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Ballistic Missile Submarines
The
OHIO Class
ballistic missile submarines provide the sea-based leg of the Triad of
U.S. strategic forces with the 18 Trident SSBNs each carrying 24
missiles.
By virtue of their patrol posture, these submarines are highly
survivable;
they are also extremely flexible, capable of rapidly retargeting their
missiles, should the need arise, using secure and constant at-sea
communications
links. They are the largest submarines to be built by the United
States.
The USS OHIO made the first operational patrol of this class in the
fall
of 1982. The 18th and final ship of this class to be built will be
delivered
to the Navy in 1997. OHIO Class submarines can carry either the TRIDENT
I (C-4) or TRIDENT II (D-5)
missiles.
In addition, these submarines are fitted with four torpedo tubes for MK
48 torpedoes which, along with countermeasure devices, provide
defense
against hostile ASW forces. The most important defensive feature of
these
submarines is their stealth - they are among the quietest
nuclear-powered
submarines ever built. This inherent feature of the OHIO Class coupled
with other characteristics makes these ships the most survivable
element
of the nuclear Triad. Two complete crews - designated Blue and Gold -
are
assigned to each OHIO Class submarine. While one crew is at sea
operating
the submarine, the other is conducting training, attending schools,
being
evaluated in shore-based simulators, and enjoying leave. By alternating
the Blue and Gold crews, with a brief turnover period, the submarines
can
be kept at sea for considerably longer than with a single crew. The
nominal
operating schedule is 77 days at sea followed by a 35 day
turnover/replenishment/refit
period. OHIO Class submarines are specifically designed for extended
deterrent
patrols. To speed the time in port for crew turnover and replenishment,
three large logistics hatches are fitted to provide large diameter
resupply
and repair openings. These allow the rapid transfer of supply pallets,
equipment replacement modules, and even machinery components,
significantly
reducing the time required for replenishment and maintenance. The OHIO
design and modern maintenance concepts permit the submarines to operate
for over 12 years between major shipyard availabilities.
Atlantic Fleet Ohio Class Submarines which are in service are homeported at the Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Georgia.
Five Ohio class submarines are assigned to Submarine Squadron SIXTEEN:
Five Ohio class submarines are assigned to Submarine Squadron TWENTY:
Originally
commissioned as ballistic missile submarines, the two remaining members
of this class of submarine have been converted to special operations
attack
submarines, with a capacity for carrying and delivering
special operations forces added.
Only one submarine of this class is in service in the Atlantic Fleet. This is the USS James K. Polk (SSN 645), assigned to Submarine Squadron SIX and homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Submarine Groups and Squadrons
Rapidly
being
phased out in favor of the LOS ANGELES and SEAWOLF
Classes of attack submarines, this venerable and flexible workhorse of
the submarine attack fleet brought the Cold War home to the enemies of
freedom for over 25 years and continues to operate in the forward areas
of the world to this day. Attracting little publicity during its
heyday,
this class of ship was the platform of choice for many of the Cold War
missions for which submarines are now famous.
This
is the most
numerous class of nuclear-powered submarines built by any nation, and
will
form the backbone of the U.S. attack submarine force well into the 21st
century. The LOS ANGELES Class submarines are fast and carry 25
torpedo-tube
launched weapons. The last 31 hulls of the
class
have 12 vertical launch tubes for the Tomahawk
cruise missile. Of these, the final 23 hulls, referred to as "688I"
(for improved), are quieter, incorporate an advanced combat system, and
are configured for under-ice operations in that their forward diving
planes
have been moved from the sail structure to the bow and the sail has
been
strengthened for breaking through ice. The USS MEMPHIS (SSN 691) has
been
modified to serve as a test and evaluation platform for advanced
submarine
systems and equipment, while retaining her combat capability.
Los Angeles Class submarines in service in the Atlantic Fleet are assigned to submarine squadrons as follows:
Additionally, two Los Angeles class submarines which are undergoing overhaul are assigned to Submarine Group TWO. These submarines are:
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The
SEAWOLF is the U.S. Navy's newest attack submarine class. Originally
intended
as a class of 29 submarines to be built during a ten-year period, the
end
of the Cold War and budget constraints have led to a revision in
submarine
planning. Only three submarines of this design are now expected to be
built.
The SSN 21 is significantly quieter than the previous LOS ANGELES
Class,
faster, has more torpedo tubes, and carries more weapons - up to 50 torpedoes
or
missiles, or up to 100 mines.
The SEAWOLF also introduces the advanced AN/BSY-2 combat system, which
includes a new larger spherical sonar array, a Wide Aperture Array
(WAA),
and a new towed-array sonar.
The lead ship of the class, USS Seawolf (SSN 21) has been commissioned and is assigned to Submarine Group TWO in Groton, Connecticut. The second and third ships of the class, Connecticut (SSN 22) and SSN 23 are under construction at Electric Boat in Groton.
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The
New Attack Submarine is the Navy's first major program of the 1990's
that fully embraces the new strategic concept in "... From the Sea"
and "Forward... From the Sea". It is the first U.S. submarine
to be designed for battlespace dominance across a broad spectrum of
regional
and littoral missions as well as open-ocean, "blue water" missions.
The New Attack Submarine achieves the right balance of core military
capabilities
and affordability.
The New Attack Submarine is designed for multi-mission operations and enhanced operational flexibility. SEAWOLF (SSN-21)-Class quieting has been incorporated in a smaller hull while military performance has been maintained or improved. With a focus on the littoral battlespace, the New Attack Submarine has improved magnetic stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities, and Special Warfare enhancements.
The New Attack Submarine is engineered for maximum design flexibility. Its responsivieness to changing missions and threats, and the affordable insertion of new technologies, ensures that it will continue to be the right submarine well into the 21st Century. Integrated electronic systems with Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components facilitiate state-of-the-art technology introduction throughout the life of the class and avoid unit obsolescence.
The Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) electronics packages also promote maximum flexibility for growth and upgrade. Coupled with the Modular Isolated Deck Structure (MIDS) and open-system architecture, this approach results in a significantly lower cost, yet more effective, command and control structure for fire control, navigation, electronic warfare, and communications connectivity.
The New Attack Submarine's sonar system is state-of-the-art and has more processing power than today's entire submarine fleet combined to process and distribute data received from its spherical bow array, high-frequency array suite, dual towed arrays, and flank array suite.
The New Attack Submarine's sail configuration huses two new photonics masts for improved imaging functions, and improved electronics support measures mast, and multi-mission masts that cover the frequency domain for full-spectrum, high data-rate communications. The sail is also designed for future installation of a special mission-configurable mast for enhanced flexibility and warfighting performance.
The new attack submarine is armed with a variety of weapons. It carries the most advanced heavyweight torpedoes, mines, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs) for horizontal launch. In addition, Tomahawk missiles are carried in vertical launch tubes. The New Attack Submarine also features an integral Lock-Out/Lock-In chamber for special operations and can host Special Operations Forces' underwater delivery vehicles.
Reducing acquisition and life-cycle costs is a major objective of the New Attack Submarine design and engineering process. Substantial cost avoidance is being acheived through the application of concurrent engineering design/build teams, computer-aided design and electronic visualization tools, system simplification, parts standardization, and component elimination. These innovations ensure that the ship is affordable in sufficient numbers to satisfy America's future nuclear attack submarine force level requirements.
The New Attack Submarine Program Office is applying the lessons learrned from successful government and industry programs of similar scope and complexity to improve producibility and lower costs. Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) teams bring the combined experience of the shipbuilders, vendors, designers and engineers, and ship operators to bear on the ship design. The early involvement of production people on these teams ensures an excellent match between the design and the shipbuilder's construction processes and facilites, allows a smoother transition from design to production, and reduces the number of changes during construction. The ship is designed using a state-of-the-art digital database, which allows all members of the IPPD teams to work from a single design database and provides three-dimensional electronic mockups throughout the design process. These efforts, along with strong support from Navy and shipbuilder management, result in an affordable submarine that satisfies all operational needs. Lead ship construction is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 1998.
The military performance of the New Attack Submarine is comparable to that of the SEAWOLF Class, with significant improvement in littoral warfare capabilities and considerably less cost. The New Attack Submarine will be stealthier than SEAWOLF. It surpasses the performance of any current projected threat submarine, thus ensuring U.S. undersea dominance well into the next century.
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