US submarine successfully breaks through Arctic ice

The US Navy's Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine USS Hartford participated in the 2018 Ice Exercise (ICEX) naval exercise in the Arctic, the Navy Times reported.

Accordingly, the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Hartford suddenly broke through a meter-thick layer of Arctic ice to surface.

Immediately afterwards, crew members had to clear away the thick layer of ice that remained on the ship's hull and use chainsaws to open the ship's hatch.

In this exercise, in addition to the USS Hartford, there was also the participation of another Los Angeles-class submarine, the USS Hampton, and a British submarine called HMS Trenchant (S91).

Nearly invisible to enemies and capable of diving deep underwater, the US Navy's Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine USS Hartford is giving the force an advantage.

US submarine breaks ice in the Arctic to surface.

CNN (USA) assessed that USS Hartford can launch a two-ton, 6-meter long torpedo capable of destroying enemy submarines in a split second.

According to information made public by the US Navy, Los Angeles-class submarines are capable of breaking ice 0.7 to 0.8 meters thick when surfaced.

The US Navy asserts that, from a military, geographical or scientific perspective, the climate in the Arctic is clearly too harsh and not suitable for human life.

However, a submarine exercise in these weather conditions is necessary to ensure that the main attack submarines of the US and UK can be deployed to any sea on earth.

The US side also affirmed that allowing both submarines to surface at the same time demonstrated the US Navy's understanding of the Arctic waters. "They know where the ice is thin enough for the submarines to surface easily," the US Navy said.

The Arctic is the latest front in the confrontation between Russia and the United States, with both countries controlling nearly 8.8 million square kilometers in this region. This place opens up many new opportunities for both oil exploitation and potential sea routes.

Countries near the Arctic such as the US, Russia and Canada are all looking for ways to exploit the huge energy, mineral and seafood resources believed to lie beneath the ice there.

US Rear Admiral James Pitts, commander of the Undersea Warfare Development Center, commented:

“We all recognize that the United States is in a great power competition environment, and the Arctic is part of that. The whole reason the U.S. Navy exercises here and trains is to make sure we can operate effectively.”