With long voyages and tight living quarters, American sailors give a glimpse of what’s in store for Australian counterparts in $368bn deal

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

There was a lot of sound and fury about China’s recent live-fire exercises off Australia’s coast. But in the backwash of that diplomatic incident, a US nuclear submarine has slid silently into port on the other side of the country and offered up a glimpse of life below the waves for Australia’s key strategic ally.

It is the seventh nuclear-powered submarine to arrive at HMAS Stirling naval base, about an hour south of Perth, since the Aukus defence pact was struck in September 2021.