Benjamin Franklin-class submarine

Benjamin Franklin-class submarine. The Benjamin Franklin class was a group of twelve ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) constructed for the United States Navy during the Cold War. As the final class of the "41 for Freedom" fleet, they formed a critical leg of the American nuclear triad and were designed for extended strategic deterrence patrols. These vessels were near-sisters to the preceding James Madison class, with key improvements in acoustic quieting for enhanced stealth.

Design and development

The design was an evolutionary development from the Lafayette-class submarine, sharing the same basic hull form and S5W reactor plant as the James Madison class. Primary development focused on implementing the SUBSAFE program enhancements, mandated after the loss of USS Thresher (SSN-593), which included improved hull integrity and safety systems. Acoustic quieting received significant attention, with advances in anechoic tile application and machinery isolation to reduce radiated noise and improve survivability against Soviet anti-submarine warfare forces. The class was originally constructed to carry the UGM-27 Polaris A3 submarine-launched ballistic missile, but their design incorporated the larger UGM-73 Poseidon missile from the outset, with later units modified to carry the UGM-96 Trident I.

Service history

Commissioned between 1965 and 1967, the submarines immediately began conducting strategic deterrent patrols from bases like Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and Naval Submarine Base Bangor. They operated globally, with patrol areas in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea, maintaining a constant presence as part of the Cold War policy of mutually assured destruction. In the 1970s and 1980s, most underwent overhaul and conversion programs, such as Poseidon or Trident I refits, extending their service lives. Notably, USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642) was converted into a special operations attack submarine (SSN) to support SEAL teams, while USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645) was converted to carry Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles. The class was gradually retired between 1992 and 2002 under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Specifications

The submarines had a length of 425 feet, a beam of 33 feet, and a submerged displacement of 8,250 tons. Propulsion was provided by a single Westinghouse S5W reactor driving two steam turbines and a single shaft, enabling submerged speeds in excess of 20 knots. Armament consisted of 16 vertical launch tubes for SLBMs and four 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow, typically firing the Mark 48 torpedo. Each boat operated with two alternating crews, designated Blue and Gold, a system pioneered by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover to maximize operational availability. Sensor suites included the BQQ-2 sonar array and various electronic support measures.

Boats in class

All twelve submarines were named for notable Americans, with the lead boat honoring Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. * USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) – Stricken 2002 * USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641) – Stricken 1995 * USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642) – Converted to SSN; stricken 2002 * USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643) – Stricken 1993 * USS Lewis and Clark (SSBN-644) – Stricken 1992 * USS James K. Polk (SSBN-645) – Converted to SSN; stricken 1999 * USS George C. Marshall (SSBN-654) – Stricken 1993 * USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655) – Stricken 1993 * USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656) – Stricken 1993 * USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657) – Stricken 1993 * USS Mariano G. Vallejo (SSBN-658) – Stricken 1995 * USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659) – Stricken 1993

See also

* 41 for Freedom * Ohio-class submarine * Royal Navy Resolution-class submarine * Red Fleet Delta-class submarine * Nuclear marine propulsion

Category:Submarine classes Category:Ballistic missile submarines of the United States Category:Cold War submarines of the United States