The Ohio
class is a class of nuclear-poweredNuclear power is power produced from controlled nuclear reactions. Commercial plants in use to date use nuclear fission reactions....
submarines used by the United States NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
. The United States has 18 Ohio class
submarineA submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has only limited underwater capability...
s:
- 14 nuclear-powered SSBNs (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...
s), each armed with 24 Trident IIThe 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 warheads and is launched from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines...
SLBMs; they are also known as "Trident" submarinesTrident submarine may refer to the following classes of Ballistic missile submarine, armed with Trident missiles:*Ohio class submarine of the United States Navy*Vanguard class submarine of the Royal Navy...
, and provide the sea-based leg of the nuclear triadA 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...
of the United States strategic nuclear weapons arsenal
- 4 nuclear-powered 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-powered cruise missile submarine. The SS denotes "Ship, Submersible" , the G denotes "guided missile," and the N denotes "nuclear powered."-U.S....
s (cruise missile submarines), each capable of carrying 154 TomahawkThe Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a submerged submarine. It has been improved several times and, by way of...
cruise missiles with conventional warheads
The Ohio class is named after the lead submarine of this class, the . The 14 Trident II SSBNs together carry around fifty percent of the total U.S. strategic warhead inventory. The exact number varies in an unpredictable and highly classified manner, at or below a maximum set by various strategic arms limitation treaties. Although the missiles have no pre-set targets when the submarine goes on patrol, the platform, when required, is capable of rapid targeting using secure and constant at-sea communications links. The Ohio
class is the largest type of submarine ever constructed for the U.S. NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
, and are second only to the Russian Typhoon-classThe 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 33,800 tons, the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built, large to accommodate decent living faculities for the crew, when the...
in displacement and size (the new Russian Borei class submarine has larger displacement when submerged, but not when surfaced).
The Ohio-class submarines were specifically designed for extended deterrence patrols. Each submarine is complemented by two crews, Blue and Gold, with each crew operating on a 100-day interval. To decrease the time in port for crew turnover and replenishment, three large logistics hatches are fitted to provide large diameter resupply and repair openings. These hatches allow sailors to rapidly transfer supply pallets, equipment replacement modules and machinery components, significantly reducing the time required for replenishment and maintenance. The class design allows the vessel to operate for over fifteen years between overhauls. The boats are purported to be as stealthy at their cruising speed of as previous subs were at a dead crawl of , although exact information remains classified.
Except for the , the Ohio
class submarines are named after states in the United States, preceded by the usual "USS".
History
The first eight Ohio
-class submarines were originally equipped with 24 Trident-I (C4)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 warheads and is launched from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines...
submarine-launched ballistic missileSubmarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be 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...
s. Beginning with the ninth Trident submarine, USS Tennessee
USS Tennessee , an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was the fourth ship and first submarine of the United States Navy to be named for the 16th state...
, the remaining boats were equipped with the upgraded Trident-II (D5)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 warheads and is launched from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines...
variant as they were constructed. The Trident-II missile carries eight multiple independently targetable reentry vehicleA multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle warhead is a collection of nuclear weapons carried on a single intercontinental ballistic missile or a submarine-launched ballistic missile . Using a MIRV warhead, a single launched missile can strike several targets, or fewer targets redundantly...
s (MIRVs), in sum delivering more deterrence than the Trident-I and with much greater accuracy. Starting with USS Alaska
USS Alaska , an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, is the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 49th state. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 27 February 1978 and her keel was laid...
in 2000, the navy began converting the remaining C4-equipped submarines to D5 missiles; this was completed in mid-2008.
The first eight boats were homeported in
Bangor, WashingtonNaval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
to replace the Polaris (A3) carrying submarines that were then being decommissioned. The remaining ten boats were originally homeported in
Kings Bay, GeorgiaNaval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy located adjacent to the city of St. Marys in Camden County, in southeast Georgia. It is the Atlantic homeport for US ballistic missile submarines armed with nuclear weapons...
, replacing the Atlantic-based Poseidon and Trident Backfit submarines. During the conversion of the first four hulls to SSGNs (see below), five boats,
PennsylvaniaUSS Pennsylvania , an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the second state...
,
KentuckyUSS Kentucky , an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 15th state....
,
NebraskaUSS Nebraska is the 14th Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, and the second U.S. naval ship to be named in honor of the 37th state of the Union.The contract to build to Nebraska was awarded on 26 May 1987 to General Dynamics...
,
MaineUSS Maine , an Ohio-class Trident ballistic missile nuclear submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy authorized to be named in honor of the state of Maine....
, and
LouisianaThe fourth commissioned USS Louisiana is the 18th and last ship of the Ohio class of nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines in the United States Navy....
, were shifted from Kings Bay to Bangor. Further shifts are occurring as the United States' strategic needs change.
SSBN/SSGN conversions
After the end of the
Cold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state of political conflict, military tension, and economic competition existing after World War II , primarily between the USSR and its satellite states, and the powers of the Western world, including the United States...
, plans called for
OhioUSS Ohio , the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 17th state...
to be retired in 2002, followed by three of her sisters. However, Ohio
, Michigan
USS Michigan is the second Ohio-class Nuclear Powered Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine in the United States Navy. She is the third ship to bear the name of the state of Michigan....
, Florida
USS Florida , an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 27th state...
, and Georgia instead were slated for modification, to remain in service as conventional, guided missile submarines (
SSGNA cruise missile submarine is a submarine that can launch cruise missiles. SSGN is the United States Navy hull classification symbol for a nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine. The SS denotes "Ship, Submersible" , the G denotes "guided missile," and the N denotes "nuclear powered."-U.S....
s).
Beginning in 2002 through 2010, 22 of the 24 88-inch (2.2 m) diameter Trident missile tubes will be modified to contain large
vertical launch systemsA vertical launching system is a type of missile-firing system used aboard the submarines and surface vessels of several navies around the world....
(VLS), one configuration of which may be a cluster of seven
Tomahawk cruise missilesThe Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a submerged submarine. It has been improved several times and, by way of...
. In this configuration, the number of cruise missiles carried could be a maximum of 154, the equivalent of what is typically deployed in a surface battle group. Other payload possibilities include new generations of
supersonicThe term supersonic is used to define a speed that is over the speed of sound . In dry air at 20 °C , the threshold value required for an object to be traveling at a supersonic speed is approximately 343 m/s, . Speeds greater than 5 times the speed of sound are often referred to as hypersonic...
and
hypersonicIn aerodynamics, hypersonic speeds are those that are highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally been assumed to refer to speeds of Mach 5 and above...
cruise missiles, and Submarine Launched Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (SLIRBM), unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), the
ADM-160 MALDThe ADM-160 MALD is a decoy missile developed by the United States of America.-Overview:The Miniature Air-Launched Decoy program was begun in 1995 by DARPA as an effort to develop a small, low cost decoy missile for use in the suppression of enemy defences...
, sensors for anti-submarine warfare or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, counter-mine warfare payloads such as the AN/BLQ-11 Long Term Mine Reconnaissance System (LMRS), and the broaching universal buoyant launcher (BUBL) and stealthy affordable capsule system (SACS) specialized payload canisters.
The missile tubes also have room for stowage canisters that can extend the forward deployment time for special forces. The other two Trident tubes are converted to swimmer lockout chambers. For special operations, the
Advanced SEAL Delivery SystemAdvanced SEAL Delivery System was a midget submarine operated by the United States Navy and United States Special Operations Command that is designed to provide stealthy submerged transportation for special operations forces from the decks of nuclear submarines for primary use as an insertion...
and the
Dry Deck ShelterA Dry Deck Shelter is a removable module that can be attached to a submarine to allow divers easy exit and entrance while the boat is submerged...
can be mounted on lock out chamber and the boat will be able to host up to 66 special operations sailors or Marines, such as Navy SEALs. Improved communications equipment installed during the upgrade allows the SSGNs to serve as a forward-deployed, clandestine Small Combatant Joint Command Center.
On 26 September 2002, the Navy awarded the
Electric BoatWhile most boats on the water today are powered by diesel engines, and sail power and gasoline engines are also popular, it is perfectly feasible to power boats by electricity too....
company a $442.9 million contract to begin the first phase of the SSGN submarine conversion program. Those funds covered only the initial phase of conversion for the first two boats on the schedule. Advanced procurement was funded at $355 million in fiscal year 2002, $825 million in the FY 2003 budget and, through the five-year defense budget plan, at $936 million in FY 2004, $505 million in FY 2005, and $170 million in FY 2006. Thus, the total cost to refit the four boats is just under $700 million per vessel.
In November 2002, the USS Ohio
entered drydock, beginning her 36-month refueling and missile conversion overhaulIn the United States Navy, Refueling and Overhaul refers to a lengthy process or procedure performed on nuclear-powered Naval ships, which involves replacement of expended nuclear fuel with new fuel and a general maintenance fix-up, renovation, and often modernization of the entire ship...
. Electric Boat announced on 9 January 2006 that the conversion had been completed. The converted Ohio
rejoined the fleet in February 2006, followed by the USS Florida
in April 2006. The converted USS Michigan
was delivered in November 2006. The converted Ohio
went to sea for the first time in October 2007. The Georgia returned to the fleet in March 2008 at
Kings BayNaval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy located adjacent to the city of St. Marys in Camden County, in southeast Georgia. It is the Atlantic homeport for US ballistic missile submarines armed with nuclear weapons...
. These four SSGNs are expected to remain in service until about 2023-2026.
Next class of SSBN
The
Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military...
anticipates a continued need for a
sea-based strategic nuclear forceA 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...
.
[ The current Ohio class Trident SSBNs are expected to retire its first vessel by 2029][ meaning a platform must already be sea worthy by that time. A replacement may cost over $4billion per unit compared to the Ohio's $2billion per unit.][ The Navy is exploring two options. The first is a variant of the Virginia class]The Virginia class of attack submarines are U.S. subs designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions...
nuclear attack submarines and the second is a dedicated SSBN either a new hull or an overhaul of the current Ohio class.
With the cooperation of both Electric BoatWhile most boats on the water today are powered by diesel engines, and sail power and gasoline engines are also popular, it is perfectly feasible to power boats by electricity too....
and Newport News Shipbuilding in 2007 the Navy had already begun a cost control study.[ Then in December 2008 the Navy awarded Electric Boat a contract for the missile compartment design of the Ohio class replacement worth up to $592 million. Newport News is expected to receive close to 4% of that project. Though the Navy has yet to confirm an Ohio class replacement program Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates as of April 2009 confirms that the Navy should begin such a program in 2010.][Newport News contract awarded: Daily Press - Peter Frost] The new vessel is scheduled to enter the design phase by 2014. It is anticipated that if a new hull design is used the program must be initiated by 2016 in order to meet the 2029 deadline.[Global Security information on Ohio class replacement]
Popular culture
As ballistic missile submarines, the Ohio-class has occasionally played a pivotal role in fiction books and films.
plays a pivotal role in the film Crimson TideCrimson Tide is a 1995 submarine film directed by Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and written by Michael Schiffer and Richard P. Henrick...
, when an attack interrupts an incoming message regarding the potential launch of the submarines SLBMsSubmarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be 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...
, ultimately resulting in mutiny centered around the captainThe commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
and executive officerAn executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative Law:...
.
The sinking of the fictional USS Montana is the inciting incident in James CameronJames Francis Cameron is a Canadian film director, producer and screenwriter. His writing and directing work includes The Terminator and Titanic. To date, his directorial efforts have grossed approximately US$1.1 billion domestically, unadjusted for inflation...
's 1989 film The AbyssThe Abyss is a 1989 science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron. It stars Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. The original musical score was composed by Alan Silvestri...
. The characters, including a team of Navy SEALS attempt a rescue mission, but the crew of the Montana is found to have died in the sinking. During the mission, one of the SEALS explains the Montana's missile complement, stating she has, "24 Trident missiles, 8 MIRV's per missile. Your MIRV is a tactical nuke, 50 kilotons nominal yield. Say 5 times Hiroshima." Another character replies, "Jesus, it's World War III in a can..." Later, the SEALS remove one of the MIRV warheads and "hotwireHotwire or hot wire can mean one of several things:* Hotwiring, a method of starting a car without a key* Hotwire.com, an Internet-based travel agency* Hotwire * Hot Wire * Hot Wire...
" it to destroy the (alleged) Soviet submarines operating in the area.
In Tom Clancy's novels, these missile submarines play important roles. For example, the fictional Akula-class submarine Admiral Lunin sinks the near the end of Tom Clancy's novel The Sum of All FearsThe Sum of All Fears is the best-selling thriller novel by Tom Clancy, and part of the Jack Ryan series. It was the fourth book of the series to be turned into a film....
. Also interestingly in Debt of HonorDebt of Honor is a novel by Tom Clancy. It is a continuation of the series featuring his character Jack Ryan. In this installment, Ryan has become the National Security Advisor when the Japanese government goes to war with the United States...
, the Ohio class submarines of the US Pacific fleet are used as attack submarines due to their availability from nuclear disarmament, paralleling what the US navy has done.
See also
- Yankee Notch - 1983 conversion of former Soviet SSBN class to take up to 40 missiles similar to Tomahawks
- Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, is a long-range ballistic missile typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery, that is, delivering one or more nuclear warheads...
- Submarine-launched ballistic missile
Submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be 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...
- Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weapons are used. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare is vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
- Nuclear strategy
Nuclear strategy involves the development of doctrines and strategies for the production and use of nuclear weapons.As a sub-branch of military strategy, nuclear strategy attempts to match nuclear weapons as means to political ends...
External links