Do U.S. Navy Submarines Really Face Fewer Port Calls Than Surface Ships?

This article explores the frequent question: do U.S. Navy submarines make as many port calls as their surface counterparts? The answer is nuanced, largely depending on the nature of their missions and operational requirements.

Operational Differences: Stealth and Security

Submarines operate under strict secrecy protocols to ensure mission success. Their primary role often involves surveillance, intelligence gathering, and strategic deterrence. These operations frequently require submarines to remain submerged for extended periods, minimizing their presence in port. Even when they surface, they may still keep a low profile, limiting the opportunity for port calls.

Deployment Lengths and Cycles

Submarines typically undergo longer deployments, often ranging from three to six months, compared to the more frequent port visits of surface ships. This extended duration means submarines spend a larger portion of their time operational and less time facilitating port calls. Surface ships might visit ports more often to restock supplies, perform routine maintenance, or return to their home bases for writable duty.

Maintenance Requirements

Submarines require specialized and complex maintenance that often necessitates specific facilities, including dry docks. This specialized care is necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of these highly sophisticated vessels. Unlike surface ships, which can conduct simple maintenance or repairs at various ports, submarines must frequently return to specialized facilities for thorough assessments and repairs, further limiting port call frequencies.

Strategic Missions and Stationary Duties

The strategic nature of submarine missions can also play a significant role. Deterring potential adversaries or fulfilling surveillance roles often requires submarines to remain on station, thus requiring fewer port visits. Surface ships, on the other hand, might need to come back to port more often to ensure they are ready for immediate deployment, given their primary roles might not involve such prolonged stationary duties.

Personal Perspectives and Experiences

According to personal accounts from sailors involved in both naval sectors, there is a wide range in the number of port calls experienced. Instructors at naval training facilities often observe that submarine sailors might indeed get more port calls than their counterparts. For example, in a world cruise aboard a carrier, it was common to have port calls every two to three weeks, with each visit lasting three days, generously, except for the semi-annual steel beach picnic.

During these periods, the sailors aboard carriers might enjoy extended liberty, with watch rotations that allow for more downtime, although work and maintenance demands remain constant. In contrast, submarine sailors often face longer deployment periods without scheduled port visits. Forinstance, a six-month deployment with no port calls but with stretching steel beach picnics for sixty days, added an element of camaraderie to a monotonous schedule. These experiences, while different, highlight the unique challenges and excitement of each type of naval service.

Despite these differences, both submariners and surface sailors contribute crucially to the operational and strategic success of the U.S. Navy. Whether it's maintaining vigilance at sea or performing routine port calls, each role is vital to achieving the objectives set by the United States military.

Conclusion

Port call frequency for U.S. Navy submarines versus surface ships is not a static or uniform phenomenon. While submarines indeed tend to make fewer port calls due to their unique operational requirements and mission focus, specific circumstances and individual experiences might vary. These variations underscore the diverse landscape of naval operations and the different challenges faced by submariners and surface sailors alike.