Los Angeles Class SSN -
The Los Angeles class SSNs with their improved quieting, increased operating speeds, sophisticated command and control systems, highly accurate sensor suites, and advanced weapons systems are among the most advanced submarines of their type in the world. Designed primarily for Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) escort duties they provided anti-submarine warfare (ASW) defense against� Soviet submarines as well as the ability to attack capital ships in a Soviet surface action group (SAG).
While ASW is still their primary role in addition to their Mk 48 and ADCAP torpedoes the Los Angeles class SSNs are armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles for precision land attack missions. Their stealth, speed, mobility and endurance also makes them ideal for covert missions, such as deploying special forces, and the later ships, SSN 751 through SSN 773, are capable of laying mines from their torpedo tubes.
In common with all submarines operated by the US Navy today the Los Angeles class are powered by a pressurized water reactor coupled to steam turbines which allows them to remain deployed and submerged for extended periods of time. They carry sufficient supplies to support a crew of over one hundred personnel for up to 90 days and are equipped with sophisticated atmosphere control systems to replenish oxygen and remove carbon dioxide as well as two distilling plants to convert sea water to fresh water for drinking, washing, and other uses.
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Ohio Class SSBN -
The sole mission of the Ohio class fleet ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), which were designed to replace the US Navy's aging Polaris submarines, is to provide strategic deterrence with the fourteen Trident armed ships carrying approximately 50% of US strategic nuclear warheads. They are the largest submarines ever built for the US Navy, second only in size to the Russian Typhoon Class SSBN's, and were designed specifically for extended deterrent patrols providing America's most potent and survivable nuclear strike capability.
Every Ohio class SSBN is at sea at least 66 percent of the time, including major overhaul periods of twelve months every nine years, and each submarine is assigned two crews, designated Blue and Gold, with each crew operating the ship on a 95 day deployment cycle comprising a 70 day combat patrol and a 25 day transfer period. To reduce time in port for crew turnover, replenishment and maintenance the ships are fitted with three large diameter logistics hatches to facilitate rapid loading of supply pallets, replacement equipment modules and machinery components as required.
The Ohio class have a double hull design with a streamlined outer hull enclosing a cylindrical pressure hull structure of HY-80 steel which is supported by circular frames and enclosed by hemispherical heads at both ends. The outer hull was designed specifically for efficient cruising underwater, enabling the ship to move quietly through the water at high speeds, while the pressure hull was designed to provide an enclosure with sufficient strength to enable the ship to operate deep enough to avoid easy detection while providing enough space for weapons, crew, and equipment.
Like all submarines operated by the US Navy today the Ohio class are powered by a pressurized water reactor which drives steam turbines connected to a single shaft with a specially designed propeller. They can attain depths in excess of 800 feet at speeds in excess of 25 knots and are purported to be as stealthy at 20 knots as earlier submarines were at dead slow speed.
The fourteen Ohio class SSBN's armed with Trident II D5 provide the sea based leg of America's nuclear triad of strategic deterrent forces. Each ship carries 24 Trident II D5 missiles each of which has eight multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) allowing each Ohio class SSBN to designate a total of 192 targets. All missiles can be launched in less than one minute.
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The models are marked on the underside with the Tri-ang Minic logo, "Modern Edition", the model number, and the description "Los Angeles Class SSN" and "Ohio Class SSBN" respectively.