The U.S. Navy’s Ohio class ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island has made a very uncommon public port visit to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar.
The public announcement about this stopover is also unusual and even more so coming nearly two weeks after the U.S. Central Command made the extremely curious decision to disclose that another one of these submarines, the USS West Virginia, was operating in the Arabian Sea.
As in that case, it’s difficult not to view Rhode Island’s ostensibly scheduled stop in Gibraltar as messaging aimed at potential adversaries, such as Russia, as well as allies and partners. Ship spotters were quick to identify Rhode Island’s arrival at the British naval base in Gibraltar earlier today, which the U.S. Navy subsequently confirmed.
The service also noted that this is the first time an Ohio ballistic missile submarine, or SSBN, has visited Gibraltar since the USS Alaska stopped there in June 2021. Alaska’s stopover was the first time in two decades one of these boats had visited the British territory.
Rhode Island also made a public visit to His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde in Scotland in July. His Majesty’s Naval Base Gibraltar has a highly strategic role, being one of a limited number of facilities in the region able to both accommodate nuclear-powered submarines and perform repairs on them.
Gibraltar as a whole is strategically located, situated at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Pictures of Rhode Island pier side in Gibraltar show the same type of Mexeflote barge loaded with shipping containers positioned along the outward-facing side of the submarine’s hull as was also seen in place during Alaska’s visit last year.
This is a force protection measure to help shield the boat from various kinds of waterborne attacks. Various British patrol boats were also seen escorting Rhode Island into port and patroling around its moorings. (READ MORE)
