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The U.S.S. Tennesee SSN-734 is one of 18 Ohio class SSBN submarines carrying 24 vertical tubes for launching Trident II (D-5) SLBMs (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles). In fact, the Tennesee was the first to embark the newer Trident II, all ships prior to this having the Trident I C-4 missile. The mission of the "boomer" as they are called, is to position itself near the surface o of the water, and fire its missiles at an enemies strategic targets. The SLBM are MIRV (Multiple Re-Reentry Vehicle) nuclear warhead armed and thus are strategic weapons. They have never been actually fired to detonation upon an enemy target, however numerous test firings have taken place including a 1960s test firing which was part of the U.S. atmospheric nuclear tests.
The SSBN uses stealth to approach its firing area or perhaps to navigate between a number of possible firing areas. Because the subs are nuclear powered, they can go an entire mission fully submerged and for months at a time before returning to their base. Thus their location is only found out when an adversaries submarines detects them via passive sonar (hydrophone) or active sonar (sonar "blip").
All U.S. submarines are able to communicate both from the surface or near the surface as well as submerged. Underwater communication takes place via a underwater transponder and hydrophone, and a trailing wire Ultra Low Frequency antenna. The ULF system is immune to effects of sun spots or Electromagnetic Pulse or Ionization of the atmosphere following a nuclear blast, thus provides long distance communcation for the submarine while deployed. This ensures the submarine can receive its orders regardless of the wartime status.
Speculation is that satellite burst communications are used while near the surface so that a nuclear sub does not give up its position easily.
For self protection the SSBN carries a number of Mk-48 homing torpedos and has four tubes mounted in her bow for firing.
SSBNs have fairly sophisticated sonar and hydrophone detection systems themselves in order to avoid detection by detecting their pursurers first. The systems in use are similar to those in the L.A. class attack submarines.
The powerplant (shown in the diagram above) is made up of two water systems, one, the primary, which is heated by the reactor, and the secondary which is heated via a heat exchanger, that actually is heated into steam and drives the turbine. In this way, water that comes in contact with the nuclear core is isolated from that which is used for propulsion. This increases the safety of ship and crew.
Below are the specifications for the U.S.S. Tennesee
| Specification | Value | |||||||||
| Builder | Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, Commissioned 12/9/94 | |||||||||
| Displacement | 18,750 tons (submerged) | |||||||||
| Dimensions (len, beam, draft), ft |
560 x 40 x 36 | |||||||||
| Propulsion | 1 Nuclear Reactor 1 Shaft, 60,000 shp | |||||||||
| Performance | 20+ surfaced, 30+ submerged | |||||||||
| Crew | 16 Officers, 147 enlisted | |||||||||
| Armament |
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| Sensors |
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