Pacific / Guam

Australian sailors embed on US Navy submarine in Guam

17:17 pm on 12 February 2024

This image obtained from the US Department of Defense shows the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land and the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Topeka pierside in their home port at Polaris Point, Guam, on April 19, 2017. Photo: AFP PHOTO / US NAVY / Petty Officer 1st Class Jamica Johnson

Australian sailors have arrived in Guam to learn how to maintain nuclear submarines.

Thirty-seven sailors from the Royal Australian Navy will receive this training from the US Navy.

The Royal Australian Navy sailors will be aboard the USS Emory S. Land - its is the US Navy's mobile base for fixing submarines.

Guam is the only place that houses a submarine depot in the Pacific.

The sailors will be spending the next five weeks working closely with the American personnel and learning how the US conducts nuclear-powered submarine maintenance.

The training is Australia's preparation to host regular visits from British and American Submarines starting in 2027.

It is also part of the Aukus agreement where Australia, the UK and the US have committed to provide and help build nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Arrangements for this visits first began last year.