Description
Nuclear-powered submarines armed with tactical missiles and the ability to transport and support special operations forces.

Background
Four Ohio-class Trident submarines that were previously scheduled for inactivation during Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004 are being converted to guided missile submarines (SSGN) over a five-year period ending in 2007. The primary missions of the SSGN will be land attack and Special Operations Forces (SOF) insertion and support. Secondary missions will be the traditional attack submarine missions of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), battle space preparation, and sea control.

These ships will be armed with up to 154 Tomahawk? or Tactical Tomahawk? land attack missiles. They will have the ability to carry and support a team of 66 SOF personnel for up to 90 days as compared to 15 days for a SOF outfitted fast attack submarine (SSN). Clandestine insertion and retrieval of these Special Operations Forces will be enhanced by the ability to host dual dry deck shelters and/or Advanced Seal Delivery System. Each SSGN will be able to conduct a variety of peace-time, conventional deterrent, and combat operations all within the same deployment.

USS Ohio (SSGN 726) entered the conversion yard on 15 November 2002. On 14 January 2003, USS Florida (SSGN 728) became the first Ohio-class submarine to launch a cruise missile. The launch was made from underwater in the Gulf of Mexico.

General Characteristics, Ohio Class

Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat Division.
Propulsion: One nuclear reactor, one shaft.
Length: 560 feet (170.69 meters).
Beam: 42 feet (12.8 meters).
Displacement: 16,764 tons (17,033.03 metric tons) surfaced; 18,750 tons (19,000.1 metric tons) submerged.
Speed: 20+ knots (23+ miles per hour, 36.8+ kph).
Crew: 15 Officers, 144 Enlisted.
Armament: Tomahawk missiles, MK 48 torpedoes; 4 torpedo tubes.
Ships:
USS Ohio (SSGN 726), Bangor, WA - Commenced conversion from SSBN in November 2003.
USS Michigan (SSGN 727), Bangor, WA - Commenced conversion to SSGN in October 2004
USS Florida (SSGN 728), Bangor, WA - Commenced conversion to SSGN in April 2004
USS Georgia (SSGN 729), Norfolk, VA - Conversion to SSGN scheduled for October 2005