USS Florida (SSBN-728)

USS Florida (SSBN-728) was a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) that later underwent conversion to a guided missile submarine (SSGN). Commissioned in the final decade of the Cold War, she served as a key component of the U.S. strategic deterrent before being transformed into a multi-mission platform capable of deploying Navy SEALs and launching precision strikes with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Her long career spanned nearly four decades, concluding with her decommissioning in 2022.

Service history

The keel for USS Florida was laid down on 4 July 1976 at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 14 November 1981 and commissioned on 18 June 1983, with her first commanding officer being Captain James B. Wilson. As a ballistic missile submarine, she was assigned to Submarine Group 10 and conducted deterrent patrols from her home port at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia. These patrols were a critical element of the U.S. Nuclear triad during the Cold War, operating under the command of the United States Strategic Command. In 2003, she entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia to begin her extensive conversion to a guided missile submarine, a process completed in 2006. Following conversion, she operated extensively in the United States Central Command area of responsibility, notably participating in Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011, where she launched Tomahawk missiles against targets in Libya. She was decommissioned on 26 April 2022 in a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.

Design and description

As originally built, USS Florida was a ballistic missile submarine designed for extended submerged patrols. Her design emphasized stealth, with a Teardrop hull and advanced sonar systems, including the AN/BQQ-6 sonar suite. She was powered by a General Electric S6G pressurized water reactor, which drove two turbines connected to a single shaft, providing immense endurance. Her primary armament consisted of 24 launch tubes for the Trident I C4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The vessel was operated by two alternating crews, designated Blue and Gold, a standard practice for U.S. SSBNs to maximize operational availability. This dual-crew concept was pioneered by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.

Ohio-class submarine

USS Florida was the sixth vessel of the Ohio class, the largest submarines ever built for the United States Navy. The class was conceived in the 1970s as a successor to the Benjamin Franklin and James Madison classes. The design represented a significant technological leap, offering greater missile capacity, improved stealth, and enhanced crew comfort for long patrols. The lead boat of the class, USS ''Ohio'' (SSGN-726), was commissioned in 1981. The class's development was overseen by the Naval Sea Systems Command and became the cornerstone of the sea-based leg of America's strategic forces for decades. Four boats of the class, including Florida, were later converted to the SSGN configuration.

Conversion to SSGN

The conversion of USS Florida to a guided missile submarine (SSGN) was part of a strategic shift following the end of the Cold War and the terms of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II). The massive conversion, performed at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, involved the removal of the 24 Trident missile tubes. Twenty-two of these tubes were reconfigured to launch up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, providing an unprecedented conventional strike capability. The remaining two tubes were converted into lock-in/lock-out chambers to support the deployment of up to 66 Navy SEALs and their equipment, including the Advanced SEAL Delivery System. This transformation gave the United States Pacific Command and United States Central Command a highly stealthy, multi-mission platform for special operations and precision strike.

Awards and legacy

Throughout her service, USS Florida earned numerous unit awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and several Battle Efficiency "E" awards. Her most notable combat action was during Operation Odyssey Dawn, where her missile strikes demonstrated the unique capabilities of the converted SSGN. The success of her conversion program validated the SSGN concept, influencing future naval planning and the design considerations for the next-generation Columbia-class submarine. Upon decommissioning, she entered the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. Her legacy endures as a testament to strategic adaptability, having served as both a cornerstone of nuclear deterrence and a pioneering vessel in conventional power projection. Category:Ohio-class submarines Category:Ships built in Connecticut Category:1983 ships