Florida (SSBN-728)

Florida (SSBN-728)
source
Ship name	Florida (SSBN-728)
Ship class	Ohio-class submarine
Ship sister	Ohio-class
Ship operator	United States Navy
Ship builder	General Dynamics Electric Boat
Ship launched	1981
Ship commissioned	1983
Ship decommissioned	active
Ship homeport	Kings Bay, Georgia
Ship displacement	18,750 tons (surfaced)
Ship length	560 ft
Ship beam	42 ft
Ship propulsion	S8G reactor
Ship speed	20+ knots submerged
Ship weapons	Trident II (D5) missile

Florida (SSBN-728)

Florida (SSBN-728) is an Ohio-class submarine deployed with the United States Navy as part of the United States strategic deterrent force. Named for the State of Florida, she is a ballistic missile submarine equipped with Trident II (D5) missile capacity and nuclear propulsion derived from an S8G reactor. Florida has operated from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and contributed to strategic patrols, joint exercises, and deterrent patrols during the late Cold War and post-Cold War eras.

Design and Specifications

Florida belongs to the Ohio-class submarine series designed under the Naval Reactors program led by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and developed by General Dynamics Electric Boat with components from Newport News Shipbuilding. The platform integrates an S8G reactor for nuclear propulsion, a single-shaft drive coupled to a PWR-based steam turbine arrangement and sound-isolating mountings influenced by Admiral Arleigh Burke-era acoustics research. Her hull follows a teardrop shape inspired by studies at David Taylor Model Basin, optimizing submerged hydrodynamics and echo signatures for reduced detection by SOSUS arrays and ASW platforms such as HMS Vanguard-tracking assets and P-3 Orion aircraft. Armament centers on 24 missile tubes carrying Trident II (D5) missile systems integrated with Cheyenne Mountain-linked command-and-control concepts and secure communications including Extremely Low Frequency transmissions via strategic transmitters. Sensors include bow-mounted sonar arrays and tactical systems interoperable with North Atlantic Treaty Organization platforms and United States Strategic Command directives.

Construction and Commissioning

Florida was laid down at General Dynamics Electric Boat facilities amid procurement decisions influenced by Congressional authorization under the National Defense Authorization Act cycles and strategic reviews during the late 1970s. Keel-laying incorporated modular construction techniques refined with lessons from USS Ohio (SSBN-726) and USS Michigan (SSBN-727). Her launch involved shipyard ceremonies featuring officials from the Department of the Navy and regional representatives from Florida delegations. Florida was commissioned into service with a ceremony attended by officers from Submarine Force Atlantic and guests tied to the Submarine Veterans of World War II community, thereafter reporting to Commander, Submarine Group 10 at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.

Operational History

During the Cold War, Florida conducted strategic deterrent patrols under directives from Strategic Air Command-era successors leading to United States Strategic Command oversight, participating in patrol rotations coordinated with SSBN deterrent patrol schedules and allied signaling to NATO partners. Post-1991, Florida supported arms control dialogues stemming from treaties such as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by maintaining verified patrol presence while implementing safety and verification protocols. She has executed at-sea missile certification events with Trident Refit Facility standards and integrated storm-weather transits alongside surface units including USNS Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment support and coordinated port visits to Holy Loch-adjacent allies, Bermuda, and Gibraltar.

Florida has taken part in multinational exercises with participants from Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Canadian Forces Maritime Command contingents, engaging in simulated deterrence, submerged communication drills with SSN and SSN(N) hunter-killer groups, and joint operations linked to Carrier Strike Group escorts. Her patrols supported strategic posture adjustments during crises involving regions overseen by United States European Command and United States Southern Command.

Crews and Commanding Officers

Florida has been manned by a sequence of crews drawn from Submarine Force Atlantic personnel pipelines, including officers trained at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command and enlisted sailors qualified through Navy Nuclear Propulsion School. Commanding officers have included career submariners selected through promotion boards convened by Chief of Naval Personnel and approved by the Secretary of the Navy. Crewing practices incorporated Blue and Gold crew swaps instituted to maximize operational availability, a method originating with earlier SSBN classes and refined across the Pacific Fleet and Atlantic Fleet commands. The crew has been supplemented by specialists from Naval Reactors during maintenance availabilities and by liaisons from Trident Training Facility for weapons handling.

Upgrades and Overhauls

Florida underwent depot-level availabilities and refit periods at Naval Shipyard and private yards under contracts awarded through Military Sealift Command-coordinated logistics. Upgrades have included conversion from earlier missile fire-control suites to Trident II (D5) missile-compatible systems, communications enhancements for Extremely Low Frequency and secure satellite relay with Defense Satellite Communications System, and acoustic signature reductions informed by studies at Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Reactor refueling and mid-life modifications aligned with protocols from Naval Reactors and included modernizations to tactical electronics interoperable with Aegis Combat System-linked command networks.

Awards and Incidents

Throughout her service, Florida and her crews have earned commendations administered by the Department of the Navy including unit-level recognitions from Navy Unit Commendation and operational awards tied to readiness inspections overseen by Commander, Submarine Forces Atlantic. Incidents have been limited but recorded in operational logs and fleet reports, prompting investigations coordinated with Naval Inspector General and safety reviews assisted by Nuclear Regulatory-aligned oversight commentators. Safety lessons from minor mishaps contributed to procedural updates promulgated by Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Safety Center.

Category:Ohio-class submarines Category:United States Navy submarines Category:Ships built by General Dynamics Electric Boat