The perpetual terror of the Cold War is back: MAD.

The picture of the US and British ballistic missile submarines was released just days after Russia’s President Putin threatened to abandon his “No First Use” policy. That’s a promise that nuclear weapons won’t be used for any purpose other than retaliation.

Instead, it means he’s considering using nuclear warheads to achieve his territorial ambitions in light of the failure of his conventional army, navy and air force.

But China’s Chairman Xi has also been rapidly, and dramatically, expanding his own nuclear arsenal. Satellite photos have revealed hundreds of new silos being built under the deserts of Xinjiang. Beijing, however, insists this isn’t happening.

Of most concern, however, was China’s recent demonstration of a hypersonic glide vehicle that could bounce across the atmosphere to deliver a nuclear warhead anywhere in the world.

Submarines, however, are largely immune to surprise attacks. At least if they remain unseen.

USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) arrives in Gibraltar. Picture: US navy

“These submarines are the crown jewel of the nuclear triad, and the West Virginia demonstrates the flexibility, survivability, readiness, and capability of (US Strategic Command) forces at sea,” General Michael Kurilla said after visiting USS West Virginia in October.

“The stealth and response capability of these submarines combined with the crew’s training make our SSBNs the most powerful warships in the world,” navy Vice Admiral William Houston said about the USS West Virginia’s visit to Diego Garcia.

Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer | @JamieSeidel

Originally published as Ominous photo sends clear warning to Russia and China