US Navy wants more expeditionary submarine tender operations

The USN wants submarine tenders like Emory Land shown here in Guam to be more expeditionary. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

The US Navy (USN) is looking to upgrade its pier repair facilities and capabilities in Guam to enable tenders like USS Emory Land (AS 39) to become more expeditionary, USN officials told Janes during a tour of the ship and Guam pier facilities on 13 August.

The navy has already started to operate its tenders in an expeditionary mindset – and the service, along with the Pentagon, has begun to highlight operations served by those tenders, such as guided missile submarines (SSGNs).

For example, USS Ohio (SSGN 726) made a port call of its submarine class in Brisbane in July 2025. During the port visit, Ohio hosted tours and visitors. Similar tours were made aboard submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), which also called into the port, as part of its expeditionary operations.

During the Second World War, Brisbane served as a major submarine hub, hosting over 70 USN submarines and three submarine tenders.

USN and Pentagon officials have historically rarely thought of submarines as platforms to underscore the country's presence in a particular region. The leading attribute for the vessels is their stealth; while highlighting the movements of aircraft carriers, destroyers, and other surface vessels was used to highlight US power or interest in a region or a conflict, submarine movements were generally noted later, if at all, to maintain their stealthy operations.

However, SSGNs have been changing this mindset, according to defence analysts, even making port calls off limits when the vessels carried nuclear weapons.

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