US, South Korea, Japan sub forces leaders make history meeting aboard USS Maine

Peiyu Lin, Kitsap Sun
·2 min read
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U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7; Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Adm. Tateki Tawara, commander, Fleet Submarine Force; and Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Rear Adm. Su Youl Lee, commander, ROK Navy Submarine Force (left to right); pose for a photo aboard the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Maine on April 18.

NAVAL BASE GUAM — Senior commanders of the submarine fleets from the United States, South Korea and Japan for the first time embarked on a ballistic missile submarine together last month. The historic tour occurred on the Bangor-based USS Maine operating off Guam on April 18, in what the navies called a movement to enhance relationships between the three countries.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Adm. Tateki Tawara, commander of Fleet Submarine Force, and Rear Adm. Su Youl Lee, commander of Republic of Korea Navy Submarine Force joined U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander of Submarine Group 7/Task Force 74, onboard USS Marine that day, according to a statement issued by the Navy last week.

The Ohio-class submarine arrived at Naval Base Guam for a logistics stop on April 18, according to the Navy.

The three senior commanders toured the ship during their time at sea. The visit included demonstrations of the unit’s capabilities, the statement said.

“This underway embark onboard USS Maine in Guam reflects our special relationship with Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as our ironclad commitment to each alliance,” Seif of the U.S. Navy said in the statement.

Tawara of Japan said the tour facilitated their understanding of a U.S. strategic operational asset, and that deepening understanding "among the commanders of the three nation’s submarine forces through such visits will strengthen the alliance with the United States.”

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Adm. Tateki Tawara, commander, Fleet Submarine Force, third from the left; speaks with U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7, right,; Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Rear Adm. Su Youl Lee, commander, Submarine Force, second from left; and ROK Navy Lt. Cmdr. Dongkeon Oh, executive officer of ROK Navy submarine ROKS SON WON IL (SS-072), left; during an underway embark aboard USS Maine, in vicinity of Guam on April 18.

Lee of the Republic of Korea pointed out that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance and that the visit "was an opportunity to reaffirm the security commitment and capabilities that the U.S. provides to the ROK,” the Rear Admiral said.

More: Navy Admiral stops in Pacific Northwest to see dry dock work, praises submarine community

The U.S. Navy revealed the photos of the trilateral embark on USS Maine after the White House announced in a joint agreement with South Korea that a U.S. ballistic missile submarine will visit South Korea for the purpose of enhancing the regular visibility of strategic assets in the Korean Peninsula. It is unclear if USS Maine or any other Bangor-based "boomers" will be docking in South Korea.

More: 3-year overhaul at Puget Sound shipyard propels USS Maine back to service

Commissioned in 1995, USS Maine is one of the 8 ballistic-missile submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor and can carry 20 Trident ballistic missiles with multiple warheads. The sub finished a nearly three-year overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in June 2019, which extended the ship's service life for two additional decades.

The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741) arrives at Naval Base Guam for a logistics stop on April 18.
The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741) arrives at Naval Base Guam for a logistics stop on April 18.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: South Korea, Japan, US submarine commanders board USS Maine