Submarines: August 23, 2001

Archives

The US Navy has told Congress that it will convert the Trident submarines SSBN-727 Michigan and SSBN-729 Georgia into cruise missile platforms (SSGN). Two additional boats (SSBN-726 Ohio and SSBN-728 Florida will be converted if Congress provides the $1 billion per sub for their conversion and refueling. Otherwise, they will be mothballed.) Of the submarine's 24 missile tubes, 22 will be converted to fire Tomahawk (7 missiles per tube, total 154 on the sub) and the other two will be used to carry equipment for up to 100 SEAL commandoes. The subs will still count against the START treaty limits since it would cost another $1.25 billion per submarine to change the launch tubes in such a way that the Trident missiles could not be put back in.--Stephen V Cole

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close