The US Navy has three types of submarines, all moved to nuclear power, but only one transports nuclear weapons
US President Donald Trump, that two US Nuclean nuclear submarines were sent to “appropriate regions” in response to statements by Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia and current vice president of the country’s Security Council.
Justifying the measure as an effort of “preparation”, Trump wrote in a public network publication, which had given orders that “two nuclear submarines were positioned in the appropriate regions, only for these foolish and inflamed statements to be more than they appear.”
Trump did not specify what kind of submarines were being moved or where, and the Pentagon often reveals little about the movements of his submarines.
The US Navy has three types of submarines, all moved to nuclear power, but only one transports nuclear weapons. Here’s the fleet of US submarines:
Submarines with ballistic missiles
The US Navy has 14 Submarines with Ballistic Missiles (SSBNS) of the OHIO class, often referred to as “boomers”.
These submarines “are specifically designed to be stealthy and throw nuclear pumps accurately”, read in a navy informative leaflet.
Each can carry 20 trident ballistic missiles with several nuclear pumps. Tridents have a range of up to 7,400 kilometers, which means they would not need to approach Russia to reach it-they could actually do so from the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian or Arctic Oceans.
SSBNs are strong nuclear deterrent, and they are estimated to survive the first attack of an opponent. Their movements are among the best kept secrets of the Navy.
170 meters long, Ohio class submarines displace nearly 19,000 submerged tons and have a crew of 159 people. Can reach a speed of 37 km/h.
Submarines with guided missiles
In the 1990s, the Pentagon determined that the Navy did not need so many Ohio class SSBNS with the aim of nuclear deterrent, converting four of them into submarines with guided missiles (SSGNS).
Keeping the same general boomers specifications, SSGNs carry Tomahawk cruise missiles instead of trident.
Each can carry 154 Tomahawks with a highly explosive warhead of up to 1,000 pounds and a range of about 1,000 miles.
These submarines can also carry troops, which can be secretly highlighted from blocking cameras in old ballistic missile tubes.
SSGNS movements are also highly confidential, but in recent years the Navy occasionally made a reference to its presence near military critical points to send a dissuasive message.
Fast attack submarines
These submarines make up most of the US Navy’s underwater fleet and are designed to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships with torpedoes. Quick attack submarines can also attack terrestrial targets with Tomahawk missiles, although they transport the Tomahawks in much smaller numbers than the SSGNs.
There are three types of fast attack submarines: the Virginia, Los Angeles and Seawolf classes.
The Virginia class is the latest, with 23 commissioned units on July 1, according to an informative Navy. They are between 114.9 and 140 meters long, depending on their configuration, move up to 10,200 tons and have a crew of 145 people.
The Los Angeles class is the oldest of the Navy Fast Attack Submarines, with 23 still in service. Submarines of this type are 110 meters long, move 6,900 tons and carry a crew of 143 people.
Finally, the Seawolf class is the smallest in the American Navy fleet.
Two of the submarines, the USS Seawolf and the USS Connecticut – 107 meters and 9,100 tons – are more aligned with standard attack boats, carrying torpedoes and cruise missiles.
The third of the Seawolf class, the USS Jimmy Carter, is one of the most specialized Navy vessels, with a 30 meter hull than the other two submarines.
“This hull allows additional useful loads to accommodate advanced technology used to conduct confidential investigations and enhanced combat capabilities,” says the Navy.
