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The 450-foot-long boat is one of three in its class and is specially modified to conduct some of America's most covert underwater operations. That fact alone — as Keddie points out — makes the appearance of the black and white flag significant.
[...] So why did it a U.S. submarine return home flying an undoubtedly British tradition? Much is unclear. U.S. submarine activity is rarely discussed by the Pentagon, and the vessels operate in almost complete secrecy. While it's unlikely the Carter torpedoed an enemy ship or fired one of its cruise missiles, the flag could represent the success of a more covert mission. The Carter can insert commandos, deploy unmanned submersible vehicles, and likely splice undersea cables all while using specially outfitted thrusters to almost hover off the seafloor. One of the Seawolf class's namesake participated in the Cold War-era operation Ivy Bells that saw U.S. submarines tapping Soviet underwater communication lines.
Source: Why did one of the US Navy's most advanced subs return to port with a pirate flag?
Also:
The ominous Jolly Roger is an important part of submariner lore and conveys a clear message when it is flown atop a submarine's conning tower.
Source: Why The Navy's Top Spy Submarine Flew A Pirate Flag While Pulling Into Port
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Saturday September 16 2017, @09:51PM
There is a a large rust spot on the forward top of the conning tower where the black covering is pealed back, (best view in the second linked picture). (That is probably a sound absorbing layer.)
Maybe they hit something or came up under the ice or something.
The V shaped "crack" (which may be a deliberate optical illusion) was not on that boat as built, but this isn't the first picture showing that V structure. There is this commercial stock image [alamy.com] also taken in hood canal showing it in better paint.
It looks more patched and painted in the newer image.
By the way, this Youtube video [youtube.com] Uploaded April 19 probably hints at the duration of the mission that just returned on September 11th. There was a non-standard flag flown briefly on that return as well, but it was mostly white.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.