February 22, 2008:
The U.S. Navy has
completed the conversion of the last of four Ohio class ballistic missile
submarines (SSBNs), to cruise missile submarines (SSGN). Each of these boats
now carries 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and provides space (for living,
working and training) for 66 commandos (usually SEALs) and their equipment.
The idea of converting ballistic
missile subs, that would have to be scrapped to fulfill disarmament agreements,
has been bouncing around since the 1990s. After September 11, 2001, the idea
got some traction. The navy submariners love this one, because they lost a lot
of their reason for being, with the end of the Cold War. The United States had
built a powerful nuclear submarine force during the Cold War, but with the
rapid disappearance of the Soviet Navy in the 1990s, there was little reason to
keep over a hundred U.S. nuclear subs in commission. These boats are expensive,
costing over a billion each to build and over a million dollars a week to
operate. The four Ohio class SSBN being converted each have at least twenty
years of life left in them. The conversions weren't cheap, each one cost over
$400 million.
The idea of a sub, armed with 154
highly accurate cruise missiles, and capable of rapidly traveling under water
(ignoring weather, or observation) at a speed of over 1,200 kilometers a day,
to a far off hot spot, had great appeal in the post-Cold War world. The ability
to carry a large force of commandos as well was also appealing. The Ohio SSGNs
can also carry a wide variety of electronic sensors and other data collecting
gear. Thus in one sub you have your choice of hammer or scalpel. More capable
cruise missiles are in the works as well. Whether or not this multi-billion
dollar investment will pay off remains to be seen. But it's certainly a bold
move, and the navy already knows that Tomahawks and SEALs work.
Like the SSBNs, the SSGNs will have two
crews (each with 159 personnel, not including commandoes), which will switch
places in the boat every 3-4 months, flying out (if need be) to wherever the
boat is for the swap. The SSGNs will apparently spend most of their time on
intelligence collecting missions. As such, it may be a while before you hear
any details.