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Topic: Naval Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Asia Tags: Guam, Indo-Pacific, Los Angeles-Class Submarines, Submarines, Undersea Warfare, and US Navy After Months of Deployment, the USS Annapolis Returns Home December 31, 2025 By: Stavros Atlamazoglou
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The USS Annapolis fast-attack submarine operates out of Guam in the Indo-Pacific—and would be America’s first line of defense if a major conflict erupted there.
In late December, the USS Annapolis, a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine, returned to its homeport in Guam after several months underway in the Indo-Pacific.
We Don’t Know Where the USS Annapolis Went
According to the Navy, during its deployment, the fast-attack submarine conducted a range of missions that “strengthened national security, enhanced maritime operational capabilities, and reinforced the strategic value of forward-deployed submarines operating at the tip of the spear.”
Deployments such as the one the USS Annapolis recently completed are important for the readiness of the fleet. For example, during the sub’s latest deployment, 30 sailors earned their submarine warfare insignia (colloquially known as “dolphins” or “fish” in Navy parlance). Only sailors who have demonstrated that they can operate in the highest standards of underwater warfare can receive the submarine warfare insignia.
“No matter the mission, this crew executed with precision and professionalism,” Commander Clint Emrich, the commanding officer of the fast-attack submarine, said in a service press release.
“Their readiness, discipline, and teamwork were the foundation of a successful deployment, and every Sailor played a role in delivering results. I’m proud of how this crew performed and how they represented [the USS Annapolis] throughout the Indo-Pacific,” Emrich added.
However, the precise details of the Annapolis’ mission have not been released—in accordance with the US Navy’s tradition of remaining tight-lipped about the whereabouts of its submarines.
The USS Annapolis is not a new ship. The fast-attack submarine was commissioned in 1992 and has served on the front lines for decades. However, the vessel is at the tip of the spear of the Navy’s submarine force; she is one of five forward-deployed fast attack submarines at Polaris Point, in Naval Base Guam, and is part of Submarine Squadron 15.
In the event of a conflict with China, the fast-attack submarine and its sister vessels will be the first to respond. Although China has the largest naval force in the world, the US Navy still retains supremacy in underwater warfare. And the US military would lean into this supremacy to defeat the Chinese military in a potential future near-peer conflict.
“[The] USS Annapolis delivered outstanding results, completing an exceptional deployment that showcased the operational readiness of the Pacific undersea force,” Navy Captain Neil Steinhagen, the commanding officer of Submarine Squadron 15, stated.
The USS Annapolis is the fourth ship in the US Navy to be named after Annapolis, Maryland, the hometown of the United States Naval Academy.
Understanding America’s Los Angeles-Class Fast-Attack Submarines
- Year Introduced: 1976
- Number Built: 62 (23 active)
- Length: 110.3 m (362 ft)
- Beam (Width): 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Displacement: 6,927 long tons (7,038 tons) full
- Engines: One S6G PWR nuclear reactor; two steam turbines (33,500 shp); one shaft; one secondary propulsion motor (325 hp)
- Top Speed: ~25 knots (29 mph, 46 km/h)
- Range: Unlimited
- Armaments: Four 21-inch torpedo tubes; 12 vertical launch Tomahawk missiles
- Crew: 110 (12 officers, 98 men)
Fast-attack submarines have one simple mission during wartime: find and sink enemy shipping. They rely on their speed, endurance, stealth, and mobility to sneak through enemy defenses and sink warships and merchant vessels.
The US Navy has the largest submarine fleet in the world, with over 70 submarines, including fast-attack, ballistic-missile, and guided-missile subs.
Fast-attack submarines are the backbone of the Navy’s submarine force, with approximately 53 vessels in service.
The Navy operates three classes of attack submarines: the Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia. All three classes are nuclear-powered, but only the Virginia-class submarines are equipped with nuclear weapons.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
The post After Months of Deployment, the USS Annapolis Returns Home appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org