Ballistic missile submarine

Soviet Delta II class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine

A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

Description

An artist's impressions of an Ohio-class submarine launching SLBMs

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. Although some early models had to surface to launch their missiles, modern vessels typically launch while submerged at keel depths of usually less than 50 meters (164 feet).

Purpose

Ballistic missile submarines differ in purpose from attack submarines and cruise missile submarines; while attack submarines specialise in combat with other naval vessels (including enemy submarines and merchant shipping), and cruise missile submarines are designed to attack large warships and tactical targets on land, the primary mission of the ballistic missile is nuclear deterrence. Accordingly, the mission profile of a ballistic missile submarine concentrates on remaining undetected, rather than aggressively pursuing other vessels. Ballistic missile submarines are designed for stealth, to avoid detection at all costs. They use many sound-reducing design features, such as anechoic tiles on their hull surfaces, carefully designed propulsion systems, and machinery mounted on vibration-damping mounts.

Ballistic missile submarines equipped with nuclear warheads serve as the third leg of the nuclear triad. The invisibility and mobility of submarines offer both a reliable means of deterrence against an attack (by maintaining the threat of a second strike), and a surprise first-strike capability - particularly given the range of the weapons they carry.

Terminology

SSBN is the US Navy hull classification symbol for a nuclear-powered, ballistic missile-carrying submarine.^[1] The SS denotes a submarine, the B denotes "ballistic missile," and the N denotes "nuclear powered." In US naval slang, ballistic missile submarines are called boomers. They operate on a "Gold" and "Blue" two-crew concept.

In Britain, they are known as SSBNs or Bombers.^[2] The two crews are called "port" and "starboard" crew.

The French Navy commissioned her first ballistic missile submarines as SNLE, for Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engin (lit. "nuclear-powered device-launching submarines"). The term applies both to ballistic missile submarines in general (for instance "British SNLE" occurs ^[3]) and, more technically, as a specific classification of the Redoutable class. The more recent Triomphant class is referred to as SNLE-NG (Nouvelle Génération, "New Generation"). The two crews used to maximise the availability time of the ships are called 'blue' and 'red' crews.

The Soviets called this type of ship RPKSN^[4] which is translated as "Strategic Purpose Missile Cruiser Submarine". This designation was applied to the Typhoon class. Another designation used was PLARB^[5] which translates as "Nuclear Submarine with Ballistic Missiles". This designation was applied to smaller submarines such as the Delta Class.

Active classes

HMS Vanguard, a Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarine

USS Maine, a US Navy Ohio-class submarine

• French Republic
  • Le Triomphant class
• People's Republic of China
  • Type 092
  • Type 094
• Russian Federation
  • Typhoon class
  • Delta III and Delta IV classes
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Vanguard class
• United States of America
  • Ohio class

Classes under development

• Republic of India
  • Arihant class submarine 1 is in trials 4 under development in Visakhapatnam shipyard^[6][7]
• Russian Federation
  • Borei class submarine 2 are in trials 8 under development in Sevmash.

• People's Republic of China
  • Type 096 submarine^[8]
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Vanguard-class replacement^[9][10]
• United States of America
  • SSBN-X future follow-on submarine^[11][12][13]

Retired classes

The French SNLE Le Redoutable

USS Sam Rayburn showing the hatches for her UGM-27 Polaris missiles

French Republic

• Redoutable class

/ Soviet Union / Russian Federation

• Zulu class (diesel powered)
• Golf class (diesel powered)
• Hotel class
• Hotel II class
• Yankee class
• Yankee II class
• Delta I class
• Delta II class

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

• Resolution class

United States of America

• George Washington class
• Ethan Allen class
• Lafayette class
• James Madison class
• Benjamin Franklin class
• These five classes are collectively referred to as "41 for Freedom".

References

External links

• Video showing various SSBNs in action.

v t e SSBN classes in service  People's Liberation Army Navy Type 092 · Type 094  French Navy Triomphant  Russian Navy Delta III · Delta IV · Typhoon  Royal Navy Vanguard  United States Navy Ohio