US sends Ohio class submarine USS Florida to Persian Gulf to counter Iran influence.

According to information published by the US DoD on April 13, 2023, the Ohio class submarine USS Florida has transited the Suez Canal en route to the Red Sea.
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Ohio class submarine USS Florida transiting the Suez Canal. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz have been the site of numerous tensions and incidents between the United States and Iran over the years. These have included naval stand-offs, threats of closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks on oil tankers.

USS Florida

The submarine was ordered on 28 February 1975 and built by General Dynamics Electric Boat. It was laid down on 4 July 1976 and launched on 14 November 1981. The submarine was commissioned into the United States Navy on 18 June 1983 and is currently homeported at Kings Bay, Georgia.

USS Florida has a displacement of 16,764 long tons (17,033 t) when surfaced and 18,750 long tons (19,050 t) when submerged. The submarine is 560 ft (170 m) in length and has a beam of 42 ft (13 m) and a draft of 38 ft (12 m).

The Ohio-class submarine is powered by one S8G PWR nuclear reactor, which uses HEU (highly enriched uranium) fuel with 93.5% enrichment. She also has two geared turbines, one 325 hp (242 kW) auxiliary motor, and one shaft that can produce up to 60,000 shp (45,000 kW) of power. This allows the submarine to travel at speeds greater than 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) and reach depths of greater than 800 feet (240 m).

The submarine has a crew of 15 officers and 140 enlisted personnel. Its armament includes four 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes and 154 BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles, which are arranged in 22 groups of seven.