"Measuring more than 360-feet long, Tucson is one of the stealthiest and most advanced submarines in the world," the release stated. "This submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance."
The release explained that the Tucson is equipped with 12 twelve vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles and four torpedo tubes, giving the vessel "great offensive capabilities and strategic value."
US Naval deployments in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans come at a time of increased tension between Washington and Beijing, with China undergoing a massive military buildup in the South China Sea.
More than half of the world’s shipping transits through the region, which has long been considered an international waterway.
The United States says its deployments are intended to emphasize Washington’s commitment to keeping shipping lanes open to international traffic.
