USS Michigan
Class overview
Name:	Ohio
Builders:	General Dynamics Electric Boat
Operators:	United States of America
Preceded by:	Los Angeles class SSN
Succeeded by:	Seawolf clas SSN
Completed:	18
Active:	18
General characteristics
Class and type:	SSBN/SSGN
Displacement:	Surfaced: 16,600tons Submerged: 18,750tons
Length:	560 ft (170 m)
Beam:	42 ft (13 m)
Propulsion:	1 PWR nuclear reactor 1x325hp auxiliary motor, 1 shaft
Speed:	Surfaced: 12knots Submerged:24knots
Range:	unlimited except by food supplies
Complement:	155
Crew:	155
Armament:	24 Trident I C4 (SSBN-726 to SSBN-733 from construction to refueling) SLBM with up to eight MIRVed 100kT W76 nuclear warheads, range 4000nm, 24 Trident II D5 (SSBN-734 and subsequent hulls upon construction, SSBN-730 to SSBN-733 since refueling) SLBM with up to 12 MIRVed W76 or W88 (300-475kT) nuclear warheads, range 6500nm, 4x21in bow torpedo tubes. General Dynamics/Electric Boat (usually abbreviated as Electric Boat, and referred to as "EB" or "The Boat Company" by its employees a division of The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Characteristics Capabilities According to the US government the top speed of Los Angeles -class submarines is over 25 knots (46 km/h 29 mph Boats ''Seawolf'' (SSN-21, commissioned and in service ''Connecticut'' (SSN-22, commissioned and in service ''Jimmy This article contains technical information about the Trident ballistic missile This article contains technical information about the Trident ballistic missile SSGN conversion mounts 22 tubes, each with 7 Tomahawk Cruise missiles.
Notes:	Ships in class include: Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Henry M. Jackson, Alabama, Alaska, Nevada, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Maine, Wyoming, Louisiana

The United States has 18 Ohio-class submarines:

• 14 nuclear-powered SSBNs, each armed with 24 Trident II SLBMs; they are also known as "Trident" submarines, and provide the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad of the United States strategic nuclear weapons arsenal
• 4 nuclear-powered SSGNs, each armed with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles with conventional warheads

The 14 Trident II SSBNs together carry around fifty percent of the total U. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability A ballistic missile submarine is a Submarine equipped to launch Ballistic missiles ( SLBMs) This article contains technical information about the Trident ballistic missile Submarine-launched ballistic missiles or SLBM s are Ballistic missiles delivering Nuclear weapons that are launched from Submarines Modern variants A nuclear triad refers to a nuclear arsenal which consists of three components A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that can launch Cruise missiles SSGN is the United States Navy Hull classification symbol for The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM is a long-range all-weather subsonic cruise missile A cruise missile is a guided Missile that carries an explosive payload and uses a lifting wing and a propulsion system usually a Jet engine, to allow 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. Navy, and are second only to the Russian Typhoon-class in mass and size (the new Russian Borei class submarine has more mass when submerged but not when surfaced). Description and history The Typhoon class was developed under Project 941 as the Russian Akula class ( Акула) meaning Shark. History and description Work on the first unit of the Borey class (officially designated Project 935) started in 1996

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 15+ years between overhauls. The ships are purported to be as stealthy at 20 knots (their cruising speed) as previous subs were at a dead crawl of 6 knots (11 km/h), although exact information remains classified.

History

The first eight Ohio-class submarines were originally equipped with 24 Trident-I (C4) submarine-launched ballistic missiles. This article contains technical information about the Trident ballistic missile Submarine-launched ballistic missiles or SLBM s are Ballistic missiles delivering Nuclear weapons that are launched from Submarines Modern variants Beginning with the ninth Trident submarine, USS Tennessee, the remaining ships were equipped with the upgraded Trident-II (D5) variant as they were constructed. Tennessee in fiction In Tom Clancy 's novel Debt of Honor, the Tennessee is one of several submarines sent to deal This article contains technical information about the Trident ballistic missile The Trident-II missile carries eight multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), in sum delivering more deterrence than the Trident-I and with much greater accuracy. A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle ( MIRV) is a collection of Nuclear weapons carried on a single Intercontinental ballistic missile A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle ( MIRV) is a collection of Nuclear weapons carried on a single Intercontinental ballistic missile Starting with USS Alaska in 2000, the navy began converting the remaining C4-equipped submarines to D5 missiles; this will be completed in mid-2008.

The first eight ships were homeported in Bangor, Washington to replace the Polaris (A3) carrying submarines that were then being decommissioned. Naval Base Kitsap is a US Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state The Polaris missile was a submarine-launched two-stage solid-fuel nuclear-armed ballistic missile ( SLBM) built during the Cold War by Lockheed for The remaining ten ships were originally homeported in Kings Bay, Georgia, replacing the Atlantic-based Poseidon and Trident Backfit submarines. Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy in Camden County, in southeast Georgia. The Poseidon missile was the second US Navy Ballistic missile system powered by a two-stage solid fuel rocket During the conversion of the first four hulls to SSGNs (see below), five ships, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Nebraska, Maine, and Louisiana, were shifted from Kings Bay to Bangor. Pennsylvania in fiction In Tom Clancy 's novel Debt of Honor, the Pennsylvania is one of several submarines sent Commanding Officers Blue Crew Captain Michael G Riegel, August 1989 - July 1992 Captain Robert D USS Maine in popular culture Maine played a part in Tom Clancy 's techno-thriller The Sum of All Fears. Further shifts are occurring as the country's strategic needs change.

SSBN/SSGN conversions

Ohio SSGN conversion

After the end of the Cold War plans called for Ohio to be retired in 2002, followed by three of her sisters. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the Awards Acting Navy Secretary Robert B Pirie Jr announced the 2001 winners of the Navy Captain Edward F However, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia instead were slated for modification, to remain in service as conventional, guided missile submarines (SSGNs). USS Michigan in popular culture In the game SOCOM II US Navy SEALs, USS Michigan is ordered to take up station off the coast of Georgia in fiction Georgia is mentioned briefly in Tom Clancy 's novel The Hunt for Red October. A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that can launch Cruise missiles SSGN is the United States Navy Hull classification symbol for

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 systems (VLS), one configuration of which may be a cluster of seven Tomahawk cruise missiles. A Vertical Launching System ( VLS) is a type of Missile -firing system used aboard the Submarines and surface vessels of several navies around the The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM is a long-range all-weather subsonic cruise missile 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 supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), the ADM-160 MALD, 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. For other uses see Supersonic. The term supersonic is used to define a speed that is over the Speed of sound ( Mach 1 In Aerodynamics, hypersonic speeds are speeds that are highly Supersonic. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV is an unpiloted Aircraft. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic The AMD-160 MALD is a decoy missile developed by the United States of America.

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 System and the Dry Deck Shelter can be mounted on lock out chamber and the ship will be able to host up to 66 special operations personnel, such as the Navy SEALs. Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS is a midget submarine operated by the United States Navy and SOCOM, designed to provide stealthy submerged transportation for Improved communications equipment installed during the upgrade allows the SSGNs to serve as a forward-deployed, clandestine Small Combatant Joint Command Center.

On September 26, 2002, the Navy awarded GD Electric Boat a $442. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. General Dynamics/Electric Boat (usually abbreviated as Electric Boat, and referred to as "EB" or "The Boat Company" by its employees a division of 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 ships on the schedule. Advance 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. A fiscal year (or financial year, or sometimes budget year) is a period used for calculating annual ("yearly" Financial statements in Businesses Thus, the total cost to refit the four ships is just under $700 million per vessel.

In November 2002 Ohio entered drydock, beginning a 36-month refueling and conversion overhaul. Electric Boat announced on 9 January 2006 that the conversion had been completed. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Ohio rejoined the fleet in February 2006, followed by Florida in April 2006. The converted Michigan was delivered in November 2006. Ohio deployed for the first time in October 2007. Georgia returned to the fleet in March 2008 at Kings Bay. Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy in Camden County, in southeast Georgia. ^[1] These four SSGNs are expected to remain in service until 2023-2026.

Popular culture

Artist concept of an Ohio class SSBN launching Trident missiles.

As ballistic missile submarines, the Ohio-class has occasionally played a pivotal role in several fiction books and films.

USS Alabama plays a pivotal role in the film Crimson Tide, when an attack interrupts an incoming message regarding the potential launch of the submarines SLBMs, ultimately resulting in mutiny centered around the captain and executive officer. Alabama in fiction The Alabama is the setting for the 1995 film ''Crimson Tide'', starring Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington Crimson Tide is a 1995 Hollywood Submarine film starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, produced by Don Simpson Submarine-launched ballistic missiles or SLBM s are Ballistic missiles delivering Nuclear weapons that are launched from Submarines Modern variants The commanding officer ( CO) is the officer in command of a Military unit. While executive officer literally refers to a person responsible for the performance of duties involved in running an Organization, the exact meaning of the role is variable ^[2]

Two Tom Clancy novels also focus heavily on Ohio-class submarines: The Sum of All Fears and Debt of Honor. Thomas Leo Clancy Jr (born April 12 1947) is an American author best known for his technically detailed espionage and Military science storylines The Sum of All Fears is the best-selling thriller novel by Tom Clancy, and part of the Jack Ryan series Debt of Honor ( 1994) is a Novel by Tom Clancy. It is a continuation of the series featuring his character Jack Ryan.

See also

• Intercontinental ballistic missile
• Submarine-launched ballistic missile
• Nuclear warfare
• Nuclear strategy
• Typhoon-class submarine

References

Clancy,Tom (1984) The Hunt for Red October

• Submarines, War Beneath The Waves, From 1776 To The Present Day, By Robert Hutchinson

External links

• Official U.S. Navy Data
• FAS page on the SSBN 726 class
• FAS page on the SSGN 726 class