October 28, 200520 yr From Navy Times Converted Ohio ready for sea trials By Christopher Munsey Times staff writer The guided-missile submarine Ohio, the first of four former Trident ballistic missile boats undergoing conversion to the new SSGN mission, is scheduled to start sea trials soon. Ohio recently finished a nuclear reactor refueling and conversion process at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington, said Kevin Sykes, a Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman. Four former Trident submarines, including Ohio, Georgia, Florida and Michigan, are being converted to SSGNs, at a total cost of approximately $4 billion. Instead of Trident nuclear-warhead tipped missiles, the new SSGNs will carry an arsenal of up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and serve as special operations platforms. As part of the conversion, the battery of 24 Trident missile tubes were removed, freeing up space for cruise missile canisters and storage space. Officials have said an SSGN will be able to host as many as 66 SEALs or Special Operations forces, along with transporting a mini-submarine called the Advanced SEAL Delivery System, and a dry deck shelter with a SEAL Delivery Vehicle. Following sea trials and after completing testing and training, Ohio is expected to be available for deployment sometime in 2007, Sykes said. Conversion work is on schedule on Georgia, Florida and Michigan, with all three conversions complete by September 2007.
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