USS Henry M. Jackson SSBN 730 The inner workings

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The Ohio Class Submarines are the latest advancement in submarine technology. These giant 560-foot, 18750-ton ships will serve as the nation's first line of defense into the next centruy. The tridents, largest and most powerful submarines ever built, will serve as virtually undetectable, undersea, intercontinental missile launhing platforms.

The Ohio Class submarines are well equipped to accomplish their assigned mission, providing significant advances over previous classes of missile submarines.

Specifically:

  • Each Ohio Class submarine carries 50 percent more missiles than its predecessors (24 compared to 16).
  • Trident's improved mobility, quietness and speed make it the most survivable of our nation's strategic weapons systems.
  • Ease of maintenance has been designed into the class, minimizing maintenance requirements and extending the period between lengthy shipyard overhauls.
  • The increased range of the Trident I and Trident II missiles enables Tridents to operate in ten times more ocean area than previous Polaris/Poseidon submarines.
  • The longer missile range also permits basing them in the United States, rahter than in foreign countries, at a submstantial savings in logistic support. The submarines are based at Bangor, Washington, and at Kings Bay, Georgia.
  • Trident's central command and control system is the largest use of digital computers ever undertaken by the navy for submarines.
  • The increased size of the Trident submarine affords much more spacious living quarters for a 157-man crew.
  • Because of its size, Trident's carry significantly more and better sonar equipment than previous Polaris/Poseidon submarines.
This information was obtained from a Welcome Aboard USS Florida Pamphlet.
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