The USS Georgia, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, has long operated as a symbol of US commitment to its allies.

The US Navy typically does not publicize its submarines' whereabouts. However, the service has made occasional disclosures during times of heightened international tensions to demonstrate US resolve.

In one such case, the US Navy's Sixth Fleet in January 2022 disclosed the location of the USS Georgia during a brief stop near Cyprus.

The show of force took place as Russia was in its final stages of completing a military buildup at the Russo-Ukrainian border before invading Ukraine in February 2022.

The USS Georgia is one of the Navy's four Guided Missile Submarines (SSGNs), Ohio-class submarines converted into conventional land attack and Special Operations Forces (SOF) platforms.

Each SSGN is equipped with four torpedo tubes capable of launching Mk48 torpedoes.

The submarines can carry up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles loaded in seven-shot Multiple-All-Up-Round Canisters in up to 22 missile tubes.

The Tomahawk family of missiles is primarily used by the US Navy in ship- and submarine-based operations and can strike both enemy ships and land targets from up to 1,609km away and at speeds of up to 885km per hour.

The four SSGNs combined represent more than half of the Submarine Force's vertical launch payload capacity, according to the US Navy.

Special operations

SSGNs can operate undetected near an adversary's homeland for extended periods and are designed to covertly insert SOF personnel and conduct surprise strikes from close-in positions.

The missile tubes of each SSGN can hold additional stowage canisters for SOF equipment, food, and other consumables, permitting extended forward deployments.

Each of the submarines, which have been equipped with additional berthing in the missile compartment, can host up to 66 SOF personnel at a time.

The two frontmost missile tubes of each boat were permanently converted to lock-out chambers that allow the clandestine insertion and retrieval of SOF personnel.

Each lock-out chamber can accommodate a Dry Deck Shelter, a removable module designed to allow divers easy exit and entrance while the boat is submerged.

Each SSGN has a Common Submarine Radio Room and two High-Data-Rate antennas for significantly enhanced communication capabilities, enabling each submarine to serve as a forward-deployed, clandestine Small Combatant Joint Command Center.