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N7KTP > NAVNET 29.01.06 06:57l 77 Lines 4087 Bytes #999 (0) @ USA
BID : 49802_N7FSP
Read: GUEST
Subj: USS OHIO CONVERSION
Path: ON0AR<ON0AR<N9ZZK<WA7V<N7FSP
Sent: 060128/2241z @:N7FSP.#SEA.#WWA.WA.USA.NOAM West Seattle, WA. on 145.010
Ohio first to be converted into Trident guided missile sub
By Kassie Korich Special to Navigator
What once was the oldest Trident submarine in the fleet has been
transformed into the Navy's first guided missile submarine.
USS Ohio entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in November 2002 as a
fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and recently completed sea
trials, which tested its new capabilities as a modern guided missile
submarine (SSGN), also known as a "Tactical Trident."
"It's great to be completing an arduous overhaul and conversion
period and moving on to demonstrating the tremendous capability this
ship brings to the Fleet," said Cmdr. Michael Cockey, Ohio's commanding
officer. "The Ohio crew will be pioneers in tactics and employment of
this amazing class of ships."
USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia, the other three oldest
Ohio-class submarines in the fleet, also are undergoing the conversion
process estimated at a total cost of $1.4 billion. The Michigan entered
the shipyard in March 2004 and is expected to rejoin the fleet in 2007
along with the Florida and the Georgia, which are undergoing their
conversions at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.
As an SSGN, the Ohio is capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk cruise
missiles compared to its former capability of 24 Trident ballistic
missiles as an SSBN. The Tomahawk, built by the Raytheon Company, is
the, "U.S. Navy's 'weapon of choice' for critical, long-range precision
strikes," according to Raytheon's Web site. The missile, which has a
1,500-mile range, has been used in conflicts ranging from Desert Storm
to Serbia to Afghanistan.
Twenty-two of Ohio's 24 missile tubes were retrofitted with
Tomahawk launchers with the remaining two being converted into lock-
in/lock-out chambers to be used by special operations forces, including
Navy Seals.
"Scuba divers can come out the ship while it's still submerged,"
said Capt. David Norris, SSGN program manager in reference to the lock-
in/lock-out chamber.
He added that by using the Trident's platform, "it is perfectly
suited for this mission.
"The primary mission will be land attack and special operations
support."' he said.
Training capacity within the sub also has been greatly increased
and includes a planning area, firearm simulators and fitness equipment.
"Because it's a large submarine, it has a large volume," Norris
said. "There's more space to train ...they can train while waiting for
a mission."
SSGNs also are capable of carrying two submersibles known as
Advanced Seal Delivery Systems, two dry deck shelters, or one of each.
"The program will remold the ballistic submarine to perform the
joint missions that were never envisioned by the original designers,"
Norris said.
The Navy is actually giving these four submarines a second life as
they would have been decommissioned if not for the conversion process.
The 1994 Nuclear Posture Review concluded that the Navy no longer
needed the four older Trident submarines, according to Norris.
"Rather than scrapping the four oldest, the Navy looked at the
potential of SSGN's," he said. "We've really extended the service life
of the four oldest."
The conversion and refueling process will provide these subs with
another 20 years of service life.
"It's a remarkable return on investment for the Navy," Norris
said. "They would have been decommissioned."
The SSGN's will have two crews that will rotate shifts and will
have the capacity to carry 66 Navy Seals and other special operation
forces, also known as "Sea Basing," for extended periods of time
"The ability to carry a large special operations force, coupled
with its Tomahawk strike capability and inherent stealth
characteristics make SSGN a unique and powerful platform for combatant
commanders to carry out a variety of missions," Norris said.
Next month the Navy plans to host a ceremony recognizing the
conversion.
"It's a transformational program," he said.
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