--- title: "U.S., French, U.K. Nuclear Submarines Rendezvous In Scotland" description: "The U.K. Royal Navy's main submarine base in Scotland appears to currently be hosting something of a small multinational submarine meet. Yesterday, U.S. Navy's [*Virginia* class]() nuclear-powered attack submarine USS *Indiana* was spotted heading in the direction of [Her Majesty's…" date: "2022-04-28" modified: "2022-04-28" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick" url: "https://www.twz.com/u-s-french-u-k-nuclear-submarines-rendezvous-in-scotland" categories: - "Americas" - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Sea" - "Submarines" - "U.S. Homeland" - "United Kingdom" --- # U.S., French, U.K. Nuclear Submarines Rendezvous In Scotland ![Submarines from France and US in Faslane]() *Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images* The U.K. Royal Navy's main submarine base in Scotland appears to currently be hosting something of a small multinational submarine meet. Yesterday, U.S. Navy's [*Virginia* class]() nuclear-powered attack submarine USS *Indiana* was spotted heading in the direction of [Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde](). That came a day after one of the French Navy's [*Rubis* class]() submarines, another nuclear-powered attack type, the specific identity of which is unknown, was seen arriving in the area. None of the navies involved appear to have said anything specifically about the convergence of these submarines at Clyde. The base is home to the bulk of the Royal Navy's submarine force, including its [*Vanguard* class]() ballistic missile submarines and [*Astute* class]() attack submarines, both of which are also nuclear powered. https://twitter.com/DougieCoullPics/status/1519766101223260166?s=20&t=2y4ZewHAgXjALlsHopLrbQ https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/1519268721054949378?s=20&t=c6dgsUN-MbOsFBHKSdO8AQ https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/1519268658794663936?s=20&t=c6dgsUN-MbOsFBHKSdO8AQ https://twitter.com/ScotlandDX/status/1519052208402272256?s=20&t=DhAoKaq1XpAZu6kGhffJ3g https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/1518941547227754503?s=20&t=Mq9SF\_r0xS7mM-WpTNSFyQ https://twitter.com/ArgyllSeaGlass/status/1518859096807686144 The USS *Indiana*'s stop there is to "strengthen cooperation between the United States and United Kingdom" and "demonstrate US capability, flexibility, and continuing commitment to NATO allies," the Navy said, according to a report yesterday [from *U.K. Defence Journal*](). *Indiana* had left its homeport at Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut for what the Navy described [simply as "routine operations"]() in January. *Virginia* class submarines, [among other American types](), regularly make stops in Clyde, which is one of a limited number of allied ports in Europe with the ability to handle visiting nuclear-powered submarines. French *Rubis* class submarines have called at the Royal Navy base before, including one spotted there in October 2021, but their presence is a much rarer occurrence. There were reports that the French boat that visited in October had its towed sonar array removed at the Royal Navy base for some reason. https://twitter.com/SheilaLWeir/status/1454079878194683904?s=20&t=Mq9SF\_r0xS7mM-WpTNSFyQ https://twitter.com/nukestrat/status/1452940980370485253?s=20&t=Mq9SF\_r0xS7mM-WpTNSFyQ The back-to-back arrival of American and French submarines at Cylde could very well be just a coincidence. At the same time, the activities of submarine forces worldwide are typically relatively secretive affairs, [so unusual public movements](), such as American, French, and almost certainly British nuclear submarines all now being present at Clyde, often draw attention and are assumed to be some form of signaling. In Europe in recent years, American submarines have often made appearances at notable locations, including the Royal Navy's [submarine hub in Scotland]() and [its base in Gibraltar](), as well as [off the coast of Norway](), when tensions have spiked with Russia. This gathering has certainly come at a time of extremely high tensions in the region as a result of [Russia's invasion of Ukraine](), which began at the end of February. In the lead up to the conflict, submarines [had been part]() of U.S. and NATO signaling aimed at Moscow, including the Navy's deliberate [publicizing of the presence]() of USS *Georgia*, one of its four *Ohio* class guide missile submarines, an extremely capable multi-purpose platform that you can read about more [here](), in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus. ![]() *The *Ohio* class guided-missile submarine USS *Georgia* off the coast of Cyprus in January 2022. *USN** There are indications that more discreet underwater posturing between NATO, to include the United States and the United Kingdom, and Russia has been happening since the fighting broke out. A number of Russian [nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines]() reportedly headed out into the North Atlantic after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he had put his country's [strategic forces on special alert]() on February 27, according to a story[ from *The Times* newspaper]() in Britain that was published in March. "Tracked by western militaries four weeks ago, the decision to send the submarines closer to European shores was seen by British navy chiefs as 'posturing' and a warning, rather than an actual threat," *The Times* reported. "They returned towards Russia shortly afterwards and normal levels of activity resumed. Since then western intelligence agencies have kept a closer eye on the Kremlin’s nuclear arsenal." Increased Russian [submarine activity in the Atlantic]() has already [caught the attention]() of U.S. and other NATO navies in recent years. The U.S. Navy went so far as to activate an entirely new command, [U.S. 2nd Fleet](), in response to the increased threat environment in 2018 and has been working to step up [its anti-submarine capabilities]() on both sides of the pond since then. Whatever the exact reasons that led an American *Virginia* class submarine to join a French *Rubis* class boat at the Royal Navy's submarine base at Clyde, it is certainly a notable display of NATO undersea warfare capabilities and their ability to operate from shared facilities at a time when Europe is experiencing its most significant security crisis in decades. **Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com** ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()