Nuclear component of the US Submarine Fleet
If in the vast majority of countries of the world the basis of the Armed Forces is the ground forces, then in the USA such a basis is, of course, the fleet. It has an almost sacred significance for America and this state of affairs will continue in the foreseeable future.
Submarines are the basis of the US Navy
It was the US navy that won the war against Japan in 1941-1945. At the same time, American submarines (submarines) inflicted huge losses on the Japanese Navy and merchant Fleet. At the end of World War II, the US Navy had 232 submarines in its composition. Of the 120 Balao-type submarines built in 1942-1946, some served in the American navy until the mid-70s, and 46 were sold abroad. A submarine of this type "Santa Fe" as part of the Argentine Navy was sunk by the British during the Falklands War, another submarine of the type "Balao" is still listed as combat-ready in the Taiwan Navy (used as a training one). Also, a Tench-type submarine remains in the ranks of the Taiwanese navy, another submarine of this type as part of the Pakistan Navy died in December 1971 during the war with India (a total of 14 out of 29 submarines of this type were exported). All these submarines underwent several post-war upgrades (first of all, the propulsion systems were improved).
“In conditions when the US Armed Forces are once again beginning to prepare for wars with an equal opponent (the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the PLA), the role of the submarine fleet will increase”
Until the end of the 50s, up to 20 diesel submarines of several types were built in the USA, the last of which served until the end of the 80s. It should be noted two "Greyback" type submarines, which were intended to launch the Regulus CRMB with a flight range of about a thousand kilometers. The rocket was very large in size and was launched only from a surface position, so it had no prospects (" From Loon to the "Polar Star "). At the same time, the world's first Nautilus submarine was commissioned by the US Navy in 1954. Then several experimental PLAS were built, at the end of the 50s, four Skate-type PLAS and six Skipjack-type PLAS were put into operation (of which the Scorpion PLA was lost in 1968). In the 60s, 14 Thrasher-type PLAS were put into operation. The main one died in 1963, the rest (which after the loss of the "Thresher" became a "Permit" type PLA) served until the early 90s. These submarines were the first to carry, in addition to conventional Mk37 torpedoes, Sabrok anti-submarine missiles (range - 55 kilometers, had a nuclear warhead of 5 kilotons) and Harpoon missile launchers with a range of up to 140 kilometers. All these missiles were launched through torpedo tubes. The development of "Thrashers" /"Permits" became 37 Sturgeon-type submarines, which were already capable of carrying the Tomahawk missile launcher (also launched through torpedo tubes), as well as much more advanced Mk48 torpedoes with a range of up to 50 kilometers. The last "Sturgeons" were written off already at the beginning of the XXI century. By now, all the listed PLA have been disposed of.
Hundreds of kilotons on board
In the late 50s, the construction of SSBNs began in the USA, which became the basis of the American Strategic nuclear Forces. The first of them were five George Washington-type submarines, which were Skipjack-type submarines, into which a compartment with 16 Polaris SLBMs was "embedded" (flight range – 4,600 kilometers, three nuclear warheads of 200 kilotons on each SLBM). They were followed by five Ethan Allen-type submarines, which were already designed from scratch, then nine Lafayette-type submarines and ten James Madison-type submarines, which received Poseidon SLBMs (range - up to 5,9 thousand kilometers, 10-14 nuclear warheads). Finally, 12 Benjamin Franklin-type submarines carried 16 Trident-1 SLBMs (7,400 kilometers, up to 8 nuclear warheads). These types of SSBMS were withdrawn from the US Navy from the early 80s to the early 2000s, by now all of them have been disposed of, except for two converted into training stations.
In 1981-1997, 18 Ohio-type SSBNs were commissioned. Unlike their predecessors, they carried not 16, but 24 SLBMs. At first they were Trident-1, then they were replaced by Trident-2. These missiles have a range of 11-12 thousand kilometers, carry 8-12 nuclear warheads. 857 Tridents-2s were produced, of which approximately 600 are now available to the US Navy. Within the framework of the START Treaty, 4 out of 18 SSBMS were converted into a PLARC: 22 out of 24 missile silos became PU for Tomahawks (7 KRMB in each, that is, 154 on one PLARC), two – airlock chambers for combat swimmers. To replace the remaining 14 "Ohio", the construction of 12 Columbia-type submarines (16 SLBMs on each) has begun.
In 1976-1996, the US Navy received 62 Los Angeles-type PLA (the largest series of PLA in history). The PLA of the first half of this series carried traditional weapons (Mk48 torpedoes, as well as Tomahawk and Harpoon missile launchers launched through torpedo tubes). Now there are no more of them in service, two PLA have been converted into training stations, 18 are awaiting disposal. The second half of the series received, in addition to the usual armament, 12 missile silos on each PLA for Tomahawks. At the moment, 28 of them remain in service, two are awaiting disposal, the Miami PLA in 2012 burned down right at the shipyard during repairs (now it is also awaiting final disposal). The development of the "Los Angeles" was to be a series of 29 Sea Wolf-type PLAS with much higher TTX (very low noise, high speed, powerful weapons). But due to the extremely high price, only three such PLAS were built, one of which – "Jimmy Carter" is designed to ensure the actions of the MTR. Since 2000, the construction of a Virginia-type PLA began with slightly lower TTX, but more affordable. There are 12 Tomahawk shafts on each PLA. Starting from the 29th PLA, it is planned to install an additional weapons module, which will house another 28 Tomahawks or new SLBMs in the SLBM variant. Currently, 19 Virginia-type PLAS have been commissioned, a total of 48 to 66 will be built, with the maximum value being the most likely. It is still unclear what will become the development of this type of PLA. In conditions when the US Armed Forces are once again beginning to prepare for wars with an equal opponent (the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the PLA), the role of the submarine fleet will increase. PLA and especially PLARB are not suitable for interventionist operations and wars with obviously weaker opponents (as a rule, they do not have a fleet at all), but they are indispensable in the fight against strong fleets and for striking coastal targets if the enemy has strong aviation and air defense. The main quality of the PL was and remains inconspicuous, and it will be used to the full in this case.
Alexander Khramchikhin, independent military expert
The newspaper "Military-Industrial Courier", published in issue No. 9 (922) for March 15, 2022
