Other Submarine Work

I have written several times about the conversions that the USS Ohio, USS Michigan, USS Florida, and USS Georgia are undergoing. The other four Trident submarines that have been based at Bangor, WA are also ungergoing a conversion. USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730), USS Alabama (SSBN 731), USS Alaska (SSBN 732), and USS Nevada (SSBN 733).

These boats have been deployed with the C4 TRIDENT I missile. They are being converted to carry the D5 TRIDENT II missile. USS Alaska went first and returned to the fleet in 2002. An article published in the Winter 2003 issue of Undersea Warfare on the occasion of her return gives a good account of what had to be done for this conversion. The work included upgrades to the boats, NAVIMFPAC, and SWFPAC.

This backfit improves system reliability, readiness, and survivability (range is increased, giving us more water to hide in) while reducing cost by achieving a single fleet-wide system using commercial-off-the-shelf technology (COTS).

Alaska is Back; Trident D5 Reaches the Pacific.

Not everyone was in favor.