Satellite imagery spotted a Chinese submarine with its nuclear ballistic missile hatches open while pier-side at a naval base with underground facilities facing the contested South China Sea.

The US is looking to solutions like anti-ship missiles, but a key answer to China's expanding surface and logistics fleet, which could number more than 700 ships in a conflict, is submarines.

USS Cavalla and USS Albacore were both Gato-class submarines, commissioned on February 2, 1944, and June 1, 1942, respectively. The Gato-class boats were diesel-electric submarines with a ...

Warning: This graphic requires JavaScript. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience. From top, Australian flag, Collins submarine and helicopter, William ...