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Ballistic missile submarine

 
Ballistic Missile Submarine

 
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A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine
Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below water. It differs from a submersible, which has only limited underwater capability....
 equipped to launch ballistic missile
Ballistic missile

A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistics flightpath with the objective of delivering a warhead to a predetermined target....
s (SLBMs
Submarine-launched ballistic missile

Submarine-launched ballistic missiles or SLBMs are ballistic missiles delivering nuclear weapons that are launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to strike several targets....
). Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident
Trident missile

The Trident missile is a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle submarine-launched ballistic missile designed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in the United States which is armed with nuclear weapons and is launched from Ballistic missile submarines, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines....
.

Although some early models had to surface to launch their missiles, modern vessels typically launch while submerged at keel
Keel

In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, the construction is dated from this event, with only the ship's Ship_naming_and_launching considered more significant in its creati...
 depths, usually less than 50 meters (164 feet).






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A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine
Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below water. It differs from a submersible, which has only limited underwater capability....
 equipped to launch ballistic missile
Ballistic missile

A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistics flightpath with the objective of delivering a warhead to a predetermined target....
s (SLBMs
Submarine-launched ballistic missile

Submarine-launched ballistic missiles or SLBMs are ballistic missiles delivering nuclear weapons that are launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to strike several targets....
). Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident
Trident missile

The Trident missile is a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle submarine-launched ballistic missile designed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in the United States which is armed with nuclear weapons and is launched from Ballistic missile submarines, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines....
.

Although some early models had to surface to launch their missiles, modern vessels typically launch while submerged at keel
Keel

In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, the construction is dated from this event, with only the ship's Ship_naming_and_launching considered more significant in its creati...
 depths, usually less than 50 meters (164 feet). Ballistic missile submarines differ in purpose from attack submarines and cruise missile submarines; while attack submarines specialise in combat with other naval vessels (including enemy submarines and merchant shipping), and cruise missile submarines are designed to attack large warships and tactical targets on land, the primary mission of the ballistic missile is nuclear deterrence. Accordingly, the mission profile of a ballistic missile submarine concentrates on remaining undetected, rather than aggressively pursuing other vessels. Ballistic missile submarines are designed for stealth
Stealth

Stealth may refer to:Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missiles*Stealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology...
, to avoid detection at all costs. They use many sound-reducing design features, such as anechoic tiles on their hull surfaces, carefully designed propulsion systems, and machinery mounted on vibration-damping mounts.

Ballistic missile submarines are often referred to as SSBNs, after the United States Navy
United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
's hull classification symbol
Hull classification symbol

The United States Navy uses hull classification symbols to identify the types of its ships. The Royal Navy and some European and Commonwealth navies use a somewhat analogous system of Pennant numbers....
 for a nuclear-powered, ballistic nuclear missile-carrying submarine. The SS denotes a "ship submersible ", the B denotes "ballistic missile," and the N denotes "nuclear powered." In US naval slang, ballistic missile submarines are called "boomers", while in Britain, they are referred to as "bombers". Many navies use two crews per boat to maximize patrol time. The U.S. Navy calls them 'blue' and 'gold' crews; the Royal Navy
Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
 calls them 'port' and 'starboard' crews; and the French Navy
French Navy

The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale , is the maritime arm of the French military. It consists of a full range of vessels, from patrol boats to guided missile frigates, and includes one nuclear aircraft carrier and ten nuclear submarines ....
 uses 'blue' and 'red' designations.

Ballistic missile submarines equipped with nuclear warheads serve as the third leg of the nuclear triad
Nuclear triad

A nuclear triad refers to a nuclear arsenal which consists of three components. The purpose of having a trifurcated nuclear capability is to significantly reduce the possibility that an enemy could destroy all of a country's nuclear forces in a first strike attack; this, in turn, ensures a credible threat of a second strike, and thus increas...
. The invisibility and mobility of submarines offer both a reliable means of deterrence against an attack and a surprise first-strike capability.

Active classes

Uss Alabama (ssbn 731)
*France
French Navy

The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale , is the maritime arm of the French military. It consists of a full range of vessels, from patrol boats to guided missile frigates, and includes one nuclear aircraft carrier and ten nuclear submarines ....
    • Le Triomphant class
      Le Triomphant class submarine

      The Triomphant class of strategic missile submarines of the French Navy are currently being introduced into service to provide the sea based component of the France nuclear deterrent, with the M45 SLBM....
  • Russian Federation
    Russian Navy

    The Russian Navy or VMF is the Navy of the Russian Armed Forces. The international designation of Russian naval vessels is "RFS" - "Russian Federation Ship"....
    • Typhoon class submarine
      Typhoon class submarine

      The Typhoon class submarine is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. With a maximum displacement of 26,000 tonnes, Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built....
    • Delta III and IV classes
      Delta class submarine

      File:Soviet Military Power DD-ST-85-06588.JPEGThe Delta class submarine has formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973....
    • Borei class submarine
      Borei class submarine

      The Borei class is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine produced and operated by Russia. It is intended to replace the Delta class submarine and Typhoon class submarine in the Russian Navy....
  • United States
    United States Navy

    The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
  • United Kingdom
    Royal Navy

    The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
  • People's Republic of China
    People's Liberation Army Navy

    The People's Liberation Army Navy is the navy branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the People's Liberation Army Ground Force....
    • Type 092
    • Type 094
    • PRC reportedly still operates a single modified Golf-class
      Golf class submarine

      Project 629, also known by the NATO reporting name of 'Golf class', were diesel electric ballistic missile submarines of the Soviet Navy. They were designed after six Zulu class submarines were successfully modified to carry and launch Scud missiles....
       diesel-powered ballistic missile submarine built in 1966, used for testing new SLBM designs.


Classes under development


  • Indian Navy
    Indian Navy

    The Indian Navy is the navy of the Indian Armed Forces. It currently has approximately 55,000 personnel on active duty, including 5,000 members of the naval aviation branch and 2,000 MARCOS , making it the world's fifth largest navy....
    • Advanced Technology Vessel
      Advanced Technology Vessel

      The Advanced Technology Vessel is a Nuclear navy ballistic missile submarine being constructed for the Indian Navy at Vizag, India.The submarine is a part of India's US$2.9 billion project to construct 6 nuclear submarines and the submarine is expected to enter trials by the end of 2009....
       (to be unveiled in 2009 but tests will commence in mid later 2009)


Retired classes

  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Russian Federation/Soviet*
    • Yankee II class
      Yankee class submarine

      The Yankee class is the general NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward....
    • Delta I class
      Delta class submarine

      File:Soviet Military Power DD-ST-85-06588.JPEGThe Delta class submarine has formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973....
    • Delta II class
      Delta class submarine

      File:Soviet Military Power DD-ST-85-06588.JPEGThe Delta class submarine has formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973....
    • Golf class
      Golf class submarine

      Project 629, also known by the NATO reporting name of 'Golf class', were diesel electric ballistic missile submarines of the Soviet Navy. They were designed after six Zulu class submarines were successfully modified to carry and launch Scud missiles....
       (diesel powered)


See also

  • SSN
    SSN (US Navy)

    SSN is the United States Navy hull classification symbol for a general-purpose fast attack submarine. The SS denotes a submarine,. and N denotes nuclear power....
     - attack submarine
  • SSGN
    SSGN

    A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that can launch cruise missiles. SSGN is the United States Navy hull classification symbol for a nuclear marine propulsion cruise missile submarine....
     - cruise missile submarine
  • 41 for Freedom
    41 for Freedom

    The ?41 for Freedom? refers to United States Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines that comprise the following classes: the George Washington class submarine,...
     - US Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarines
  • Nuclear War
    Nuclear war

    Nuclear warfare is battle in which nuclear weapons are used.Nuclear war may also refer to:*Nuclear War *Nuclear War *Nuclear War, an album by Sun Ra...


External links

  • showing various SSBNs in action.