The US Navy’s first commissioned Virginia-class submarine, USS Hawaii, is scheduled for arrival at its home port of Pearl Harbor on 23 July.

The 377ft-long submarine is capable of undergoing a wide range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, actions involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and mine warfare.

The 7,600t submarine has lockout chambers for up to nine commandos and can manoeuvre closer to shore.

The vessel left the Groton naval submarine base on 13 May for Pearl Harbor, completing its third trip through the Panama Canal.

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