[quote[b]]America's main nuclear deterrent glides undetected under the oceans as it carries a cargo of ballistic missiles that will hopefully never be used.[/b]

Off the coast of Hawaii, ABC News visited the USS Maine, one of 14 Ohio Class U.S. Navy submarines capable of launching nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles.

Measuring two football fields in length and weighing 18,000 tons, the massive submarine carries 20 Trident 2 D5 missiles capable of striking targets up to 4,000 miles away.

Each missile is capable of holding up to 12 nuclear warheads -- one reason why these submarines are able to carry about 70% of the nation's active nuclear arsenal allowed by the New START Treaty.


Martha Raddatz walks past four story tall missile tubes that contain Trident II missiles.
"I'd say it's the most powerful force in the world right now," Vice Adm. Bill Houston, the commander of the U.S. Navy's Submarine Forces, told ABC News.

But in keeping with U.S. policy, Houston could neither confirm nor deny whether there were missiles with nuclear warheads aboard the submarine.

Developed at the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the submarines have continued with their classified missions, serving as a key part of America's nuclear triad that includes strategic bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) housed in the western plains states.

Recent comments by Russian leaders about their strategic nuclear capabilities following the invasion of Ukraine have shined a spotlight on America's nuclear deterrence mission.

Houston characterized comments by Russian leaders about Russia's nuclear weapons capability as "very dangerous," "irresponsible" and "unprofessional."

"It gives more meaning to this mission," said Houston. "But we view our mission as a peace mission, purely defensive is what we do."

A main part of why Ohio Class submarines are a powerful nuclear deterrent is because they are undetectable in vast stretches of ocean,
To stay hidden, the submarine will surface very rarely -- if at all -- during what could be a months-long patrol underwater.

[b]"This submarine, once it's underwater, it will not be detected," said Houston. "It is the one portion of our deterrent that will always be available if needed."

And maintaining that deterrent means that not even senior military leaders will know where the submarine is at any given time. That's a privilege available only to the submarine's senior leaders.

The crew will regularly train for the unthinkable, like the launch of nuclear-armed missiles in a retaliatory strike against a country that has carried out a strategic attack against the United States.


ABC News was allowed to witness a simulated launch exercise where redundancies are an integral security measure intended to ensure the validity of a presidential order to launch missiles.

"United States policy is not to aim our missiles at any adversary or any country," said Cmdr. Darren Gerhardt. "If we said they're targeted, they would be pointing to the spot in the ocean. They don't go anywhere."

Living with the Trident missiles is also a regular part of life for the 150 sailors on the submarine.

The sailors have to maneuver their way through hallways lined by 24 missile tubes that house ICBMs. The missiles are also located near the sleeping berths.

Crew members carry out their assignments in shifts with some gathering for breakfast at 3 a.m.

With the submarine operating hundreds of feet below the surface, the crew has little awareness about what is going on in the world. At times the submarine will come up to periscope depth to receive satellite signals for updates on what's going on in the world. But that maneuver carries risk.

"But when I do come up to periscope depth that makes me vulnerable," said Gerhardt. "So I have to minimize the amount of times I do that."

And when the crew returns to their families, "we're catching up on several months' worth of information that we missed," Gerhardt said.

Both Houston and Gerhardt said they're used to this life under the sea.

"I would say this is where we're more comfortable," said Houston. "A pilot likes to be in the air. We like to be under the sea."


https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/inside-submarine-capable-launching-nuclear-missiles/story?id=84832056&cid=social_twitter_abcn[/quote]

Key facts, 70% of America's active nuclear arsenal are on these silent and deadly submarines, not on land in the US, meaning the deadly nukes are currently and silently at the front doors and striking distance of their enemies or potential threats all over the world, when you send nukes to the US, back to sender won't be traveling to you from the US, it's already right there next to you.

Each of the 14 submarines carries 240 warheads, enough to vaporize many countries.

The U.S are being professional when discussing nuclear weapons unlike Russia's putin who boasts foolishly.

When Russia and a few other countries are boasting about their nuclear armoury and are talking about attacking US and her allies, I always laugh. Do these people think they are the only ones with weapons? Imagine you carrying a gun and u know that I am an excellent shooter also carrying a bigger and super gun but you will still keep threatening to kill me with your gun, is that not a joke taken too far?!!!

Russia forgot US were the first to deploy Nuclear weapon in the world.putins innermind is scared of US because he knows Russia could be wiped out down to be come a Nuclear sea bed in seconds.Russia Lacks war Tactics and it soldiers are Lacks so much discipline.Russia is so corrupt that they could not afford to get good Tyres for their Armours,thereby making them sink in Ukrainian Ice.This also slowed them down at the initial stage when they were advancing.Russia is a Mess Now

Technology is so advance and far beyond the Nigerian government... What we have in Nigeria is some greedy old men struggling to retire as a president....

Massive war beast.
America is loaded

What then happens if there is malfunctioning of those war heads that may cause it to release those missiles to the public? Because one can't bank on machine to be 100% perfect or a situation that the person handling those weapons turns suicidal within a short period of time? Having nuclear power is just a means used to oppress other nations. In future I see north Korea causing crises in the world, they are learning from Russia knowing fully well that other countries won't be able to attack them immediately due to the fear of nuclear war.

I just laugh at d clowns who like to beat there chest about Russia nuclear weapon wen USA nuclear weapons are already stationed near Russia by water and on land

NigerianSage:


Key facts, 70% of America's active nuclear arsenal are on these silent and deadly submarines, not on land in the US, meaning the deadly nukes are currently and silently at the front doors and striking distance of their enemies or potential threats all over the world, when you send nukes to the US, back to sender won't be traveling to you from the US, it's already right there next to you.

Each of the 14 submarines carries 240 warheads, enough to vaporize many countries.

You now see why Russia doesn't want USA around her

VictorUSA:
The U.S are being professional when discussing nuclear weapons unlike Russia's putin who boasts foolishly.

Fun fact

Do you know up till now only USA has use nukes in a conventional war

Decentdave:
Russia forgot US were the first to deploy Nuclear weapon in the world.putins innermind is scared of US because he knows Russia could be wiped out down to be come a Nuclear sea bed in seconds.Russia Lacks war Tactics and it soldiers are Lacks so much discipline.Russia is so corrupt that they could not afford to get good Tyres for their Armours,thereby making them sink in Ukrainian Ice.This also slowed them down at the initial stage when they were advancing.Russia is a Mess Now

Do you know Russia is literally not up to 50 years

For Russia to withstand NATO

They have been impressive

ken6488:
Fun fact

Do you know up till now only USA has use nukes in a conventional war

Can you give instances?

VictorUSA:
Can you give instances?

Gladly USA remain the only country to use nukes in a war

USA nuked Japan have you forgotten

ken6488:

Gladly USA remain the only country to use nukes in a war

USA nuked Japan have you forgotten

That was a world war, decades from now.Moreover, the US has first use nuclear policy, if I'm not mistaken.

ken6488:


Do you know Russia is literally not up to 50 years

For Russia to withstand NATO

They have been impressive

Russia can not even withstand Ukraine.

NigerianSage:


Russia can not even withstand Ukraine.

All the billions Russia still controlling most Ukraine land, blockade Ukraine

ken6488:

All the billions Russia still controlling most Ukraine land, blockade Ukraine

lol bro, na fake news oooo. Reality no send propaganda….

Teazer4:
lol bro, na fake news oooo. Reality no send propaganda….

You mean USA is not sending billions

ken6488:
You mean USA is not sending billions

lol bro, let’s make em happy, they want Ukraine to win so bad, let’s just pretend they’re winning, the Neo Nazis at Avozstal were rescued by nato , they’re chilling in Monaco right now with 5000 bitchesssss

ken6488:


Do you know Russia is literally not up to 50 years

For Russia to withstand NATO

They have been impressive

You don't know anything about Russia. Russia started existing Even before USA. Just like Britain. Only that the collapse of the USSR weakened the Russian social republic. Which valdimir Putin is rebuilding. Honestly long-term leadership are very good for countries with great capacity and resources like Russia. As of today the ruble is 59 to dollar. From 124 as of march. Leadership in reality.

Dvdpity:


You don't know anything about Russia. Russia started existing Even before USA. Just like Britain. Only that the collapse of the USSR weakened the Russian social republic. Which valdimir Putin is rebuilding. Honestly long-term leadership are very good for countries with great capacity and resources like Russia. As of today the ruble is 59 to dollar. From 124 as of march. Leadership in reality.

This current Russia is not like Russia empire that joined USSR

Hope you know that

Teazer4:
lol bro, let’s make em happy, they want Ukraine to win so bad, let’s just pretend they’re winning, the Neo Nazis at Avozstal were rescued by nato , they’re chilling in Monaco right now with 5000 bitchesssss

The matter tire me oo

ken6488:
The matter tire me oo

abi now brother, make we Dey look ooo

ken6488:


Do you know Russia is literally not up to 50 years

For Russia to withstand NATO

They have been impressive

People will just come online and be saying rubbish.
Russia is not up to 50years. Because you heard modern Russia started after the fall of USSR, you probably think the country came into existence then right?

Nobody has bragging rights in a full blown nuclear exchange between NATO and Russia. Clearly in a conventional shootout, Russia is outnumbered, outgunned and out resourced. The best that will ever happen between NATO and Russia is a proxy war. But in a nuclear exchange, the game is different. Both sides has the capability to completely wipe out each other, it does not matter who launches first. Both sides has a very credible second strike capability. Both sides has a credible triad and nuclear war heads are several hundred times more powerful than the FATBOY used to flatten Hiroshima. This means a considerable less is even required to wipe out both sides completely. There are no known counter measures to deter or defend against a nuclear strike except the concept of MAD (mutual assured destruction). Both sides has thousands of nuclear armed missiles in the seas, under the seas, silos and deployable by air. So I wonder why anyone would gloat over this? It is a question of who is more willing to forgo all and die, since everyone gets to die. It does not matter where the US is, it cannot defend against an ICBM strike, reason it stopped at 44 ground based interceptors seeing it was a costly and futile venture and MAD was more assured. Same applies to Russia.

ken6488:

All the billions Russia still controlling most Ukraine land, blockade Ukraine

.. what's your irrelevant and misinformed Russian tale got to do with the topic?

skoskosko:
Nobody has bragging rights in a full blown nuclear exchange between NATO and Russia. Clearly in a conventional shootout, Russia is outnumbered, outgunned and out resourced. The best that will ever happen between NATO and Russia is a proxy war. But in a nuclear exchange, the game is different. Both sides has the capability to completely wipe out each other, it does not matter who launches first. Both sides has a very credible second strike capability. Both sides has a credible triad and nuclear war heads are several hundred times more powerful than the FATBOY used to flatten Hiroshima. This means a considerable less is even required to wipe out both sides completely. There are no known counter measures to deter or defend against a nuclear strike except the concept of MAD (mutual assured destruction). Both sides has thousands of nuclear armed missiles in the seas, under the seas, silos and deployable by air. So I wonder why anyone would gloat over this? It is a question of who is more willing to forgo all and die, since everyone gets to die. It does not matter where the US is, it cannot defend against an ICBM strike, reason it stopped at 44 ground based interceptors seeing it was a costly and futile venture and MAD was more assured. Same applies to Russia.

Very Sensible comment.

There are no winners in a Nuclear War.

I pity those that are clamouring for a Nuclear War. They would not be spared when it happens.