Ethan Allen class submarine
Encyclopedia
The Ethan Allen class of fleet ballistic missile submarine
was an evolutionary development from the George Washington class
. The Ethan Allen, together with the , , , and classes comprise the "41 for Freedom."
Rather than being designed as attack submarines with a missile compartment added, the Ethan Allens were designed from scratch as FBM submarines carrying the Polaris A-2 missile
. In the early and mid-1970s, they were upgraded to Polaris A3s. Because they could not be modified to carry the larger diameter Poseidon
missile,
in the early 1980s they were refitted as SSNs (attack submarines) fire control systems were removed and the missile tubes were filled with concrete. Two were further converted to carry SEALs
, accommodating 67 troops each. The Ethan Allen class submarines were decommissioned between 1983 and 1992.
All have now been broken up.
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description: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...
was an evolutionary development from the George Washington class
George Washington class submarine
The George Washington class was a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines deployed by the United States Navy. The Navy ordered a class of nuclear-powered submarines armed with long-range strategic missiles on 31 December 1957, and tasked Electric Boat with converting two existing...
. The Ethan Allen, together with the , , , and classes comprise the "41 for Freedom."
Rather than being designed as attack submarines with a missile compartment added, the Ethan Allens were designed from scratch as FBM submarines carrying the Polaris A-2 missile
UGM-27 Polaris
The Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fuel nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile built during the Cold War by Lockheed Corporation of California for the United States Navy....
. In the early and mid-1970s, they were upgraded to Polaris A3s. Because they could not be modified to carry the larger diameter Poseidon
UGM-73 Poseidon
The Poseidon missile was the second US Navy ballistic missile system, powered by a two-stage solid fuel rocket. It succeeded the Polaris missile beginning in 1972, bringing major advances in warheads and accuracy...
missile,
in the early 1980s they were refitted as SSNs (attack submarines) fire control systems were removed and the missile tubes were filled with concrete. Two were further converted to carry SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
, accommodating 67 troops each. The Ethan Allen class submarines were decommissioned between 1983 and 1992.
All have now been broken up.
In fiction
In the Tom Clancy novel Hunt for Red October the Ethan Allen (by now old and ready to be broken up), is detonated near the Red October in order to convince the Soviets that the fictional Typhoon had been destroyed.See also
- 41 for Freedom Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines