Yup i know jahre viking is what most people recognise her as and even in port a small SSK or even mini sub could plant a charge on her that would be devistating as that could mean a percentage of that countrys oil has been lost not to mention economical disaster.
What does an SSN do;
Recon and survailance most notibly russian and chinease naval exercises and also telecomunications and radio communications (NOTE this is from blind mand bluff)
Special forces: subs like sceptre jimmy carter and kameahmeha (not decomed) carry whats called DDS or dry deck shelters for special forces primary role land them close to shore to get an advantage should war break out.
Land attack; with in the last few years america has converted 4 SSBN to carry cruise missiles reason because now less and less emphasis is placed on naval units needing to be destroyed, and more and more land targets need to be attacked with presision munitions.
Main weapons being tomahawk they are highly capible missiles and one SSGN (cruise missile sub also classed as attack submarine) carrys 154 tomahawks (ohio SSGN conversions).
In recent limited wars such as afghanistan iraq kosovo and yugoslavia, the need for a sever naval presence has stayed the same what keeps ships tied up in port is the knowlage that a sub could be waiting just out side the entrance (falklands thinking argie side).
In reality a missile sub can be hundreds of miles away hitting targets hundreds of miles inland, during iraq missiles were fired from the red sea over saudi arabia.
so does the attack sub still have an important role ?
YES
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