ROK, US Submarine Commands Strengthen Ties in Landmark 30th Year Talks

The engagement included face-to-face meetings by commanders and staff, as well as visits to air and surface assets and facilities that impact undersea warfare.

“We frequently conduct operations and closely coordinate with the Republic of Korea Submarine Force and other allies in the Indo-Pacific to broaden our shared advantages in the undersea domain,” said Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, commander of Submarine Group 7. “Undersea warfare is a multi-domain, multi-national team effort.”

During the Submarine Warfare Commanders’ Meeting (SWCM), Cavanaugh met with Rear Adm. Kang Jeong-ho, commander of the ROK Navy Submarine Force, to discuss strengthening mutual cooperation and improving combined operational capabilities.

“The ROK-US SWCM, with a rich history over the past 30 years, symbolizes the friendship between the two submarine forces,” said Kang. “We will continue to strengthen our cooperation.”

SWCM complements the many combined port visits, exercises, training sessions, operations, and other military cooperation activities by the U.S. and ROK submarine commands. For instance, the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) arrived in Busan, Republic of Korea, on Sept. 23 for a scheduled port visit.

Conversely, the Son Won-il-class submarine ROKS Lee Beom-seok (SS 081) visited Naval Base Guam from Sept. 16-19, mooring alongside the Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

During their talks, the submarine commanders visited assets crucial to the undersea domain, such as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85), an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 51, and a P-8A Poseidon from Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron 10.

SWCM meetings have been held twice a year by U.S. and ROK submarine forces since 1994. The meetings aim to deepen partnerships and enhance combined interoperability. SWCM 58 took place in May 2024 in Jinhae, Jeju, and Busan, Republic of Korea.

The last SWCM held at CSG-7 headquarters was SWCM 45 in 2017.

Submarine Group 7 directs forward-deployed, combat-capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare throughout the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit Arizonanews.org.