In the complex and highly strategic game of modern naval warfare, U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines have been the submerged knights in America’s arsenal.
As the Indo-Pacific region becomes a focal point of conflict, these stealthy, lethal giants navigate the undersea battlefields, underscoring their value in maintaining underwater superiority.
The Backbone of US Naval Power The U.S. Navy, brandishing the largest submarine fleet globally, faces a formidable challenge in China’s rapid maritime expansion.
Amidst this, the Los Angeles-class submarines, carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles and Mark 48 torpedoes, remain indispensable in sinking enemy shipping and establishing naval dominance. Even as the newer Virginia-class subs inch closer to full service, the question lingers: can the U.S. afford to lose the Los Angeles-class before its successors are battle-ready?
These vessels, equipped to carry twelve Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes and built by powerhouses like Newport News Shipbuilding Co. and General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, are not just numerous but embody quality, a testament to their enduring importance in U.S. naval strategy.
Retirement Risks and Strategic Blunders As the U.S. Navy progressively commissions the Virginia-class submarines, the retirement of the Los Angeles-class sparks intense debate.
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Kings Bay, Ga. (April 11, 2006) Ð The Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) makes her way through Cumberland Sound to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Florida will be officially welcomed to her new home in Kings Bay with a return to service ceremony scheduled for May 25, 2006 in Mayport, Fla. Florida is the second of four SSBN submarines to be converted to the guided missile SSGN platform. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Lynn Friant (RELEASED)
Are we retiring these workhorses too soon? The USS Los Angeles (SSN-668), the pioneer of this venerable class, has been an exemplar since 1976, showcasing America’s undersea might.
But the premature retirement of some Los Angeles-class vessels raises eyebrows. Consider USS Baltimore (SSN-704), serving less than 16 years before being sidelined, and others, decommissioned halfway through their lifecycle.
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Kings Bay, Ga. (April 11, 2006) Ð The Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) makes her way through Cumberland Sound to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Florida will be officially welcomed to her new home in Kings Bay with a return to service ceremony scheduled for May 25, 2006 in Mayport, Fla. Florida is the second of four SSBN submarines to be converted to the guided missile SSGN platform. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Lynn Friant (RELEASED)
“We are currently forecast to sustain a force of 50 SSNs throughout this decade,” explained Rear Adm. Doug Perry, stressing the importance of these subs in reaching the Navy’s future requirements of 66 to 72 SSNs.
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Groton, Conn. (Aug. 3, 2003) – The U.S. NavyÕs newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine and the lead ship of its class, PCU Virginia (SSN 774) is moved outdoors for the first time at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard. Virginia is the NavyÕs only major combatant ready to join the fleet that was designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind and embodies the war fighting and operational capabilities required to dominate the littorals while maintaining undersea dominance in the open ocean. Virginia and the rest of the ships of its class are designed specifically to incorporate emergent technologies that will provide new capabilities to meet new threats. U.S. Navy photo by General Dynamics Electric Boat (RELEASED)
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Groton, Conn. (Aug. 3, 2003) – The U.S. NavyÕs newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine and the lead ship of its class, PCU Virginia (SSN 774) is moved outdoors for the first time at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard. Virginia is the NavyÕs only major combatant ready to join the fleet that was designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind and embodies the war fighting and operational capabilities required to dominate the littorals while maintaining undersea dominance in the open ocean. Virginia and the rest of the ships of its class are designed specifically to incorporate emergent technologies that will provide new capabilities to meet new threats. U.S. Navy photo by General Dynamics Electric Boat (RELEASED)
A Reassessment of Priorities As the geopolitical chessboard gets more complex, the decision to phase out these submarines is controversial.
They play a vital role in strategic deterrence and combat readiness, given the rise of anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities by adversaries.
Historical US navy submarine moored on the surface at a dock under colorful bunting
“To pay for the new submarines, the Navy is retiring the Los Angeles-class submarines. But this is a major mistake,” an article emphasizes, cautioning against a potential window of vulnerability.
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Atlantic Ocean (May 5, 2005) – Members of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two (SDVT-2) prepare to launch one of the team’s SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) from the back of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) on a training exercise. The SDVs are used to carry Navy SEALs from a submerged submarine to enemy targets while staying underwater and undetected. SDVT-2 is stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., and conducts operations throughout the Atlantic and Southern, and European command geographic areas of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer’s Mate Andrew McKaskle (RELEASED)
The Maintenance Conundrum and Forward Planning Recent years have seen the Navy pouring billions into the upkeep of aging Los Angeles-class subs, but with questionable returns. Subs like the USS Helena (SSN 725) become the poster children for confused decisions, with billion-dollar refits extending well beyond their due decommissioning.
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KINGS BAY, Ga. (Aug. 5, 2009) The guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) prepares to get underway from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. for the first time since conversion from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile submarine in 2008. (U.S. Navy photo Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Clifford/Released)
Critics argue that it may be wiser to channel these funds into supporting mission-capable Virginia-class subs and boosting maintenance infrastructure.
Submarines and Geopolitical Chess Ultimately, the Los Angeles-class subs are akin to seasoned chess pieces in America’s naval game, their retirement and maintenance sparking debate among military strategists and policymakers.
