Rare visit to the monkey rock

The 14 strategic submarines of the US Navy have one mission: to remain undetected. They spend their rather boring lives patrolling the world's oceans, usually lasting between 70 and 90 days. Their job is to remain undetectable to a potential enemy and thus guarantee the United States' nuclear second-strike capability worldwide. It is therefore hardly surprising that the boats are rarely guests in foreign harbours. A visit to Gibraltar by one of the 170 metre long ships is therefore quite extraordinary. In front of the Monkey Rock, the USS Alaska for a short stop in the harbour there, the first visit by such a boat for more than twenty years. Nevertheless, the crew must have been delighted.

Rare souvenir photo: Strategic submarine off Gibraltar

Text: mb; Photos: US Navy