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Ohio-class submarines are currently the only type of strategic missile carrier in the US fleet. Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) were commissioned from 1981 to 1997. A total of 18 submarines were built. According to the project, each of these boats carries on board 24 intercontinental three-stage solid-fuel Trident ballistic missiles equipped with multiple warheads with individual guidance.

On April 10, 1976, at the Electric Boat shipyard, construction began on a new nuclear-powered strategic submarine for the American fleet - SSBN 726 OHIO, which became the lead in a large series of similar SSBNs that were developed in accordance with the Trident program. Development and research work on the project of a new strategic missile carrier was carried out in America from October 26, 1972, and the order for the construction of the lead boat of the series was issued on July 25, 1974.

Currently, all 18 boats built under this project remain in the American fleet. 17 boats were named after US states, and one boat, SSBN-730 Henry M. Jackson, was named after Senator Henry Jackson.

The United States modernized two bases specifically for the deployment of new submarines. One on the Pacific coast - Bangor, today it is Naval Base Kitsap(formed in 2004 by merging the Bangor submarine base and the Bremerton naval base) in Washington state, the second on the Atlantic coast - Naval Base Kings Bay in the state of Georgia. Each of these two bases is designed to support 10 SSBNs. The necessary equipment was installed at the bases for receiving and unloading ammunition from boats, current repairs and submarine maintenance. All conditions have been created to ensure rest for personnel.

At each base, training centers were built to train personnel. They could train up to 25 thousand people every year. Special simulators installed at the centers made it possible to practice submarine control processes in a variety of conditions, including torpedo and missile firing.

Ohio-class nuclear submarines are third generation submarines. As part of the work to create third-generation submarines, the United States was able to achieve maximum unification of its submarine forces, reducing the number of classes of submarines to two: strategic nuclear submarines and multi-purpose nuclear submarines (one boat project in each class). The Ohio-class strategic missile carriers had a traditional single-hull design for American nuclear submarines, differing from multi-purpose boats in having a fairly well-developed superstructure.

When creating boats of this generation, close attention was paid to reducing the noise of submarines and improving their radio-electronic, especially sonar, weapons. A special feature of the reactors of the third generation nuclear submarines is that their service life was increased by 2 times compared to the reactors of the previous generation submarines. The reactors installed on the new boats could operate continuously at full power for 9-11 years (for strategists) or 13 years (for multi-purpose nuclear submarines). Previous reactors could not operate for more than 6-7 years. And taking into account real operating modes, which were much more gentle, third-generation nuclear submarines could serve without recharging the reactor core for up to 30 years, and in the case of one recharging - 42-44 years.

To estimate the size of the Ohio-class strategic missile carriers, it is enough to say that their hull length is 170 meters, which is practically 1.5 football fields. At the same time, these boats are considered one of the quietest in the world. However, what made them unique was not their size and noiselessness, but the composition of the nuclear weapons placed on board - 24 ballistic missiles. Until now, not a single submarine in the world can boast of having such an impressive arsenal (Russian fourth-generation nuclear submarines carry 16 ballistic missile launchers on board).

The first 8 Ohio-class nuclear submarines were armed with Trident I C4 ballistic missiles, subsequent boats received Trident II D5 missiles. Later, during the planned overhaul of submarines, 4 boats of the first series were re-equipped with Trident II D5 ICBMs, and another 4 boats were converted into carriers of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The power plant of these SSBNs was built on the basis of the eighth generation S8G reactor. In normal operation, two turbines produce 30,000 hp. With. The shaft with the propeller was rotated through the gearbox, providing the submarine with an underwater speed of 20-25 knots. However, the highlight of boats of this type was the low-noise operating mode, when the circulation pumps of the primary circuit of the reactor stopped and it switched to natural circulation. The turbines and gearbox are stopped and separated from the shaft using a special coupling. After this, only two turbogenerators with a power of 4000 kW each remained in operation; the electricity they generated, passing through a rectifier converter, was supplied to the propeller electric motor, which rotated the shaft. In this mode, the boat developed a speed sufficient for silent patrolling. The same scheme for constructing a power plant is used on fourth-generation nuclear submarines.

Description of the design of Ohio-class submarines

Ohio-class boats have a hull of mixed construction: the submarine’s durable hull has cylindrical shape with ends in the form of a truncated cone, it is complemented by streamlined ends in which the spherical antenna of the sonar, ballast tanks and the propeller shaft were located. The upper part of the boat's durable hull was covered with a lightweight, permeable, streamlined superstructure that covers missile silos, as well as various auxiliary equipment at the stern and a flexible towed sonar antenna located at the stern end.

Due to the relatively small area of the lightweight body, the submarine is considered single-hull. According to American experts, this design of SSBNs creates less hydrodynamic noise and makes it possible to achieve maximum high speed quiet running compared to double-hull submarines. The hull of the boat is divided into compartments by flat bulkheads, each compartment is divided into several decks. Loading hatches were provided in the bow, missile and stern compartments.

The cabin of the boat is shifted to the bow, horizontal wing-shaped rudders are installed on it, in the stern the tail of the boat is cross-shaped, and vertical faceplates are mounted on the horizontal rudders.

The submarine's robust hull was welded from sections (shells) of conical, cylindrical and elliptical shape with a thickness of 75 mm. The material used was high-strength steel grade HY-80/100, which has a yield strength of 56-84 kgf/mm. To increase the strength of the hull, the boat was provided with the installation of ring frames, which are spaced along the entire length of the hull. The boat's hull also received a special anti-corrosion coating.

The basis of the boat's power plant is a nuclear reactor - a double-circuit pressurized water reactor (PWR) type S8G, which was designed by General Electric engineers. It consists of a standard set of parts for reactors of this type: a reactor vessel, a core, a neutron reflector, control and protection rods. The steam turbine power plant includes two turbines with a capacity of 30,000 hp each. each, gearbox, condenser, circulation pump and steam lines. Both steam turbine units operate on the same shaft, while the high speed of rotation of the turbines is reduced to 100 rpm using a gearbox, after which it is transmitted to the propeller shaft using a clutch, which drives a seven-blade propeller with a diameter of 8 meters.

The propeller has beveled crescent-shaped blades with a reduced rotation speed, which reduces noise at patrol speed. There are also two low-speed multi-pole turbogenerators on board, each with a power of 4 mW; they generate electricity with a voltage of 450 V and a frequency of 60 Hz, which, using a converter, alternating current in constant mode it provides power to the propeller electric motor (in this mode of operation, steam turbine units do not rotate the propeller).

The main armament of the Ohio-class SSBNs are intercontinental ballistic missiles located in 24 vertical silos, which are located in two longitudinal rows immediately behind the retractable device fence. The ICBM shaft is a steel cylinder that is rigidly fixed to the submarine's hull. In order to be able to install Trident II missiles on board, the missile silo was initially enlarged compared to the boats of the previous project; its length is 14.8 meters and its diameter is 2.4 meters.

The shaft is closed from above with a lid equipped with a hydraulic drive; it ensures sealing of the shaft and is designed for the same level of pressure as the submarine’s durable hull. On the cover there are 4 control and adjustment hatches, which are intended for routine inspections. A special locking mechanism is designed to provide protection against unauthorized access and controls the opening of technological hatches and the lid itself.

The Trident ICBM can be launched at 15-20 second intervals from a diving depth of up to 30 meters, at a boat speed of approximately 5 knots and sea state up to 6 points. All 24 missiles can be fired in one salvo, while test launches of the entire boat's ammunition load in one salvo have never been carried out in the United States. The rocket moves uncontrollably in the water; after it reaches the surface, according to the acceleration sensor data, the first stage engine is activated. In normal mode, the engine is turned on at an altitude of about 10-30 meters above the sea surface.

Trident II D-5 rocket launch

Trident II D-5 missiles can be equipped with two types of warheads - W88 with a yield of 475 kt each and W76 with a yield of 100 kt each. At maximum load one missile can carry 8 W88 warheads or 14 W76 warheads, providing a maximum flight range of 7360 km. The use of special astro-correction equipment on rockets, together with an increase in the efficiency of the navigation system, made it possible to achieve a circular probable deviation for W88 blocks of 90-120 meters.

When hitting enemy missile silos, the so-called “2 by 1” method can be used, when two warheads from different missiles are simultaneously aimed at one ICBM silo. Moreover, when using W88 units with a power of 475 kt, the probability of hitting a target is 0.95. When using W76 blocks, the probability of hitting a target with the same “2 by 1” method is already 0.84. In order to achieve the maximum flight range of ballistic missiles, 8 W76 warheads or 6 W88 warheads are usually installed on board them.

For self-defense, each boat was equipped with 4 TA 533 mm caliber. These torpedo tubes are located in the bow of the submarine slightly at an angle to the center plane. The boat's ammunition load includes 10 Mk-48 torpedoes, which can be used against surface ships and submarines of a potential enemy.

As part of the modernization of submarines under the A-RCI (Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion) program, all Ohio-class submarines were upgraded to the AN/BQQ-10 variant. Instead of 4 GUS, a common COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) type station was used, which has an open architecture. This solution makes it possible to simplify the process of upgrading the entire system in the future. The Alaska boat was the first to undergo modernization in the fall of 2000. The new system, among other things, has the ability to conduct “hydroacoustic mapping” (PUMA - Precision Underwater Mapping and Navigation). This allows the SSBN to create a high-resolution hydrographic map and share it with other ships. The resolution of the equipment installed on board makes it possible to distinguish even small objects such as mines.

A special AN/WLR-10 station is used to alert the crew about acoustic radiation. Together with it, at the moment when the boat is on the surface, the AN/WLR-8(V)5 radar warning station is used, operating in the range of 0.5-18 GHz. The submarine also received 8 Mk2 launchers designed for acoustic jamming and an AN/WLY-1 hydroacoustic countermeasures station. The main purpose of this station is to automatically detect, classify and subsequently track attacking torpedoes and send a signal to use hydroacoustic countermeasures.

During 2002-2008, the first 4 Ohio class boats (SSGN 726 Ohio, SSGN 727 Michigan, SSGN 728 Florida, SSGN 729 Georgia), which were armed with Trident I ICBMs, were converted into SSGNs. As a result of the modernization, each of the boats can carry on board up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. At the same time, 22 of the 24 existing silos were modernized for the vertical launch of cruise missiles. Each such mine can accommodate 7 Tomahawk missile launchers.

At the same time, the two shafts closest to the wheelhouse were equipped with airlock chambers. ASDS mini-submarines or DDS modules designed to allow combat swimmers to exit while the nuclear submarine is submerged can be docked to these cameras. These devices can be installed on the boat either together or separately, with a total number of no more than two. At the same time, due to their installation, silos with cruise missiles are partially blocked. For example, each ASDS blocks three shafts at once, and the shorter DDS module blocks two. As part of a special operations unit (SEALs or Marines), the boat can additionally transport up to 66 people, and in the case of a short-term operation, the number of paratroopers on board the boat can be increased to 102 people.

Currently, Ohio-class SSBNs continue to hold the lead in the number of missile silos placed on board - 24 and are still considered one of the most advanced in their class. According to experts, among the built strategic missile carriers, only French boats of the Triumphant type can compete with these boats in terms of noise level.

The high accuracy of the Trident II ICBM makes it possible to hit not only land-based ICBMs, but also the entire range of high-strength targets such as in-depth command posts and silo launchers, and the long launch range (11,300 km) allows the Ohio-class SSBN to carry out combat duty in the Atlantic and Pacific ocean in the zone of dominance of its own naval forces, which provides the boats with fairly high combat stability. The combination of low maintenance costs and high efficiency of these submarines armed with Trident II ICBMs has led to the fact that naval strategic forces currently occupy a leading position in the US nuclear triad. The last Ohio class boat is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2040.

Performance characteristics of Ohio-class SSBNs:

Overall dimensions: length - 170.7 m, width - 12.8 m, draft - 11.1 m.
Displacement - 16,746 tons (underwater), 18,750 tons (surface).
Submarine speed is 25 knots.
Surface speed - 17 knots.
Immersion depth - 365 m (working), 550 m (maximum).
Power plant: nuclear, pressurized water reactor type GE PWR S8G, two 30,000 hp turbines, two 4 MW turbogenerators, 1.4 MW diesel generator.
Missile weapons: 24 Trident II D-5 ICBMs.
Torpedo armament: 4 TA 533 mm caliber, 10 Mk-48 torpedoes.
Crew - 155 people (140 sailors and 15 officers).

Photographs of the Kings Bay base for servicing the Ohio SSBNs assigned to the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet:

The American submarine Ohio has an underwater displacement of 18,700 tons. It is twice as long and 10 times heavier than cruising boats from the Second World War. The nuclear-powered vessel has a length of 170.7 m, a width of 12.8 m and a draft of 10.8 m. The crew size is 133-154 people.

This underwater giant, which cost more than $1.2 billion (excluding the cost of missiles), was laid down in 1976 and became operational six years later.

The Ohio missile carrier has an elongated teardrop-shaped hull, which houses the missile, reactor compartments and engine room, as well as a wheelhouse with wing-like horizontal rudders. In the tail of the boat, behind a cross-shaped stern stabilizer with end washers on horizontal stabilizers, there is a propeller.

The submarine's movement at a speed of 25 knots is ensured by a 44.2 thousand kW nuclear reactor, a steam generator and a turbine propeller unit. The duration of continuous stay under water is 70 days, and the reactor must be recharged once every 9 years.

Ohio-class submarine USS Michigan

Thanks to its increased strength, the ship's hull not only withstands pressure at a depth of about 500 m, but also nearby explosions. It houses the main mechanisms, service and living quarters and weapons of the missile carrier.

The main control systems of the ship are concentrated in the central post, under the wheelhouse. Navigation system instruments and missile launch panels are also located here.

On four decks there are nine-berth compartment-type cabins with three-tier bunks for enlisted personnel, two- and four-berth cabins for officers. There is also a lounge, library, study room and gym.

The main weapon of the Ohio is three-stage solid-fuel Trident missiles, 10.39 m long, 1.88 m in diameter and weighing 32 tons each. They have warheads divided into 8 warheads, each with a yield of 150 kt, as well as guidance systems for the final flight phase of each warhead to its target. The cost of one rocket is $7.4 million.

In the stowed position, all 24 missiles rest in vertical shafts, stretching in two rows along the missile compartment. Before shooting, the boat surfaces to a depth of 30 m and reduces speed to 5 knots. In the launch tube-shaft, the internal pressure is equalized with the outboard pressure; to do this, it is enough to open the shaft lid. Now the rocket is separated from the water only by a plug made of synthetic material.

At the command “Start!” Water vapor is supplied to the lower part of the pipe, and the rocket, having pushed out the plug, takes off 20-25 m above the water surface. Immediately the engine of its first stage fires, and it begins flight along a given trajectory. The Trident rocket covers a distance of 7800 km in 40 minutes.

In addition to missile silos, the boat has four bow torpedo tubes. Wire-guided torpedoes with a caliber of 533 mm are the self-defense weapons of the underwater giant.

Submarine Georgia

The hydroacoustic complex has a stationary bow and an extended antenna towed behind the stern.

The domestic submarine cruiser Typhoon (aka Akula) is equipped with intercontinental missiles and is primarily intended for operations in the Arctic. The design of the nuclear-powered ship allows it not only to walk under the ice, but also to surface, breaking the ice with its hull.

Inside the light steel hull of the Typhoon cruiser are two strong cylindrical titanium hulls, interconnected by three transitions through intermediate compartments. The Typhoon's main armament is 20 intercontinental ballistic missiles, each with 10 nuclear warheads, capable of hitting a target at a distance of more than 9,000 km. In addition, in the bow of the cruiser there are 6 torpedo tubes with several dozen torpedoes and torpedo missiles for them.

They say that this boat was designed as our response to the United States for their implementation of the Trident program, which provided for the creation of a new solid-fuel missile with a flight range of more than 7,000 km, as well as a new type of submarine, with a displacement of 18,700 tons, a maximum speed of 20 knots, capable carry 24 such missiles and have an increased level of stealth. This submarine was capable of launching missiles from a depth of up to 30 m.

The tactical and technical specifications for the heavy strategic missile cruiser (TRKSN) - project 941 (code "Shark") - were issued in December 1972. The project was developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau, headed by general designer I. D. Spassky, under the direct supervision of chief designer S. N. Kovalev. The main observer from the Navy was V.N. Levashov.

American submarine Florida

And so on September 23, 1980, at the shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk, the first Soviet submarine of this class was launched into the White Sea. When its hull was still on the stocks, on the bow of the submarine, below the waterline, a grinning shark was drawn, which was wrapped around a trident. And although after the descent the shark and the trident disappeared under the water and were never seen again, the cruiser was already popularly dubbed the “Shark”. And for the crews of both the first and subsequent submarines of this class, a special sleeve patch with the image of a shark was introduced.

American experts gave the name “Typhoon” to this submarine. But even for those who served on the boat itself, this name was considered secret until recently.

As already mentioned, this boat became our answer to the Americans, who in April 1979 launched the first of the new class of boats, the Ohio. This was followed by Michigan, Florida, Georgia and others.

Our “Typhoon” was a worthy response to our adversaries. And not only because the submarine itself was unique. In itself, it was only one of the components of a grandiose program with the same name. This program planned an unprecedentedly wide scope of naval construction in our country.

In the North, along the entire coast of the Barents and White Seas, special berths, workshops, warehouses for storing spare parts and mechanisms were built; roads and railways were built to them. So-called loading points were also built - gigantic structures, nicknamed “gallows” among sharp-tongued sailors. Missiles, torpedoes and other equipment were actually suspended from them, which were then loaded on board the submarine.

Fence

The enclosure is adjacent to the missile compartment and houses:

electrical panels,
air regeneration unit,
bilge and trim pumps.

Third (reactor) compartment

The length of this compartment is about 10 m, and it contains:

nuclear reactor,
2 steam generators,
2 main circulation pumps,
volume compensator,
equipment that ensures their control and operation.

Fourth (turbine) compartment

This is a 37 m long engine room containing:

2 turbogenerators,
2 steam turbine units,
propulsion motor,
current converters,
auxiliary diesel-electric installation,
hydraulic pump station,
compressor,
main capacitor,
control and monitoring panels.

Frame

The boats have a hull of mixed design: a durable cylindrical hull with ends in the form of a truncated cone is complemented by streamlined ends, which house ballast tanks and, accordingly, a spherical sonar antenna and a propeller shaft. The upper part of the durable hull is covered with a permeable, lightweight, streamlined superstructure that covers the missile silos, various auxiliary equipment at the stern and a flexible towed sonar antenna at the aft end. Due to such a small area of the light hull, the ship is considered a single-hull; this design of American SSBNs, according to experts, provides the ability to create less hydrodynamic noise and achieve a higher maximum low-noise speed compared to double-hull boats. Flat bulkheads divide the boat into compartments, each of which is divided into several decks. Loading hatches are provided in the bow, missile and stern compartments. The wheelhouse is shifted to the bow, horizontal wing-shaped rudders are placed on it, in the aft part the tail is cross-shaped, and vertical faceplates are installed on the horizontal rudders.

The durable body is welded from sections (shells) of cylindrical, conical and elliptical shape with a thickness of 75 mm. Material - high-strength steel grade HY-80/100 with a yield strength of 56-84 kgf/mm. To increase the strength of the hull, ring frames are provided, spaced along the entire length of the hull. The case also has an anti-corrosion coating.

An aerospace image of the dock at the US Naval Base Bangor, where repair and maintenance work on the Ohio-class nuclear submarine is taking place, was published on the Virtual Earth geoportal. The image clearly shows the shape and design features of the submarine's propeller - secrets that are strictly guarded by the developers.

Power plant
Approximate view of a PWR type reactor.

The power plant of the boats consists of the main and auxiliary plants, the mechanisms of which are located in the 5th and 6th compartments.

The main power plant includes:

nuclear reactor,
two main circulation pumps,
volume compensator,
two steam generators,
biological protection,
two turbogenerators,
two steam turbine units,
propulsion motor,
control and monitoring equipment.

Nuclear reactor - double-circuit pressurized water-cooled reactor. PWR) type S8G developed by General Electric, consisting of parts standard for reactors of this type: vessel, core, neutron reflector, control rods and protection. The coolant and moderator is highly purified water (bidistillate). Primary circuit parameters: nominal pressure - 140 kgf/cm² (14 MPa), temperature - 300-320 °C. The reactor is surrounded biological protection designed to protect the crew from ionizing radiation and consisting of composite materials of significant mass. The diameter of the reactor compartment is 12.8 m, length - 16.8 m, total weight - 2750 tons. The core contains nuclear fuel - uranium highly enriched in the 235th isotope, the fuel campaign is approximately 100 thousand hours active work, which is equivalent to approximately 9-11 years of constant use of the reactor at full power or a cruising range at full speed of 280 thousand miles, and economic - 800 thousand miles (for the Lafayette-class SSBN this figure was 50 years with an economic cruising range of 345 thousand . miles).

The steam turbine plant consists of two turbines with a capacity of 30,000 liters. pp., gearbox, condenser, circulation pump and steam lines. Two steam turbine units operate on one shaft, while the high speed of rotation of the turbines is reduced by a gearbox to 100 rpm and, using a coupling, is transmitted to the propeller shaft, which rotates a seven-bladed propeller with a diameter of 8 m with beveled sickle-shaped blades with a reduced rotation speed (this design allows reducing noise at patrol speeds).

Low-speed multi-pole turbogenerators, with a power of 4000 kW each, generate electricity with a voltage of 450 V and a frequency of 60 Hz, which powers the propeller electric motor through an AC-to-DC converter (in this case, steam turbine units do not rotate the propeller shaft).

When developing the power plant, a number of measures were taken to ensure low noise levels at low and medium speeds. The power plant of submarines has a special low-noise mode of natural circulation of the primary coolant while retaining a significant part of its power; this mode is the main one during combat patrols. In normal mode, heat from the reactor is transferred to steam generators, from where the steam goes to a turbine, which rotates the propeller through a gearbox. In low-noise mode, the scheme becomes somewhat more complicated - steam from the steam generators goes to turbogenerators, which generate electricity that drives the propeller. This eliminates the operation of the most noisy elements - circulation pumps turbines and reactor, the power of the reactor and steam generating plant is significantly reduced, and the propeller is driven by an electric motor powered by turbogenerators instead of direct transmission mechanical movement from the turbines to the shaft, which also eliminates the noise of the gearbox, which transmits this movement to the propeller shaft in full power mode.

This reactor design was tested on the submarine USS Narwhal (SSN 671) with a reactor half the power of the S5G. Design studies were carried out on the basis of a reactor with the possibility of natural circulation of coolant type S6G, installed on Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines.

Many design features of Ohio-type boats, such as a single-hull axisymmetric architecture, a single-shaft propulsion system, flexible couplings, various connecting devices and inserts for insulating the propeller shaft and pipelines, many shock absorbers and noise-absorbing coatings inside the hull, the introduction of a low-noise mode with the exclusion of circulation pumps and the use of a specially shaped low-speed, low-noise propeller made it possible to reduce noise compared to Lafayette-class SSBNs from 134 to 102 dB.

The auxiliary power plant includes a 1400 kW diesel generator and a 325 hp backup propulsion motor. With. Magnatek company. The backup electric motor is used to drive the thruster during maneuvering and in the event of a failure of the main power plant. This device is located in the hull of the boat and is pulled out when needed. It is capable of rotating 360 degrees in a horizontal plane.

According to official data, the underwater speed of boats is 20+ knots. In fact, the SSBN is capable of reaching a speed of 25 knots.

Armament

Missile weapons

The main armament of Ohio-class submarines are missiles located in 24 vertical silos located in two longitudinal rows behind the retractable device fence. Initially, the boats were equipped with Trident I C-4 ballistic missiles, with which the first 8 submarines (SSBN-726 - SSBN-733) were built, sometimes allocated to the first subgroup of the project. The remaining boats were built with more advanced Trident II D-5 missiles. In 2003, in accordance with the provisions of SALT, there was a requirement to reduce the number of ballistic missile submarines to 14, so the first four boats of the series (SSBN-726 - SSBN-729) were converted to carry BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles. And the remaining four are re-equipped with Trident II D-5.

On boats armed with Trident I, the Mk35 mod 0 missile storage and launch system was installed, and with the Trident II complex - Mk35 mod 1. The system consists of silo launchers, an SLBM ejection subsystem, a launch control and control subsystem and missile loading equipment. The shaft is a steel cylinder rigidly fixed in the SSBN hull. In order to be able to install Trident-2, the missile silo was increased compared to previous Lafayette-type boats (diameter is 2.4 m and length is 14.8 m). The shaft is closed from above with a hydraulically driven lid. The cover seals the shaft and is designed to withstand the same pressure as the pressure casing. There are four control and adjustment hatches on it for inspection. A special locking mechanism provides protection against unauthorized entry and controls the opening of the lid and access doors.

A launch tube and equipment for supplying a vapor-gas mixture are installed inside the shaft. The launch cup is covered with a membrane that prevents water from getting inside when the lid is opened during start. The membrane is dome-shaped and made of phenolic resin reinforced with asbestos. When a rocket is launched using profiled explosive charges installed on its inner side, the membrane is destroyed into a central and several side parts. The launch silo is equipped with a new type of plug connector designed to connect the missile to the fire control system, which is automatically disconnected at the moment the missile is launched. The Ohio is equipped with a Mk 98 fire control system, which allows all missiles to be put into a state of minute readiness for launch within 15 minutes. During pre-launch preparation, the system calculates firing data, enters them into the rocket, performs pre-launch checks and monitors readiness for launch. The computer complex included in the Mk 98 can retarget all missiles simultaneously during pre-launch preparation.

Before launching, a overpressure. A powder pressure accumulator (PAA) is installed in each shaft to form a vapor-gas mixture. The gas, leaving the pad, passing through the chamber with water, is partially cooled and, entering the lower part of the launch cup, pushes the rocket out with an acceleration of about 10g. The missile exits the silo at a speed of approximately 50 m/s. As the rocket moves upward, the membrane ruptures, and seawater begins to flow into the shaft. The shaft cover closes automatically after the rocket exits. Water from the mine is pumped into a special replacement tank. To keep the submarine in a stable position and at a given depth, the operation of gyroscopic stabilizing devices is controlled and water ballast is pumped.

Missiles can be launched at 15-20 second intervals from a depth of up to 30 m, at a speed of about 5 knots and sea waves up to 6 points. All missiles can be fired in one salvo (test launches of the entire ammunition load have never been carried out). In the water, the rocket moves uncontrollably, and after leaving the water, according to the signal from the acceleration sensor, the first stage engine is turned on. In normal mode, the engine is turned on at an altitude of 10-30 m above sea level.

High accuracy in determining the location of the submarine is ensured by the installed navigation data correction equipment of the Loran-S and NAVSTAR systems. The use of these systems and the introduction of the ESGN system with gyroscopes with electrostatic rotor suspension made it possible to increase the accuracy of determining coordinates by 4-6 times compared to previous types of boats.

The Trident II D-5 missile is equipped with two types of warheads - W76 with a power of 100 kt and W88 with a power of 475 kt. At maximum load, the missile is capable of throwing 8 W88 blocks or 14 W76 blocks to a range of 7360 km. The use of astrocorrection equipment on the rocket, combined with an increase in the efficiency of the navigation system, made it possible to obtain a CEP of 90-120 m for the W88 blocks. When hitting enemy missile silos, the so-called “2 by 1” method is used - targeting one ICBM silo with two warheads from different missiles. In this case, the probability of hitting the target is 0.95. Production of W88 blocks was limited to 400 units. Therefore, most missiles are armed with W76 warheads. In the case of using two less powerful blocks with the “2 by 1” method, the probability of completing the task is reduced to 0.84.

Currently, in accordance with the SALT treaty, missiles on submarines cannot carry more than 8 warheads. In order to achieve maximum range, 6 W88 or 8 W76 BBs are installed on the missiles. Therefore, in 2007, the total number of warheads deployed on SLBMs was 404. W88 and 1712 pcs. W76. According to a statement by Rear Admiral Raymond Jones Jr. Raymond G. Jones) only the first four boats of the second series are equipped with W88 warheads.

Each of the 4 SSGNs is armed with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 22 of the 24 missile silos have been upgraded for vertical launch of missiles. Each upgraded silo contains 7 missiles. The two shafts closest to the wheelhouse are equipped with airlock chambers. ASDS mini-submarines dock with them. Advanced SEAL Delivery System) or DDS modules (eng. Dry Deck Shelter) to ensure the exit of combat swimmers when the boat is submerged. These means can be installed either together or separately, with a total number of no more than two. At the same time, silos with Tomahawk missiles are partially blocked. Each installed ASDS blocks three shafts, and the shorter DDS blocks two. The submarine can additionally transport up to 66 people as part of a special operations unit (Marines or Navy SEALs). In case of short-term operations, this number can be increased to 102 people.

Torpedo weapons

All boats have four torpedo tubes for self-defense. They are located in the bow of the boat slightly at an angle to the center plane. The ammunition load includes ten Mk-48 torpedoes, which can be used against submarines and surface ships.

Radioelectronic and hydroacoustic equipment

During the construction of the Ohio, they received the AN/BQQ-6 hydroacoustic station, which is a modification of the AN/BQQ-5 sonar system of multi-purpose nuclear submarines. The SJSC SSBN uses mainly a passive operating mode. The AN/BQQ-6 SAC includes a number of hydroacoustic stations. The basis of the complex is the active-passive hydroacoustic station AN/BQS-13 with limited capabilities in active mode compared to those installed on the AN/BQQ-5. The station has a spherical antenna with a diameter of 4.6 m, consisting of 944 hydrophones. The AN/BQR-23 conformal passive noise direction-finding sonar consists of 104 hydrophones located around the circumference of the nose cone. The passive GAS AN/BQR-15 is equipped with an extended towed antenna TB-29 with a length of 47.7 m on a cable 670 m long. The signal processing of this GAS is carried out using the computing power of the GAS AN/BQR-23. When folded, the antenna is located in the upper part of the hull on the left side. An active hydroacoustic station AN/BQR-19 is used for navigation. In difficult under-ice conditions and mine action operations, the AN/BQS-15 short-range active sonar is used. On the surface, the AN/BPS-15A radar is used (AN/BPS-16 is installed on SSBN 741-743).

In the process of modernization under the A-RCI (Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion) program, all sonar systems of American boats, including AN/BQQ-6, were upgraded to the AN/BQQ-10 version. Instead of four GUS, a common COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) type station with an open architecture was used. This will make it easier to upgrade systems in the future. The new system also has the capabilities of “hydroacoustic mapping” (PUMA - Precision Underwater Mapping and Navigation), which allows you to generate a high-resolution hydrographic map (resolution allows you to distinguish small objects such as mines) and exchange it with other ships of the fleet. Alaska was the first to undergo this upgrade in the fall of 2000.

The AN/WLR-10 station is used to alert about acoustic exposure. Together with it, the radar warning station AN/WLR-8(V)5, operating in the range of 0.5-18 GHz, is used on the surface. SSBNs are equipped with 8 Mk2 launchers for acoustic jamming and an AN/WLY-1 hydroacoustic countermeasures station. The station is designed to automatically detect, classify and track attacking torpedoes and generate a signal to use hydroacoustic countermeasures. The submarines were equipped with a Mk70 MOSS (Mobile Submarine Simulator) simulator fired from a torpedo tube. However, at the moment, all simulators have been unloaded ashore and are in long-term storage.

The boats are equipped with Kollmorgen Type 152 and Type 82 periscopes.

Incidents

SSBN	date	place	description of the incident
USS Florida (SSGN 728)	December 19, 1983	Long Island Sound	USS Florida was slightly damaged when it collided underwater with an unidentified object during sea trials in Long Island Sound. There were no casualties.
USS Georgia (SSGN 729)	March 22, 1986	Near the Midway Islands	The tug USS Secota (YTM 415) lost control due to loss of electrical power and crashed into the stern control surfaces of the USS Georgia. The tug sank almost immediately after the crew was evacuated to the SSBN. Ten crew members were rescued, but two drowned. USS Georgia was not damaged.
USS Nevada (SSBN 733)	1987	West Coast USA	In late June and early July, the USS NEVADA suffered an accident during routine operations after improperly installing a power drive during repairs at the Newport News Shipyard in February - April. The damage was estimated at several million dollars and caused the boat's transfer to its new home port of Bangor Naval Base to be canceled. A US Navy spokesman said "the incident did not pose a threat to the boat or crew and the ship continued its operations."
USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730)	November 6, 1987	Coastal waters near Bangor, Washington	USS Henry M. Jackson collided with fishing boat South Paw. The US Navy paid $25,721 in compensation.
USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735)	September 29, 1989	Port Canaveral, Philadelphia	The newly commissioned USS Pennsylvania ran aground at the entrance to the Canaveral Channel during its first visit to Cape Canaveral to conduct missile firing. Tugs refloated the boat after two hours and a navy spokesman said: "As far as we know, everything is fine."
USS Kentucky (SSBN 737)	March 19, 1998	Long Island Sound	USS Kentucky collided with the USS San Juan (SSN 751). At the time of the collision, the SSBN was on the surface, and the San Juan was submerged. According to official data from the US Navy, the submarines received light damage and returned to naval base Groton to carry out the inspection. No harm done.
USS Florida (SSGN 728)	August 27, 2003	Norfolk Dockyard	USS Florida suffered a minor fire above its reactor compartment while undergoing major repairs at the Norfolk shipyard. There were no fatalities, but four people received minor injuries.
USS Nebraska (SSBN 739)	September 20, 2008	Near the island of Oahu, Hawaii	A sailor was fatally injured during the submerged USS Nebraska incident. The foreman was cleaning the aft compartment of the auxiliary mechanisms. He ignored warning signs and worked dangerously close to the steering mechanism. While the SSBN was making a left turn, the sailor could not maintain his balance and, falling on the drive mechanism, received a pelvic injury. Despite timely emergency medical care and evacuation from the boat by Coast Guard helicopter, he died on the way to the hospital.

Current status and future plans

Currently, all 18 boats of this series are in service. According to accumulated statistics, SSBNs carry out three to four patrols a year, spending 50-60% of their time on the high seas (2008 data). In 2008, 31 patrols were carried out, with an average duration of 60-90 days.

On February 19, 2009, the crew of the nuclear submarine Wyoming was honored, which completed its 38th patrol raid on February 11. This raid was the thousandth for submarines of this project.

One of the results of the START III treaty on the reduction of offensive weapons was a change in the policy of developing US nuclear strategic forces. The main provisions of this policy for the near future are recorded in the Nuclear Posture Review Report 2010, published by the US Department of Defense. In accordance with these plans, it is planned to begin a gradual reduction in the number of deployed missile carriers from 14 to 12 from the second half of the 2020s.

The reduction will take place " in a natural way", as boats with expired operation. The launch of the first boat is scheduled for 2027. The Ohio-class boats should be replaced by a new type of missile carrier, currently known under the abbreviation “SSBN(X)”. In 2010, the US Navy budget allocated $497.4 million for research on this topic. In total, 12 new type boats are planned to be built. It is expected that the construction of each missile carrier will cost the American taxpayer 6-7 billion dollars in fiscal year 2010 prices.

New missile carriers should have a smaller number of missile silos (the numbers being discussed are 12, 16 and 20), which is associated with a reduction in the total number of warheads of the US strategic naval forces, but the missile silos themselves should be of a larger diameter. Distinctive feature should become a power plant for a new type of boat. It will be designed for the full 40-year service life of the submarine without reloading the reactor core and the need for major repairs. Commissioning of the first SSBN(X) boat is scheduled for 2028. By 2030, the total number of missile carriers in the US Navy will be 12 - of which two are SSBN(X) types and 10 are Ohio types. Then, when each SSBN(X) boat is commissioned, it is planned to withdraw one Ohio from the fleet. By 2040, it is planned to commission the last boat of the new type and, accordingly, decommission the last boat of the Ohio type.

Project evaluation

At the moment, Ohio-class SSBNs hold the world record for the number of missile silos deployed - 24 and are rightfully considered one of the most advanced in their class. According to experts, among the built missile carriers, only the French Triumphane type can compete with them in terms of noise level.

The high accuracy of Trident-II missiles allows, along with land-based ICBMs, to hit the entire range of high-strength targets such as silo launchers and in-depth command posts. The long range of the Trident missile system allowed Ohio-class boats to carry out duty in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the zones of dominance of their naval forces, which provided them with high combat stability. The high efficiency and relatively low cost of maintaining SSBNs armed with Trident-2 missiles has led to the fact that naval strategic forces occupy a leading position in the US nuclear triad and, as of 2007, ensure the deployment of 2,116 of the total number of 3,492 warheads, which is 60%.

Construction and service

Construction site

Total information

Power plant

Armament

4 x 533mm type Mark 48 Torpedo

4 x 533mm type Mark 48 Nasal TA

10 PC Number of torpedoes

Missile weapons for boats SSBN-726 - SSBN-733 from production to modernization.

24 × type ballistic missiles Trident I C-4, each contains up to 8 nuclear warheads (such as W76(100 kt in TNT equivalent)) individual targeting with a maximum range of 7,400 km

Missile weapons for SSBN-734 and subsequent boats, for SSBN-730 - SSBN-733 boats after modernization

24 x type ballistic missiles Trident II D-5, each contains up to 12 nuclear warheads (such as W76(100 kt in TNT equivalent) or W88(from 300 to 475 kt in TNT equivalent)) individual guidance with a maximum range of up to 11,300 km

Missile weapons for SSGN modification

Up to 22 launch silos with 7 type missiles Tomahawk each, for a total of up to 154 missiles. PC

Rocket

Ohio-class submarines- belong to the class of nuclear-armed submarines used by the US Navy. There are currently 18 submarines of this type - 14 (SSBN) with ballistic missiles on board and 4 (SSGN), which have been converted into carriers of cruise missiles of the type Tomahawk within the framework of the implementation of the arms limitation treaty.

General information

Submarines type "Ohio" are the largest submarines in the history of the US Navy. Only two classes of Russian Navy submarines have a larger displacement: the Soviet-designed nuclear submarine TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy, which has more than twice the displacement, and the Russian Borei-class submarines, which have approximately 25% more displacement. displacement, however submarines of the type "Ohio" capable of carrying more missiles than other submarines: 24 Trident-class missiles per boat, versus 16 missiles for the Borei class (20 for the Project 955A Borei) and 20 for the TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine

Submarines type "Ohio" were designed specifically for military patrols. Each submarine is provided with two full crews - “gold” and “blue” - each of which usually goes on combat duty for a duration of 70 to 90 days. In order to reduce the downtime of a submarine in port during crew changes and replenishment of supplies, the boats have three loading hatches (in the bow, missile and stern compartments) to ensure the replenishment of large quantities of supplies and provide access for maintenance. This design with three hatches makes it possible to quickly move pallets with food, modules for replacing (repairing) equipment, and various technical systems required for boat maintenance, thereby reducing the time required to resupply and maintain submarines.

Type submarine design "Ohio" allows for major renovation approximately every 15 years, the service life was originally 30 years, and the life cycle of the boat looked like this:

14 years of service
2 years - major overhaul with replacement of fuel in the reactor
14 years of service

In 1995, a service life extension program was launched, under which the service life increased to 42-44 years. The essence of the program was that during the first and second terms of service, instead of one of the inter-cruise technical services added 4-month repair ERP (Extended Refit Period) for preventative work without replacing nuclear fuel in the reactor. Since the operation of the boats turned out to be not as intensive as originally expected, the period before replacing nuclear fuel was increased to 20 years. Thus, the life cycle of submarines of the type "Ohio" for 2009 it looked like this:

14 years of service
4 months ERP (Extended Refit Period)
6 years of service
2 years ERO (Engineering Refueling Overhaul) with replacement of fuel in the reactor
6 month test cycle
20 year service life, with 4 months ERP (Extended Refit Period)

The US Navy has a total of 18 submarines of the type "Ohio", including 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and 4 cruise missile submarines (SSGN). SSBN submarines are also known as submarines Trident and provide the maritime component of the US nuclear triad. Each such submarine can be equipped with up to 24 ballistic missiles of the type Trident II D-5. Each SSGN submarine is capable of carrying up to 154 cruise missiles Tomahawk or a set of anti-ship missiles "Harpoon".

History of creation

Submarines type "Ohio" were built using a modular method at the enterprise General Dynamics Electric Boat in Rhode Island, and then assembled at the shipyard in Groton, Connecticut.

The first eight submarines of the type "Ohio" were equipped with 24 ballistic missiles for launch from submarines of the type Trident I C-4. Starting with the ninth submarine of this type, USS Tennessee (SSBN-734), all subsequent boats were equipped with larger three-stage rockets of the type Trident II D-5. Missile type Trident I C-4 capable of carrying up to eight individually targetable warheads, while missiles of the type Trident II D-5 capable of carrying up to 12 warheads, thereby being more destructive and more accurate than Trident I C-4. Beginning with USS Alaska (SSBN-732) in 2000, the US Navy began converting the first eight submarines from being equipped with missiles Trident I C-4 for equipping with missiles Trident II D-5, this conversion was completed in 2008.

The first eight submarines built were based in the Pacific Ocean as part of the 17th Squadron at Bangor Naval Base to replace submarines equipped with Polaris A3 missiles (SSBN types "George Washington" And "Ethan Allen"), which were subsequently taken out of service. The remaining ten submarines were initially based at Kings Bay naval base as part of the 20th Submarine Squadron to replace SSBN types "James Madison" And "Benjamin Franklin" with rockets Poseidon And Trident I C-4. During the conversion of the first four submarines to SSGN (see below), five submarines - USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) , USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) , USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) , USS Maine (SSBN-741) , USS Louisiana (SSBN-743)- were relocated from the Kings Bay naval base to the Bangor naval base. Subsequent relocations pursued US strategic goals.

In 2011, submarines of the type "Ohio" completed 28 combat patrols. Each patrol lasted an average of 70 days. From August to December 2010 the submarine USS Maine (SSBN-741) completed a 105-day patrol, the longest to date.

SSBN/SSGN conversion

According to the arms reduction treaty, the United States was allowed to have in service only 14 submarines equipped with ballistic missiles out of the existing 18. For the simple reason that it is not economically profitable to write off almost new boats, it was decided to refit the first four submarines of the type built "Ohio" - USS Ohio (SSGN-726) , USS Michigan (SSGN-727) , USS Florida (SSGN-728) , USS Georgia (SSGN-729)- into carriers of sea-based cruise missiles and special operations forces units and renaming them SSGN.

USS OHIO during her conversion to SSGN

During re-equipment of submarines SSGN Ohio were equipped with devices for attaching from the outside of the hull up to two advanced combat swimmer delivery vehicles, which in the US Navy are called Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS). Instead of devices ASDS these submarines can also be equipped with one or two dry strong shelters (English DDS - Dry Deck Shelter) for divers who are attached to transfer hatches instead of devices ASDS.

To provide basing, disembarkation and evacuation, as well as directing the actions of a group of US Navy special operations forces on submarines SSGN Ohio special compartments were designed in which the operations control center was located, living quarters for special forces and places for storing their equipment and weapons (some launch silos can also be used as “storerooms”, but then the ammunition load of cruise missiles will naturally be reduced (see. below)), a laser shooting range for special forces, special equipment for maintaining the normal cardiovascular system of special forces. The possibility of placing unmanned aerial vehicles in launch silos has also been implemented. aircraft ADM-160 MALD instead of cruise missiles.

Thus, after the conversion of submarines of the type "Ohio" in the multi-purpose version (SSGN) the boats had the following configuration:

The first two missile silos (No. 1 and 2) were converted into chambers for combat swimmers/divers (each silo-chamber can accommodate up to nine people in the appropriate equipment used for combat swimmers or light divers to enter the aquatic environment);

The middle eight missile silos (No. 3 to No. 10) were converted for use as weapons and equipment storage compartments for the US Navy Special Operations Forces group located on board the nuclear-powered ship and/or can be used with appropriate conversion for the storage and use of cruise missiles;

The remaining 14 missile silos (from No. 11 to No. 24) were converted into multi-charge vertical launch systems for cruise missiles, each of which can accommodate up to seven transport and launch containers for cruise missiles Tomahawk. Thus, the smallest number of cruise missiles is 98. In the same case, if missile silos No. 3-10 are also used for cruise missiles, the ammunition capacity increases to 154 units.

The US Navy command has at its disposal a truly unique tool for solving the tasks assigned to it. This was most accurately and colorfully described by one of the American admirals, who stated on the condition of anonymity to the Defense Weekly newspaper that “within one submarine we have the opportunity to choose either a “hammer” (154 sea-based cruise missiles) or a “scalpel” (60 -100 naval special forces personnel)".

On September 26, 2002, the leadership of the US Navy concluded with the company Electric Boat, which was engaged in the conversion of submarines to the SSGN version, a contract for 442.9 million dollars for the first phase of submarine conversion. These funds covered only the initial conversion phase for the first two submarines. Subsequent payments were $335 million in fiscal 2002, $825 million in 2003, $936 million in 2004, $505 million in 2005 and $170 million in fiscal 2006. Thus, the total funding for the 4-submarine conversion program was slightly more than $3.2 billion, or more than $800 million per boat.

The auxiliary power plant includes a 1.4 MW diesel generator and a 325 hp backup propulsion motor. With. companies Magnatek, providing movement in the event of failure of the main power plant.

Auxiliary equipment

During the initial design of submarines of the type "Ohio" received a hydroacoustic complex AN/BQQ-6, which includes a number of hydroacoustic stations. The basis is an active-passive hydroacoustic station AN/BQS-13 with a spherical antenna with a diameter of 4.6 m, consisting of 944 hydrophones. Passive direction-finding hydroacoustic station AN/BQR-23 contains 104 hydrophones located around the circumference of the windshield. There is also a passive hydroacoustic station AN/BQR-15, equipped with a towed TV-29 antenna 47.7 m long on a cable 670 m long. An active sonar is used for navigation AN/BQR-19, in difficult situations or during mine action operations, a short-range active sonar is used AN/BQS-15. Radar is used in surface mode AN/BPS-15A.

Further, during modernization according to the program A-RCI (Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion) all American submarines, including the type "Ohio", got a complex AN/BQQ-10. Instead of four hydroacoustic stations, a common station like COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf), which also has “hydroacoustic mapping” capabilities ( PUMA - Precision Underwater Mapping and Navigation), which allows you to create and exchange with other ships of the fleet a high-resolution hydrographic map (resolution allows you to distinguish small objects such as mines). First boat of the type "Ohio" underwent this modernization in the fall of 2000.

There are also systems for warning about acoustic and radar radiation. A station is used to record acoustic radiation AN/WLR-10, a station is used to record radar radiation on the surface AN/WLR-8(V)5 with an operating range of 0.5-18 GHz.

Boats are equipped with periscopes Kollmorgen Type 152 And Type 82

Armament

Missile weapons

Rocket launch photo Trident II D-5

The main armament of submarines "SSBN Ohio" are 24 ballistic missiles Trident II D-5 under the control of the missile storage and launch system Mk35 mod 1. The first eight boats built were equipped with less advanced missiles Trident I C-4, however, 4 of them, as part of the arms reduction treaty, were converted into cruise missile carriers ( SSGN Ohio), the remaining 4 were re-equipped with missiles Trident II D-5. The launch system consists of silo launchers, a ballistic missile ejection subsystem, a launch monitoring and control subsystem, and missile loading equipment.

Open missile silos

Closed missile silos

To ensure the possibility of installing missiles like Tridet II D-5 The missile silo was enlarged compared to previous versions of SSBNs by Lafayette-class submarines to a diameter of 2.4 m and a length of 14.8 m. The silo is closed on top with a lid that ensures sealing of the silo and is designed for the same pressure as the pressure hull. There are also four control and adjustment hatches on the cover for inspections. The shaft covers are equipped with a hydraulic drive and special mechanism locks to prevent unauthorized access. There is a launch cup installed inside the shaft, covered with a membrane that prevents water from getting inside when the lid is opened. The membrane is made of phenolic resin reinforced with asbestos; when a rocket is launched, the membrane is automatically destroyed using the inside profiled explosive charges. A new type of plug connector automatically disconnects the missile from the fire control system at the moment the missile is launched. Fire control system Mk 98, installed on submarines of this type, allows you to put all 24 missiles into a state of minute readiness in 15 minutes, during which the system calculates the firing, loads the received data into the missile and performs a pre-launch check of all systems. The computer complex has sufficient power to simultaneously retarget all 24 missiles.

Ballistic missile Tridet II D-5 can be equipped with two types of warheads - W76 with a power of 100 kt and W88 power 475 kt. At maximum load, a rocket of this type is capable of throwing 8 blocks W88 or 14 blocks W76 at a distance of 7360 km. At the moment, according to the arms reduction treaty, missiles on submarines cannot carry more than 8 warheads, therefore, in order to achieve maximum range, missiles are equipped with six W88 or eight W76

Missiles are launched as follows: before launch, excess pressure is created in the silo using a powder pressure accumulator (PAA). The gas leaving the pad enters the lower part of the launch cup and pushes the rocket out with an acceleration of about 10g. The speed when the rocket exits the silo is approximately 50 m/s. When the rocket begins to move, the membrane ruptures, and seawater begins to flow into the shaft. After the rocket is released, the shaft lid is closed and the process of pumping water from the shaft into a special replacement tank begins. In the water, the rocket moves uncontrollably, and after leaving the water, according to the acceleration sensor, the first stage engine turns on. In normal mode, the engine starts at an altitude of 10-30 m above sea level.

Missiles can be launched at 15-20 second intervals from a depth of up to 30 m, at a speed of up to 5 knots and sea waves of up to 6 points. To keep the boat in a stable position when launching missiles, the operation of gyroscopic stabilizers is controlled and water ballast is pumped.

Boats converted into a multi-purpose version - SSGN Ohio- can carry on board up to 154 cruise missiles of the type Tomahawk flight range at ultra-low altitudes up to 2500 km.

Mine and torpedo weapons

All boats have four torpedo tubes for self-defense. They are located in the bow of the boat slightly at an angle to the center plane. The ammunition load includes ten torpedoes Mk-48, which can be used against submarines and surface ships.

Representatives

Name and number	Named after	Bookmark date	Launching	Date of entry into service	Current status
USS Ohio (SSGN-726)	Ohio	April 10, 1976	April 7, 1979	November 11, 1981
USS Michigan (SSGN-727)	Michigan	April 4, 1977	April 26, 1980	September 11, 1982	in service, based at Bangor (19th Submarine Squadron)
USS Florida (SSGN-728)	Florida	July 4, 1976	November 11, 1981	June 18, 1983
USS Georgia (SSGN-729)	Georgia	April 7, 1979	November 6, 1982	February 11, 1984	in service, based at Norfolk
USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730)	Senator Henry Jackson	January 19, 1981	October 15, 1983	November 6, 1984
USS Alabama (SSBN-731)	Alabama	October 14, 1980	May 19, 1984	May 25, 1985	in service, based at Bangor (17th Submarine Squadron)
USS Alaska (SSBN-732)	Alaska	March 9, 1983	January 12, 1985	January 25, 1986	in service, based at Kings Bay
USS Nevada (SSBN-733)	Nevada	August 8, 1983	September 14, 1985	August 16, 1986	in service, based at Bangor (19th Submarine Squadron)