Just off of KW Yesterday.

[Bobcat]

:USA:
Courtesy of Capt. Keith aboard The Lucky Strike

73426

[Ratickle]

Oh sure, the navy must have heard about your reference to bell bottoms and are sending backup......

[old377guy]

that's gotta be it

[Instagator]

Thats a SEAL special ops sub. See the operation cell on the deck for entering and exiting. Thats and old converted cold war ballistic missle sub. I rode subs for 14 years, Retired from the USN in 2005...

[Bobcat]

That is exactly what it is. I think it is the Ohio. They were dropping off B.U.D.S teams on the Vandenberg. It was one of the few times they did not make all of the Charter boats leave.

[Ratickle]

It looks like you have a 25% chance of being correct as to which sub it is. They only made four of them....



Kinda cool to read about.....

The SSGN Program Office converted four SSBNs into SSGNs in a little more than five years at a significantly lower cost and less time than building a new platform. USS Ohio (SSGN 726) entered the shipyard on Nov. 15, 2002, completed conversion in December 2005 and deployed for the first time in October 2007. USS Florida (SSGN 728) commenced its conversion in August 2003 and returned to the fleet in April 2006. Conversion of USS Michigan (SSGN 727) started in October 2004 and the ship delivered in November 2006. USS Georgia (SSGN 729) returned to the fleet in March 2008.

The Navy entered into a unique partnership to bring the SSGN conversions to fruition. All four submarines required an Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO) in addition to extensive conversion work. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington carried out the EROs for both Ohio and Michigan while Norfolk Naval Shipyard, located in Virginia, worked on Florida and Georgia. General Dynamics’ Electric Boat was awarded the contract to convert the SSBNs into SSGNs and carried out that work within the Naval Shipyards-the first time such collaboration had been conducted. This first-of-a-kind partnership has proved highly successful as the program finished on time and on cost.

Each SSGN is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk or Tactical Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. The missiles are loaded in seven-shot Multiple-All-Up-Round Canisters (MACs) in up to 22 missile tubes. These missile tubes can also accommodate additional stowage canisters for SOF equipment, food, and other consumables, extending the amount of forward-deployed time for on board SOF forces. The missile tubes also promise additional capability to host future payloads such as new types of missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and unmanned undersea vehicles.

Each submarine has the capacity to host up to 66 SOF personnel at a time. Additional berthing was installed in the missile compartment to accommodate the added personnel and other measures have been taken to extend the amount of time that the SOF forces can spend deployed aboard the SSGNs. The two forward most missile tubes were permanently converted to lock-out chambers that allow clandestine insertion and retrieval of SOF personnel. Each lock-out chamber can also accommodate a Dry Deck Shelter (DDS), enhancing the SSGNs' SOF capabilities.

During conversion, each SSGN received the Common Submarine Radio Room and two High-Data-Rate antennas for significantly enhanced communication capabilities. These additions allow each SSGN to serve as a forward-deployed, clandestine Small Combatant Joint Command Center—a new concept that will be fully tested in the first few SSGN deployments.

The SSGN is a key element of the Navy’s future fighting force. With its tremendous payload capacity, dual crew deployment concept, and inherent stealth, each SSGN brings mission flexibility and enhanced capabilities to the warfighter.

Point Of Contact
Office of Corporate Communication (SEA 00D)
Naval Sea Systems Command
Washington, D.C. 20376

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: Up to 154 Tomahawk missiles, Mk48 torpedoes; 4 torpedo tubes.
Ships:
USS Ohio (SSGN 726), Bangor, WA
USS Michigan (SSGN 727), Bangor, WA
USS Florida (SSGN 728), Kings Bay, GA
USS Georgia (SSGN 729), Kings Bay, GA

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[Pete B]

and here is how they get their orders!
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