Key Points – The US and Russian navies engaged in a “tit-for-tat” series of naval maneuvers reminiscent of the Cold War, showcasing their most powerful assets, roughly a year ago.
-In response to Russia sending its Admiral Gorshkov frigate and a Yasen-M class submarine to Havana, Cuba, the US Navy retaliated by surfacing the USS Tennessee last year, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine (“boomer”), in the Norwegian Sea.
-This deliberate show of force, combined with a powerful escort of a guided-missile cruiser and reconnaissance aircraft, was a direct message to Moscow.
-These actions highlight a new era of naval posturing as global tensions rise.
Cold War All Over Again: The Hijinks Behind Russian and American Submarines
American ballistic missile submarines, also known as “boomer” nuclear weapons delivery platforms, are one of the best ways for the United States to project power and increase the global level of deterrence.
They run silent and deep.
The boomers rarely surface, and their whereabouts are unknown. The SSBNs are instruments of US military might and an effective leg of the nuclear triad.
Despite the ultra-secret nature of boomer operations, sometimes the world gets a glimpse of their location. They surface or dock at a port to show the world they mean business. They often appear near the Americans’ most harmful enemies, such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.
There is no better way to put the fear of God into the minds of US adversaries.
Look at Our Boomer
The Navy always relishes an opportunity to play one of its most valuable cards from its deck.
That was the thinking behind the surfacing of the USS Tennessee SSBN in the Norwegian Sea to overawe the Russians nearly a year ago.
This appearance was an answer to Russia’s move to send its Admiral Gorshkov frigate and Kazan submarine to the Caribbean.
A Combination of American Body Blows
This showed the Russians that the United States meant business and would retaliate when the Kremlin ordered ships and submarines to sail in the Americans’ backyard.
US SSBNs Take on the Authoritarian Axis
There are only 14 Ohio-class SSBNs in service. This is a purely strategic group of boats, and rarely do they make an appearance. The grouping of the sub, along with a guided-missile frigate with a recon patrolling airplane and command and control aircraft, is noteworthy for its combat power.
This was likely an answer to the Russian port of call in Havana, Cuba, for its own guided missile frigate and Yasen M-class nuclear-powered guided missile submarine.
It’s Another Naval Cold War
This tit-for-tat activity reminded me of the Cold War, when nuclear-equipped and fast-attack submarines from the US and Soviet navies played cat-and-mouse games, especially during the height of the superpower showdown era in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Indeed, there was high anxiety about nuclear war, especially in the early days of the Reagan administration.
The Russians feared a US attack at any time, and the Americans were also dreading a potential nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union. The current threat level from Russia is as high as it’s been since the Cold War.
Moscow is incensed that the Americans and their NATO allies continue to support Ukraine with military aid. The Russians are certain the United States intelligence agencies are providing satellite imagery support for targeting and bomb damage assessment along with data on Russian troop formations.
Clearly we should expect many more shows of force by Moscow and Washington in the near future.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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