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| Image: Flickr User - U.S. Pacific Fleet |
By Prashanth Parameswaran
A U.S. fast-attack submarine arrived at Subic Bay on January 12 at an interesting time.
On Tuesday, the U.S. navy confirmed that a U.S. fast-attack submarine arrived at a Philippine naval base.
According to the U.S. navy in a statement, the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) arrived at Subic Bay on January 12 as part of what was termed “its routine Indo Asia-Pacific deployment.”
Topeka, which is around 300 feet long and weighs more than 6,000 tons, is capable of operating at depths greater than 800 feet at speeds up to 25 nautical miles per hour. Considered one of the world’s stealthiest submarines, it is capable of supporting various missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The U.S. navy statement classified the USS Topeka’s trip as a port visit that offered an opportunity for both sides to foster valuable cultural exchange and enhance their bilateral relationship. The statement did not clarify what Topeka activities would exactly entail except that it would conduct “a multitude of missions.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat