By Wang Daning

王大宁

A US Navy Seawolf-class nuclear submarine docks in Guam.

停靠关岛的美国海军海狼级核潜艇。

In early October, USS Seawolf (SSN-21), an attack submarine and the lead ship of its class, arrived at Yokosuka base in Japan. The attack nuclear submarine described by the US Navy as the most expensive, quietest, and rarest attack one has once again arrived in the turbulent East Asia region. What kind of waves will it stir up?

10月上旬，美国海军海狼级攻击型核潜艇首艇“海狼”号，抵达日本横须贺基地。这款号称美国海军目前最昂贵、最安静、数量也最少的攻击型核潜艇，再度到访波诡云谲的东亚地区，将掀起怎样的风浪？

The "Most Advanced" Attack Nuclear Submarine

“最先进”攻击核潜艇

The design for the Seawolf-class nuclear submarine began in 1983, aiming to counter submarines of the Soviet Union in a deep-ocean environment. The US Navy had planned to build a fleet of 29 submarines over a ten-year period, yet only three were eventually completed due to cost and budget constraints.

海狼级核潜艇设计工作始于1983年，最初为深水作战而研发，以对抗苏联潜艇。美国海军曾计划在10年内建造29艘该级潜艇，受成本和预算等因素影响，最终只建成3艘。

According to foreign media, as the "most advanced" attack nuclear submarine of the US Navy, the Seawolfclass has three notable characteristics. The first is a great diving depth. Seawolf-class hulls are constructed from HY-100 steel with higher strength. The publicly disclosed maximum diving depth is 600 meters, far exceeding the typical maximum diving depth of around 300 meters for ordinary submarines. The second is quieter performance. Seawolf-class uses anechoic tiles on the exterior and a shock-absorbing floating raft system inside, making it almost undetectable by sonar even at a cruising speed of 20 knots. The third is high underwater speed. The propulsion system of this class of submarines consists of an S6W pressurized water reactor, producing 220 megawatts of thermal power, which is equivalent to about 300,000 horsepower. Under optimal conditions, it can reach a maximum speed of 35 knots, which even exceeds that of most surface vessels.

外媒称，作为美军“最先进”的攻击型核潜艇，海狼级具备3个显著特点。一是下潜深度大。海狼级采用强度更高的HY-100特种钢建造，公开披露的最大下潜深度达600米，远超一般潜艇约300米的最大下潜深度。二是静音性能好。海狼级外部采用消声瓦，内部采用减震浮筏，在20节的巡航速度下，几乎难以被声呐探测。三是水下航速高。该级潜艇动力系统是一台S6W压水反应堆，输出功率达到220兆瓦，约等于30万匹马力，在不考虑噪音情况下，最高时速可达35节，甚至高于一般水面舰艇。

The US Navy describes the Seawolf and its two sister ships as "exceptionally quiet, fast, well-armed, and equipped with advanced sensors." Each is equipped with eight 660mm torpedo tubes and can carry up to 50 Mk 48 guided torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, or Tomahawk land attack missiles in the torpedo room. After modification, the nuclear submarines can also carry out special operations. They can carry small boats equipped with special forces. After infiltrating into the near seas of the target country, they can deploy these small boats to carry out special operations missions. They can also perform tasks such as underwater eavesdropping and intelligence gathering.

美国海军称，“海狼”号及另两艘同级潜艇异常安静、快速，且装备精良，配备了先进的传感器。该核潜艇配备8具660毫米鱼雷发射管，可发射MK-48重型鱼雷、“鱼叉”反舰导弹、“战斧”巡航导弹等，备弹高达50枚。该级核潜艇经改装后还具备特战性能：可外挂小艇搭载特种兵，潜伏到他国近海后，将小艇释放执行特战任务。其潜艇本身也可执行水下窃听、搜集情报等任务。

Stir up the regional security situation

搅动地区安全局势

United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, where the USS Seawolf (SSN-21) arrived, is the headquarters of the US Navy Seventh Fleet and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is also the only home port for US aircraft carriers in East Asia. The US Navy military once declared that the 7th Fleet would find it difficult to successfully complete any military or political mission without Yokosuka. The visit of the USS Seawolf (SSN-21) sent out multiple signals.

海狼级核潜艇抵达的横须贺基地 ，是美国海军第7舰队和日本海上自卫队司令部所在地，也是美军航母在东亚的唯一母港。美军曾宣称，“没有横须贺，第7舰队就难以圆满完成任何军事和政治任务”。“海狼”号此次到访，释放出多重信号。

As far as the US military is concerned, it can be seen as its intention to demonstrate forward deployment and exert military deterrence. In recent years, the US Navy has significantly increased the frequency of deploying nuclear submarines to the Western Pacific region to "flex its muscles." The collision accident of the USS Connecticut (SSN-22) in the South China Sea in 2021 indicates that it was carrying out a deterrence mission at the time. US nuclear submarines have also made multiple stops at Naval Base Guam. In August of this year, the US Navy designated Naval Base Guam as the home port for the Virginia-class attack nuclear submarine.

就美军而言，可以看作是其有意展示前沿部署、施展军事威慑。近年来，美国海军向西太平洋地区部署核潜艇“秀肌肉”的频率明显增加。2021年“康涅狄格”号在南海海域发生撞击事故，就表明其当时正在执行威慑任务。美国核潜艇也多次停靠关岛基地 ，今年8月，美国海军还将弗吉尼亚级攻击型核潜艇的母港设在该基地。

As far as the US-Japan alliance is concerned, this move shows that the US and Japan will promote all-round defense cooperation in maritime strategy. The US and Japan plan to integrate underwater submarines, surface aircraft carriers, and carrier-based air forces to form a more robust system of operational capabilities. This move will have a significant negative impact on the military balance and security outlook in the Asia-Pacific region, and the relevant developments warrant heightened vigilance from neighboring countries.

就美日同盟而言，此举表明美日将推进在海洋战略方向全方位防务合作。美日计划将水下潜艇、水面航母和空中舰载航空兵进行整合，形成更强的体系作战能力。此举将对亚太地区军事平衡和安全前景产生较大负面影响，相关动向值得周边国家高度警惕。

Unstoppable decline of the US military in the Western Pacific

难挽西太美军颓势

For over two decades after the end of the Cold War, the US nuclear submarine force, represented by the Seawolf class, enjoyed a period of prominence and was rarely deployed. Today, the Seawolf class has once again been deployed as a primary deterrent in the Western Pacific. It is largely due to the diminished power of US carrier strike groups. Analyses indicate that whether equipped with hypersonic weapons or extending the operational range of carrier-based aircraft, US carrier strike groups find it increasingly difficult to penetrate adversaries' anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) defense zones, leading to a greater reliance on the more stealthy nuclear submarines.

冷战结束后长达20多年时间里，以海狼级为代表的美军核潜艇部队曾风光一时，轻易不会动用。如今，海狼级再次作为威慑主力被部署在西太地区，很大程度上是由于美军航母打击群的威力已大不如前。分析称，无论是搭载高超音速武器，还是延长舰载机作战半径，美军航母打击群都已很难突破对手的反介入/区域拒止防卫圈，只得越发倚重行踪更加隐蔽的核潜艇。

Ironically, USS Seawolf (SSN-21) is the only Seawolf-class nuclear submarine currently available to the US Navy. Boat No. 2, USS Connecticut (SSN-22), was involved in a collision in October 2021 and is still under repair. It is not expected to return to service until early 2026. Boat No. 3, USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), adopts advanced technologies that can be used for special operations, tactical surveillance and mine warfare. It has a displacement of 12,158 tons and is approximately 138 meters long. According to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) docked at a dry dock in Bremerton, Washington on August 21 for scheduled maintenance, and USS Connecticut (SSN-22) was also undergoing maintenance there. The limited operational capacity of the Seawolf class also reflects the inadequate capabilities of US Navy personnel and logistical support.

颇具讽刺意味的是，“海狼”号竟是美国海军目前唯一可用的海狼级核潜艇。2号艇“康涅狄格”号于2021年10月发生撞击事故，目前仍处于维修状态，预计2026年初才能恢复服役。3号艇“吉米•卡特”号，采用可用于特种作战、战术监视和水雷战的先进技术，排水量12158吨，长约138米。据美国皮吉特湾海军造船厂称，“吉米•卡特”号于8月21日停靠在华盛顿州布雷默顿的一个干船坞进行定期维护，“康涅狄格”号核潜艇也在该地接受维修。海狼级可用兵力捉襟见肘，也折射出美国海军艇员素质和后勤保障能力不足等问题。