Line #19 UsefulNotes/SuperiorFirepowerMissileSubmarines


1	Known by the designator SSBN in NATO parlance, ballistic missile submarines are the premier type of nuclear weapon, benefiting from mobility, stealth and the ability to wait for months before launching missiles.
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3	The US now has 14 "boomers" in service. These operate with two crews, a Blue and a Gold crew, who alternate on deployments that last about 60 days at a time. However, they can remain deployed for six months or more without making port, should the Navy so will it, and they pre-stock the sub for such a mission.
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5	This category also includes sub-launched ballistic missiles.
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7	!Cruise Missile Subs (SSG, SSGN)
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9	Prior to the first ballistic missile submarines, the USN had four modified [=WW2=]-era attack submarines (so diesel-powered) carrying nuclear cruise missiles: namely, the SSM-N-8 Regulus. They were joined by USS ''Halibut'' (SSGN-587), a nuclear-powered submarine.
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11	They made strategic deterrent patrols up until 1964, when Polaris made these boats and the missiles they carried rather obsolete. ''Halibut'' became a special operations boat until retirement in 1976.
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13	Today, [[LensmanArmsRace the shrinking size of technology]] means that a nuclear-armed Tomahawk cruise missile can fit inside and be launched from the torpedo tubes of a standard attack submarine. Do note that the newest American [=SSNs=] have vertical launch tubes designed specifically for cruise missiles, though the Navy's nuclear Tomahawk has been long withdrawn as part of strategic arms drawdowns.
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15	The four oldest ''Ohio'' class submarines have also been converted into dedicated cruise missile carriers.
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17	The Soviet navy have used Guided missile submarines since the 1950's. The earliest designs used launch tubes attached to the side of the submarine with nuclear armed short range cruise missiles. Following on from them newer models had vertical launch tubes and could carry missiles with conventional warheads, with an operational mission of attacking high value targets such as American aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and the aircraft carrier flagships of the British, Spanish, Italian and French navies.
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19	The peak of Cold war Russian guided missile submarine design is the ''Oscar'' class. First laid down in the mid 1970's, 8 were completed before the Soviet break up, and another 6 subsequently. In addition to the usual battery of torpedoes and anti-submarine missiles (some of which had nuclear warheads), they carried ''twenty four'' of the mammoth SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles. A direct hit would sink or cripple any escort ship on the planet, and larger ships like carriers, bulk merchant ships, American ''Iowa'' battleships and the helicopter assault ships would only likely survive two or three hits at best. If the missile didn't have a nuclear warhead.
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21	!Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN)
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23	!!''George Washington'' class
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25	These were the very first American [=SSBNs=], and carried several variants of the UGM-27 Polaris. The first two were converted from under-construction ''Skipjack'' class [=SSNs=], with three more specifically built.
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27	To make room from the ''Ohio'' class under SALT II limits, three were converted to attack submarines. All were decommissioned by 1986.
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29	It carried 16 [=SLBMs=].
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31	!!''Ethan Allen'' class
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33	Five of these were built. ''Ethan Allen'' was the only boomer to have done a full SLBM test, complete with nuclear detonation at the end, in 1962.
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35	* ''Ethan Allen'' herself features in the novel of ''Literature/TheHuntForRedOctober'', being blown up so that the Soviets will be convinced ''Red October'' has been destroyed.
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37	!!''Lafayette'' class
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39	31 of this basic type are built, but they were divided into three classes. The first nine were this type. Designed for Poseidon, but initially carried Polaris A2, until they were fitted with the former.
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41	!!!''James Madison'' class
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43	Second type of ''Lafayette'', with ten built. Just carried a longer-ranged version of Polaris, the A3.
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45	!!!''Benjamin Franklin'' class
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47	Quieter subs and other improvements. Not much else though.
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49	!!!41 for Freedom
50	Another name for the ''George Washington'', ''Ethan Allen'', ''Lafayette'', ''James Madison'' and ''Benjamin Franklin'' classes, taken together. Initially all Polaris boats. Later, some were upgraded to carry either Poseidon or Trident instead of the aging, obsolescent Polaris.
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52
53	!!''Ohio'' class
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55	Though now aging, these remain the newest (and now only) class of "boomer" submarine in the USN. They're also amongst the largest subs ever built, only beaten by the Russian [[UsefulNotes/MnogoNukesMissileSubmarines Typhoon]] class, though the Ohios beat them out in raw firepower thanks to four more missile tubes. Designed to carry the Trident missile from the get-go, and later being modified to carry the improved D-5 variant. The four earliest submarines have been further converted to cruise missile submarines.
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57	!!''Columbia'' class
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59	A new SSBN class has been announced as a replacement for the class, full development starting in the next financial year (FY 2010).
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61	!Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles ([=SLBMs=])
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63	!!UGM-27 Polaris series
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65	The very first American [=SLBMs=]. Not [=ICBMs=]; they were only intermediate-range, which meant that the [=SSBNs=] carrying them had to stay relatively close to their targets (Eastern Med or Arctic Circle). This became more and more of a shortcoming as the years went by. Initially it carried a single nuclear warhead, which was later upgraded to three warheads, each in its own multiple reentry vehicle. (They weren't [=MIRVs=]; it was a way of putting more warheads on a single target.)
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67	This system also ended up constituting much of the UK's nuclear deterrent as well, although they developed their own warheads, and in the case of Chevaline and the modified Polaris [=A3TK=], added their own countermeasures and penetration aids, in order to ensure that they could vaporize Moscow despite the ABM system the Soviets had put up around their capital.
68	!!UGM-73 Poseidon
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70	The successor to the UGM-27 Polaris in USN service. It carried more warheads and it was rather more accurate. Still not an ICBM, though. Carried true [=MIRVs=], potentially as many as 14. It was an excellent second-strike weapon against soft targets, the result of a political decision.
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72	!!UGM-96A Trident-I C4
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74	First version of the Trident missile, with a range of 4,000 miles (6437km), eight 100-KT warheads and three stages.
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76	!!UGM-133A Trident-II D5
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78	Beginning development in 1983 and going into full service in 1990, the Trident II D5 missile is the pinnacle of current American nuclear arms.
79	First-strike capable and accurate enough to blow up a soccer field from 7500 miles away, making it suitable for use against enemy missile silos and other "hard" targets. Previous generations could only be used against "soft" targets like masses of troops or cities. Each missile carries up to 10 warheads.

Context UsefulNotes / SuperiorFirepowerMissileSubmarines