The introduction of yet another of America’s finite number of attack submarines into the Indo-Pacific indicates how important of an area of operation it has become.

The United States is stacking up its military presence in the Indo-Pacific. Reports indicate that America is moving new F-15EX Eagle IIs and an increasing number of its nuclear-powered attack submarines to the region in order to confront China’s increasing threat.

The most recent addition to this buildup is the USS Toledo, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Currently stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, the iconic submarine is now joining Submarine Squadron Seven as its fourth Los Angeles-class submarine.

Commissioned on February 24, 1995, and named after the city of Toledo, Ohio, this vessel is one of the improved 688i Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines designed to excel in a wide array of mission sets—from anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to intelligence collection. As a critical asset in the Navy’s submarine fleet, the Toledo embodies the Navy’s commitment to advanced technology, strategic flexibility, and operational resilience in undersea warfare.

What’s So Great About the Los Angeles-Class Submarine?

Sixty-two Los Angeles-class attack subs were built between 1972 and 1996. Powered by a General Electric S6G pressurized water reactor, driving high-speed propulsion turbines that enable speeds exceeding 30 knots (35 miles per hour) when submerged, the improved 688i design incorporates advanced sound-quieting technologies. The submarine also has retractable bow planes for under-ice operations, as well as upgraded combat and sonar systems, making it quieter and more capable than earlier variants of the Los Angeles-class.

Armed with 533mm torpedo tubes that are capable of launching the Mk 48 torpoedo for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, this sub comes with 12 vertical launch system (VLS) tubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles, enabling precision land strikes at ranges up to 1,553 miles. 

Additionally, the Toledo can deploy Mk 67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mines, enhancing its role in naval mining operations. Its sonar suite, upgraded through the Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion (A-RCI) program, features more than 1,000 sensors embedded in the bow. This capability provides the submarine with next-level detection and tracking features—key in contested areas, such as the South China Sea or even the Taiwan Strait. 

The Toledo’s internal layout is divided into two main compartments: the rear houses the reactor, propulsion, and desalination systems, while the forward section contains the control room, sonar and attack centers, living quarters, and weapons storage across three decks. This compact yet efficient design supports a crew of around 130 personnel, who operate in a high-tech environment optimized for stealth, endurance, and mission versatility.

The History of the USS Toledo 

The USS Toledo herself is quite a high-profile boat. Since its commissioning, this submarine has participated in numerous memorable deployments. Its first deployment occurred in 1997-98 as part of the George Washington carrier strike group in the Mediterranean, followed by a six-month tour of the North Atlantic. In August 2000, the Toledo, alongside USS Memphis, was observing Russian naval exercises when the Russian submarine Kursk sank due to a purported torpedo explosion onboard.

The Toledo played a significant role in post-9/11 operations, deploying to the Mediterranean in late 2001 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and returning to Naval Submarine Base New London in April 2003 after contributing to the Iraq War. In 2004, the sub completed a six-month deployment in the Persian Gulf with the USS John F. Kennedy Carrier Strike Group, taking an unusual route around the Cape of Good Hope and conducting a classified drug interdiction mission in the Caribbean.

In 2019, the Toledo completed an eight-month deployment to the US European Command (EUCOM) area, earning the Navy Unit Commendation for its outstanding performance in intelligence collection and anti-submarine warfare exercises. And now she is assigned to the Indo-Pacific, where her presence is already making waves.

The introduction of yet another of America’s finite number of attack submarines into the Indo-Pacific indicates how important of an area of operation it has become. With China on the march, constantly threatening its neighbors, and real fears abounding that the Americans will be unable—or even unwilling—to help Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific partners if the Chinese come knocking, the presence of the Toledo is meant first and foremost to reassure those twitchy regional allies. 

Yet given China’s advanced submarine detection methods and their anti-submarine capabilities, it remains to be seen if the US Navy would be willing to truly risk its attack submarines in the contested waters of the First Island Chain. 

If there was one submarine that could stymie a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, though, it’d be the USS Toledo and its fellow members of Submarine Squadron Seven.