Ohio class

Ohio class. The Ohio-class submarines form the sea-based leg of the United States' strategic nuclear triad, providing a continuous, survivable deterrent. Originally designed as ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to carry Trident missiles during the Cold War, a portion of the fleet was later converted into cruise missile submarines (SSGNs) following arms reduction treaties. These vessels, constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat, are among the largest submarines ever built for the United States Navy and represent a cornerstone of American strategic defense for decades.

Design and development

The program originated in the early 1970s under the administration of President Richard Nixon as a successor to the Benjamin Franklin class and Lafayette class SSBNs. The primary design requirement was to carry the new, larger Trident I C4 missile, necessitating a hull significantly larger than previous American fleet ballistic missile submarines. Key figures in the United States Department of Defense, including Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger, advocated for the program to maintain parity with the Soviet Typhoon class. The design incorporated the S8G reactor, a natural circulation pressurized water reactor developed by General Electric, which provided enhanced stealth and reliability. The first boat, USS Ohio (SSBN-726), was ordered from General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut and its keel was laid in 1976.

Service history

USS Ohio entered service in 1981, conducting its first deterrent patrol in 1982 from Naval Submarine Base Bangor in Washington. Throughout the 1980s, the class formed the backbone of the United States Strategic Command's maritime presence during the final decade of the Cold War, operating in the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Following the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), the four oldest boats were removed from strategic service. Under the leadership of Admiral Vern Clark, these four were converted into SSGNs between 2002 and 2008, a process that involved refitting Trident missile tubes to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles and host United States Navy SEALs. The remaining SSBNs continue their strategic patrols, with operations centered from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia and Naval Base Kitsap in Washington.

Boats in class

The class consists of 18 commissioned vessels. The first eight, starting with USS Ohio (SSBN-726), were originally armed with the Trident I C4 missile before being upgraded to the Trident II D5. The SSBNs include USS Alabama (SSBN-731), USS Alaska (SSBN-732), and USS Tennessee (SSBN-734), among others. The four boats converted to SSGNs are USS Ohio (SSGN-726), USS Michigan (SSGN-727), USS Florida (SSGN-728), and USS Georgia (SSGN-729). Each boat is named for a U.S. state, continuing a tradition for American ballistic missile submarines. The planned total of 24 boats was reduced after the Cold War, with six cancelled during the administration of President George H. W. Bush.

Specifications

Each submarine is 560 feet long with a beam of 42 feet and can submerge to depths in excess of 800 feet. Displacement is approximately 18,750 tons when submerged. Propulsion is provided by a single S8G reactor driving two General Electric geared turbines connected to a single shaft, enabling speeds greater than 20 knots. The vessels are equipped with a BQQ-6 bow-mounted sonar array and a BPS-15 surface-search radar. The SSBN variant carries 24 Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, each capable of carrying multiple independent reentry vehicles. The SSGN conversion allows each of 22 missile tubes to carry up to seven Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, for a total of 154, or a combination of missiles and special operations forces equipment.

Role and capabilities

As SSBNs, their primary mission is strategic nuclear deterrence, a key component of the doctrine established during the Cold War by figures like Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. They operate on a "continuous at-sea deterrent" patrol cycle, ensuring at least several boats are on station and undetectable at any given time. The SSGN conversions, championed by commanders like Admiral Mike Mullen, provide the United States Navy with a massive, covert land-attack and special operations platform. These boats can launch precision strikes with Tomahawk missiles against targets ashore, support missions for United States Special Operations Command, and conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The class is slated to be replaced by the Columbia class, with the first patrols of the new submarines expected in the early 2030s.

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