By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
The US has taken another step in its strategic buildup in the Pacific as it seeks to counter China.
For the first time, a Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine will be homeported in Guam, the site of one of the Navy’s largest ammunition and fuel storage facilities in the region. The USS Minnesota arrived in Guam on Nov. 26.
“The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires that the US Navy station the most capable units forward,” the Navy said in a press release. “This posture allows flexibility for maritime and joint force operations, with forward-deployed units ready to rapidly respond to deter aggression and promote a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
The Minnesota was commissioned eleven years ago. It was tenth Virginia-class submarine, the Navy’s next-gen sub which are designed to replace Los Angeles-class vessels as they are taken out of service. There are currently four Los Angeles-class submarines based in Guam.
Guam is a crucial outpost for US power-projection in the Indo-Pacific – it’s the country’s westernmost Pacific island territory, and is closer to Beijing than to Hawaii. That puts it within striking distance of a number of Chinese military bases including some in the South China Sea.
The US is in the midst of a military buildup on Guam, which includes $10 billion in construction projects through 2028. In 2023, the Marines opened a new base there that will eventually house 4,000 Marines.
As for Virginia-class submarines, they were developed to perform a greater range of missions, including anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance. A Navy description of the vessel make it clear there is an emphasis on littoral operations (those in shallow waters near the shore, which include supporting special operations missions).
The submarines can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles from 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes. MK48 ADCAP torpedoes can be launched from its four torpedo tubes.
The Navy is currently struggling with what is seen as a submarine deficit – that is, older Los Angeles-class subs are being retired much faster than Virginia-class subs can be added.
Earlier this week, the Biden administration asked Congress for an extra $5.7 billion to pay for rising costs of three Virginia-class subs. The money also would be spent on higher wages for engineers and others who are building the vessels, and to speed up the use of robotics and other automation at shipyards.
The subs are being built by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries. The Navy estimates that there is currently a delay of 24 to 36 months for delivery of the subs.
