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HMAS Stirling in Western Australia has welcomed the arrival of the US Virginia Class submarine USS Minnesota, marking the first of several planned visits by US nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in 2025.
During its time in Western Australia, crew members from USS Minnesota (SSN 783) will take part in a US submarine command course, a specialised training program designed to prepare naval officers for submarine command.
The next scheduled port visit to HMAS Stirling later this year will involve a three-week submarine maintenance period. These visits follow the recent submarine tendered maintenance period in 2024, which saw the US submarine tender, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), and US submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) conducting maintenance activities at the base.
Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN, expressed his pride in welcoming USS Minnesota to Australian waters.
“The Australian and US Navies operate with shared behaviours, shared values and a shared commitment to ensuring the prosperity and security of the Indo-Pacific region,” VADM Hammond said.
“This port visit follows the recent submarine tendered maintenance period at HMAS Stirling, which was the first time Australians directly participated in the maintenance of a US nuclear-powered submarine in Australia.”
These ongoing port visits are an essential step in preparing for the establishment of Submarine Rotational Force - West at HMAS Stirling, set to commence as early as 2027. This initiative will see one UK Astute Class submarine and up to four US Virginia Class submarines maintaining a rotational presence at the base.
The establishment of Submarine Rotational Force - West marks the first phase of the AUKUS Pillar I program, which will ultimately lead to Australia acquiring a fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
