DefenseNews.com
December 21, 2005
First U.S. Navy SSGN Sub Completes Trials
By Christopher P. Cavas
The first of the U.S. Navy’s ballistic missile submarines to be converted so it can launch cruise missiles and carry teams of special operations forces completed its sea trials Dec. 19, the Navy said in a statement released Dec. 21.
The USS Ohio is one of four former SSBN submarines to undergo the SSGN conversion. The ships — the largest submarines ever built for the United States — have traded in their Trident ballistic missiles for Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Twenty-two of the submarine’s 24 missile tubes have been converted to each carry seven Tomahawks, for a total of 154 cruise missiles. The other two tubes have been changed into lock-in/lock-out chambers so that special operators can enter and leave the submarine while it is submerged.
Up to 66 special forces personnel can be carried and supported aboard each submarine.
The Ohio entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., in November 2002 to begin the conversion process, which began with a refueling of the submarine’s nuclear reactor.
The Ohio-class submarines were designed in the 1970s to carry the Trident missile, a replacement for older Polaris and Poseidon missiles. The Ohio, which was commissioned in 1981, carried out its last ballistic missile patrol in the summer of 2002.
Three other former Trident submarines, the Michigan, Florida and Georgia, also are being converted to the SSGN role. The Navy plans to complete all the conversions by 2007.
The naval shipyards at Puget Sound and Norfolk, Va., are each carrying out two SSGN conversions under the direction of General Dynamics Electric Boat at Groton, Conn., which built all 18 of the original Trident submarines.
The Navy has no further SSGN conversions planned, and intends to operate a force of 14 Trident submarines in the nuclear deterrence role.
The Navy plans to “redeliver” the Ohio to the fleet early next year.
First U.S. Navy SSGN Sub Completes Trials
Started by pmaidhof, Dec 22 2005 10:35 AM
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Posted 22 December 2005 - 06:03 PM
From Navy Times
December 22, 2005
Ohio shines in sea trials
By William H. McMichael
Times staff writer
The first of four ballistic-missile submarines being converted into tactical Tomahawk missile launchers and SEAL transports has passed its first sea trials with flying colors, Naval Sea Systems Command announced.
The 563-foot Ohio returned to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Wash., on Dec. 19 with a broom affixed to its sail, signifying a “clean sweep” of the trials, NavSea reported.
“It’s great to be completing an arduous overhaul and conversion period and moving on to demonstrating the tremendous capability this ship brings to the fleet,” said the Trident sub’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Michael Cockey. “The Ohio crew will be pioneers in tactics and employment of this amazing class of ships.”
The Ohio will be stationed at Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor, Wash., according to NavSea’s Kevin Sykes.
Twenty-two of the 24 missile tubes on each of the four nuclear-powered submarines, previously loaded with strategic missiles packing multiple nuclear warheads, are being retrofitted to carry up to seven Tomahawk cruise missiles, for a maximum load of 154 missiles per boat, according to the Navy. The remaining two tubes are being converted into Special Operations Forces lock-in/lock-out chambers, and each sub will be able to carry and support up to 66 SOF troops for extended periods of time.
All four subs are also being refueled.
The three other submarines undergoing the conversion — the Florida, Michigan and Georgia — are all scheduled to be completed and to rejoin the fleet by 2007. The total cost of the four-sub conversion is $4.1 billion, or about $1 billion per sub; Sykes said that to date, the conversion costs are running an average of $827 million per sub, including the cost of refueling.
December 22, 2005
Ohio shines in sea trials
By William H. McMichael
Times staff writer
The first of four ballistic-missile submarines being converted into tactical Tomahawk missile launchers and SEAL transports has passed its first sea trials with flying colors, Naval Sea Systems Command announced.
The 563-foot Ohio returned to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Wash., on Dec. 19 with a broom affixed to its sail, signifying a “clean sweep” of the trials, NavSea reported.
“It’s great to be completing an arduous overhaul and conversion period and moving on to demonstrating the tremendous capability this ship brings to the fleet,” said the Trident sub’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Michael Cockey. “The Ohio crew will be pioneers in tactics and employment of this amazing class of ships.”
The Ohio will be stationed at Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor, Wash., according to NavSea’s Kevin Sykes.
Twenty-two of the 24 missile tubes on each of the four nuclear-powered submarines, previously loaded with strategic missiles packing multiple nuclear warheads, are being retrofitted to carry up to seven Tomahawk cruise missiles, for a maximum load of 154 missiles per boat, according to the Navy. The remaining two tubes are being converted into Special Operations Forces lock-in/lock-out chambers, and each sub will be able to carry and support up to 66 SOF troops for extended periods of time.
All four subs are also being refueled.
The three other submarines undergoing the conversion — the Florida, Michigan and Georgia — are all scheduled to be completed and to rejoin the fleet by 2007. The total cost of the four-sub conversion is $4.1 billion, or about $1 billion per sub; Sykes said that to date, the conversion costs are running an average of $827 million per sub, including the cost of refueling.
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