From the past - FBM

Passed along from Barbara and Resan...    Enjoy!

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This is very interesting especially when you realize that this info is no longer classified…

Makes you wonder about the stuff they can’t tell you about!   All you ever wanted to know about our U.S. Navy nuclear Submarine fleet….   For you folks interested in our nuclear capabilities, this is a pretty detailed and fascinating look at our modern Navy.  A friend’s youngest son, was a Petty Officer on a nuclear sub for several years in the North Atlantic (20-year’s service overall).  If you read to the very end, he comments about the accuracy of this article.   If you’re concerned about N. Korea, don’t be.  And how many subs would it take to eliminate all the hostile territories in the Middle East?  Just 1. (ONE!!)     The U.S. Navy has 18 of the most deadly and feared weapons ever created.   Meet the Ohio-class submarine. In naval terms, it makes up the Fleet Ballistic Missile subs (FBMs). These 18 weapons are also known as "Trident" subs because they're a part of America 's "Nuclear Triad".     Our subs can also enter fresh water such as our Great Lakes (which already has the US Navy's USS Kentucky SSBN-737 & other smaller Los Angeles-class Attack Subs)     However, there are more logistics to this equation …   … starting with its power source.   They are powered by an internal S8G PWR nuclear reactor that turns the sub's 2 turbines which drive the rear propeller shaft.   An Ohio-class has unlimited range w/1 exception...it’s limited to the vessel's supply of food for the crew.   Other than food, she can produce her own oxygen and water supply for her crew.     It actually moves faster under water than on the surface.   Surfaced – max speed of 14 mph   Submerged – 23 mph, officially, but, unofficially, it's been reported to move up to 29 mph   These subs (w/the exception of re-supply time) are operating underwater year-round.     The Ohio-class along w/our Navy's smaller attack subs are nearly impossible for our adversaries to locate.  But they know 1 thing..       18 Ohio-class subs are lurking somewhere around the world.         The firepower…     For defensive/offensive attack abilities against other subs, all 18 have 4 533mm Mark 48 torpedo tubes.     Mark 48 torpedoes have an effective range (officially) "greater than 5 miles".     Depending on depth of launch, they travel at speeds up to 63 mph and detonate using a proximity fuse (when the torpedo senses the opponent's sub/ship).     14 of these subs are ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).     And 4 have been converted to guided missile submarines (SSGN).     What can they launch?  For reference, a kiloton (kt.) = 220,462,262 lbs. A single kt. is over 220.4 million pounds.   The 8 oldest of 14 SSBN carry the following nuclear armament: 24 Trident I/C4 missiles that cover a range of 4,600 miles.     Each missile has Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV).     MIRVs are capable of being aimed to hit multiple different targets with nuclear warheads.     A single missile carries 8 thermonuclear warheads that can break-off to hit up to 8 targets with 100 kilotons of TNT (total of 800 kt. of TNT).   For perspective, “Fat Man”—the largest of the 2 nukes dropped to end WWII had a total of 21kt of TNT.     The 10 newer SSBNs armament: 24 Trident II/C5 missiles that cover a range of 7,000 mi. Each Trident II SLBM missile can carry 12 MIRV thermonuclear warheads...these can hit 12 targets w/up to 475 kt. of TNT (total of 5,700 kt. of TNT).     A single missile from these 10 Ohio-class subs: equal to 1,256,634,893,400 pounds of TNT as in -1 trillion 2 hundred 56 million plus lbs. of BOOM.     Upgraded 4 SSGN Guided Missile subs armament: 22 tubes w/7 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles (total 154).     Tomahawks are versatile.       They can be equipped with thermonuclear warheads.     In addition, the SSGNs can be used to deliver many other specialized weapons such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)...& 1 real cool group of weapons.     They can convert 2 of the 22 tubes into swimmer lockout chambers which provide a dry dock shelter for Navy SEALS or Marine special operation scout teams.     In the dry dock tubes, SEALs can prepare to get on their SDV mini-subs.         The Ohio-class is our largest submarine.     There you have it, the most feared weapon on Earth!     It's always ready, almost impossible to find, & can deliver SEALs or hit specific targets.       And then there's the worst case scenario, nuclear war.     Thing is...     When the bad guys know the 2nd-strike capabilities of the Ohio-class submarine, they’re never going to mess with the United States of America         Thank you to the few who stay under water to provide us with the last line of defense.