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KIT BQNNER The 21 century SUB
SEA CLASSICS May 2004
ARMS RACE BEGINS IN EARNEST AND THE MISSILE SUBMARINE BECOMES Л CRUCIAL OFFENSIVE WEAPON
Soun after the conclu sion of WWII, the Cold War began with the Soviet Union and polarized between the western Allies and the Communist-dominated states in Europe, Central America and Asia. Despite rumors to the contrary, the Soviet Navy was not wholly backwards during this period.
It began developing slowly and accelerated quick with a program of nuclear and conventionally powered guided missile submarines, some of whi did not have to surface to fire a guided or ballistit missile. Since the Soviet Navy and the Warsaw I had become the Western Allies' sworn enemies; t race to develop better, bigger, quieter, and more powerful and destructive undersea craft heated i Ultimately, the United States and the Western Navies (Great Britain, France) pinned their hop* the nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine to the aircraft carrier battle groups. The first gre effort was the George Washington-doss SSBN P< submarine built in the USA and armed with 16, Polaris missiles that had a range of 1200-mi and armed with a .5-megaton nuclear weapon. The missile could be fired from beneath the surface о ocean thus ensuring some degree of elusiveness submarine. The purpose of this weapons prograj to act as a deterrent to Soviet aggression, and w of the three elements of the nuclear deterrent tr strategic nuclear bomb armed aircraft (SAC), lai based intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine launched ballistic missiles. Ironically the US Navy actually launched the A-l Polaris missiles at Soviet targets, over 75% would have to detonate or would have had a very low-level of accuracy. Fortunately, this was not discovered until long after the end of the Cold War! It is likely that most of the Soviet SSBNs (ballistic missile nuclear submarines) would have experienced the same difficulty. The USN followed its George Washington-class and the A-l Polaris missile with three improved ballistic missile boats and a number of missiles that grew in power, size and range. All culminated in the 18,750-ton submerged Ohio-class whose latest craft can launch the Trident IID-5 SLBM (submarine launched ballistic missile). The Trident IID-has a range of'over 4000-mi and carry a classified payload of thermonuclear multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV). The level of accuracy and overall destructive power is phenomenal.
The Soviet Union and Warsaw Block developed two distinct undersea missile boats (Delta, Typhoon variants) and the nuclear- guided missile boats (Oscar II such as the K-141 Kursk). There were earlier models of the guided missile submarines such as the (Whiskey Twin Cylinder, Juliett, Echo II, Charlie-classeB, etc.). The rationale behind the emphasis on guided missile boats was simple — throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Union was desperate to defend the homeland against American and NATO aircraft earner and amphibious groups. The guided missHe submarine armed with nuclear weapons with in-flight guidance by either rotary or fixed wing aircraft would give them the defensive edge they required. Neither they nor the increasingly powerful ballistic missile submarines were ever needed by either side. Now a major environmental problem is the disposition of scores of nuclear attack, ballistic, and guided missile boats in harbors on both sides of the globe.
ОШО-CLASS SSBN CONVERTS TO SSGN
On 10 April 1976, the first of 18 super ballistic missile submarines
(SSBN) was laid down at the General Dynamic Electric Boat Division at Groton, Connecticut. Originally, it was thought that there would be 20 of these 18,750-ton submerged Ohio-class boats, yet by the time the final crall was placed in service on 6 September 1997 {USS Louisiana, SSBN-743), the Cold War with the Soviet Union was becoming a dim memory. The need for these huge heavily armed vessels lurking around the former Soviet Union had passed, and the "peace dividend" was the current buzzword on the Washington beltway.
As the result of the United States being the only superpower; worldwide terrorism was on the rise and as of 11 September 2001, blatantly within the nation, the need for a different type of undersea vessel came into focus. These needs, plus the increasingly obvious fact that the US armed forces would have to engage in brush fire warfare often in coastal regions prompted various plans to bring firepower and specially trained forces to bear quickly and clandestinely where and when needed, especially during emergencies.
Three elements were combined to meet this need — trained special operations personnel (SEALs); a large nuclear powered missile submarine; and a proven guided missile that could be fired from beneath the sea.
The Tomahawk missile (introduced in 1984) has proven its worth on nine major occasions since 1991, and since Operation Desert Storm, the 900-mi range, 18.2-ft long missile has been fired 1800 times in combat. It has done a sterling job for the US military., and with each upgrade became more accurate and packed a bigger punch. It has been fired successfully from attack submarines on many occasions in combat.
Special Operations Forces, and in particular the US Navy's SEALs needed a platform from which to leave and return aboard their new Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS). The 60-ton submerged electrically powered underwater delivery vehicle has been deployed on some Los А/г^е/es-class attack submarines and modern attack submarine of the Jimmy Carter- and Wrgmm-class.
Four boats of the 0/uo-class SSBN have become available as virtual surplus and selected for conversion to guided missile submarines with collateral capabilities of transporting special operations forces, launching unmanned underwater vehicles (U LfV), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and of course, being to (ire up to 154 Tomahawk missiles from the illusiveness of under tl ballistic missile silos hi modified to accommod; Tomahawk guided mis modifications are bein^ the Puget Sound Nava the Norfolk Naval Shif
Unlike the Soviet N boats to be converted (1 SSGN-26,USSMicA#, USS Florida SSGN-72, Georgia SSGN-729) wi seeking enemy battle g They will, however, ma first strike vehicle for s were witnessed againsl 2003. The Ohio and Mi converted at the Puget Shipyard and the Flori at the Norfolk Naval SI expected cost to conven is $3.34 billion which is of building just over i\\ attack submarines. A]] SSGNs should be read} introduction to the (leet
In addition, the largi Оhio-class SSGN class more adequate room foi SEAL team members a and/or dry deck shelter!
Tho SSGN versions its defensive electronic < four bow torpedo tubes decoys. It is anticipated will have at least 20 ye< hull life, and tests carrii USS Florida under the Giant Shadow have pro conclusively that the S£ conversions will be a gn and necessary adjunct t as it transitions into the Of the 20 years lifetime at least 14 can be spent ready for whatever is re possible that political le опн day ask, where is tt SSGN rather than aircr as they did a century ag nearest battleship?