A US nuclear-powered Ohio-class submarine is in the Middle East to help prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spiraling into a broader conflict, the US Department of Defense said November 6.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted a picture of the submarine the day before on social network X that appeared to show it transiting Egypt's Suez Canal.

It is "now in the Fifth Fleet area of operations," Defense Department spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told journalists, referring to an area that includes the Gulf, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

"What this does... is further support our deterrence efforts in the region," he said, without providing further details.

The Pentagon "remains focused on three objectives: supporting Israel's defense through security assistance, sending a strong signal of deterrence to any actors who might be thinking of entering the conflict and staying vigilant to any threats to US forces," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in mid-October.

Israel declared war on Hamas after it carried out a terrorist attack from Gaza on October 7, killing more than 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians, and taking many hostages.

Capabilities of Ohio-class submarines

Some Ohio-class submarines are armed with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, while others are configured to carry more than 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The largest submarines ever built by the US Navy, the Ohio class includes 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and four cruise missile submarines (SSGNs).

The SSBNs serve as an undetectable launch platform for intercontinental missiles, and are designed for stealth and the precise delivery of nuclear warheads, according to the Navy.

SSBNs are specifically made for extended deterrent patrols, and make up one leg of the US nuclear triad, which also includes land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and land-based long-range bombers.

Each SSGN can carry up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, the equivalent of what is typically deployed in a surface battle group.

The missiles are loaded in seven-shot Multiple-All-Up-Round Canisters in up to 22 missile tubes. These tubes can also accommodate future payloads such as new types of missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned undersea vehicles.

The Tomahawk cruise missiles have a range of up to 1,600km and can carry a variety of warheads. Some reports suggest these cruise missiles have a range of almost 2,500km.

Increased deployments

The US military has deployed a vast array of firepower into the Middle East as part of ongoing efforts to help defend its ally Israel and to deter malign actors in the region from further escalating the conflict.

The US military on October 17 ordered the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to deploy to the Middle East as a show of force and the unit is now aboard the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship in the region.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on November 4 arrived in the region, the first time in recent memory two US aircraft carriers have operated in the same area.

The presence of the USS Eisenhower and its affiliated warships in the eastern Mediterranean signals Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an earlier statement announcing the deployment.

The Eisenhower joins the USS Ford CSG, which arrived earlier on October 10, "as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack," Austin said.

The Ford CSG itself is a lethal combat force capable of overwhelming and defeating adversaries, including by delivering hundreds of missiles using aircraft, ships and submarines.

It is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2) and assigned destroyers, and USS Normandy (CG-60).

USS Normandy is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64) and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) are deployed alongside the Ford.

The carrier can carry up to 90 aircraft, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, F-35C Lightning II, SH-60 Seahawk helicopters and unmanned combat aerial vehicles.