A US nuclear submarine returned to port in Washington State on Tuesday flying a pirate flag – which has sparked speculation of combat.
However, US Naval Commander Corey Barker told Daily Mail Online the flag was flown for morale, and has no further significance.
Photos of the USS Jimmy Carter were posted to the Pentagon Twitter page and show the Jolly Roger skull and bones flying beside the American flag, the Washington Post reported.
The USS Jimmy Carter is one of just three 450-foot Seawolf-class nuclear-powered submarines in its class and was designed to conduct covert sea operations.
Photos of the USS Jimmy Carter were posted to the Pentagon Twitter page and show the Jolly Roger skull and bones flying beside the American flag
The flag bares some significance according to Ian Keddie, a Scottish Journalist who posted one of the photos on Twitter. It is particularly significant because of the submarine’s significant capabilities. Pictured is the USS Jimmy Carter coming into port
It was last filmed returning to port in April with the Jolly Roger flying from its conning tower.
The flag bares some significance according to Ian Keddie, a Scottish journalist who posted one of the photos on Twitter.
It is particularly significant because of the submarine’s significant capabilities.
He said the tradition of flying it started in 1914 when a British submarine tank HMS E-9 sank the German battle cruiser Hela during World War I.
When the tank returned to port, the Lieutenant Commander raised the iconic black flag with a skull and crossbones to signify that the crew had sunk an enemy warship.
Since then, British naval fleets have honored the tradition sporadically.
Commander Barker said that, in this instance, it was just flown for morale.
‘There was no real reason for flying the flag, just a part of morale,’ he explained.
‘When submarines come into and leave port they are authorized to fly flags as their commanding officer tells them.
This is a flag they’ve flown in the past for morale. The crew also flew it when they were leaving earlier this year. It doesn’t signify anything further.’
The USS Jimmy Carter is one of just three 450-foot Seawolf-class nuclear-powered submarines in its class and was designed to conduct covert sea operations
It’s not clear why the Carter observed the British tradition when it returned to port earlier this week. US submarines often operate in secrecy and their activity is rarely discussed by the Pentagon
US submarines often operate in secrecy and their activity is rarely discussed by the Pentagon, the Post said.
The Post speculated whether the display represents the success of a more covert mission, as it is unlikely that the Carter torpedoed and enemy ship or fired a cruise missile.
The Carter has the ability to destroy unmanned submersibles and likely splice undersea cables. It also uses specifically outfitted thrusters to hover off of the ocean floor.