Cruise-missile submarine

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Soviet-made Oscar-class submarine of the Russian Navy. The doors for the P-700's inclined launch tubes are visible flanking the sail. Submarine Oscar class.jpg
Soviet-made Oscar-class submarine of the Russian Navy. The doors for the P-700's inclined launch tubes are visible flanking the sail.
An official USN rendering of an Ohio-class submarine VLS system firing Tomahawk missiles. Ohio-class submarine launches Tomahawk Cruise missiles (artist concept).jpg
An official USN rendering of an Ohio-class submarine VLS system firing Tomahawk missiles.

A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that carries and launches cruise missiles (SLCMs consisting of land-attack cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles) as its primary armament. Missiles greatly enhance a warship's ability to attack surface combatants and strike land targets; although torpedoes are a more discrete option for submerged submarines, missiles give a much longer stand-off range, shorter time to impact the target, as well as the ability to engage multiple targets on different headings at the same time. Many cruise missile submarines retain the capability to deploy nuclear warheads on their missiles, but they are considered distinct from ballistic missile submarines due to the substantial differences between the two weapons systems' flight characteristics; cruise missiles fly aerodynamically using flight surfaces like wings or fins, while a ballistic missile uses its engine power alone as it may exit the atmosphere.

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The United States Navy's hull classification symbols for cruise missile submarines are SSG and SSGN – the SS denotes submarine, the G denotes guided missile, and the N denotes that the submarine is nuclear-powered.

The earliest designs of cruise missile submarines had to surface to launch their missiles, while later designs could do so underwater via dedicated vertical launching system (VLS) tubes. Many modern attack submarines can launch cruise missiles (and dedicated anti-ship missiles) from their torpedo tubes while some designs also incorporate a small number of VLS canisters, giving an overlap between cruise missile submarines and traditional attack submarines. Nonetheless, vessels classified as attack submarines are designed to use torpedoes as their main armament and have a more multi-role mission profile due to their greater speed and maneuverability, in contrast to cruise missile submarines which are typically larger, slower boats carrying larger amounts of missiles, oftentimes possessing a special compartment dedicated solely to the cruise missile tubes.

U.S. Navy

USS Ohio undergoing conversion to a cruise missile submarine OHIOSSGNCONVERSION.JPG
USS Ohio undergoing conversion to a cruise missile submarine

The U.S. Navy's first cruise missile submarines were developed in the early 1950s to carry the SSM-N-8 Regulus missile. The first of these was a converted World War II era Gato-class submarine, USS Tunny, which was fitted with a hangar capable of carrying a pair of Regulus missiles. Tunny was used as a test-bed for developing techniques of use for the missile system, before a second boat, USS Barbero was subsequently converted. Starting in 1957, these two boats undertook the first nuclear deterrent patrols. [1]

Subsequently, two larger diesel submarines of the Grayback-class were purpose built for the carriage of the Regulus missile, with each capable of accommodating up to four missiles, while a further boat, the nuclear-powered USS Halibut, could carry up to five missiles. Between September 1959 and July 1964, the five Regulus missile boats undertook deterrent patrols in the Pacific Ocean, [2] in concert with the newly commissioned George Washington-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) in the Atlantic, until sufficient SSBNs were in service to replace them.

From 2002 to 2008, the U.S. Navy modified the four oldest Ohio-class submarines: Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia into SSGNs. The conversion was achieved by installing VLS in a multiple all-up-round canister (MAC) configuration in 22 of the 24 missile tubes, replacing one Trident missile with seven smaller Tomahawk cruise missiles. The two remaining tubes were converted to lockout chambers for use by special forces personnel. This gave each converted submarine the capability to carry up to 154 Tomahawks. The large diameter tubes can also be modified to carry and launch other payloads, such as UAVs or UUVs although these capabilities have not yet been fully implemented. In addition to generating a significant increase in stand-off strike capabilities, this conversion also counts as an arms reduction towards the START II treaty, [3] [4] because it reduces the number of nuclear weapons that are forward-deployed. USS Florida (SSGN-728) launched cruise missiles against Libyan targets as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn in March 2011.

The future Block V Virginia-class submarines are slated to supplement and eventually replace the Ohio SSGNs when they are retired; the USS Ohio itself is more than 40 years old. [5]

Soviet Navy/Russian Navy

The Soviet Navy (and its successor, the Russian Navy) has operated a wide variety of dedicated cruise missile submarines (unbolded project numbers were prototypes/never entered military service):

Soviet and Russian submarine classes
Entered Service NATO reporting name Project Name and Number Ship Class (US) Planform Missiles carried
1957(Modified) Zulu П611SSG1 x П-10 [6]
1958 Whiskey Single Cylinder П613SSG1 x П-5 Пятёрка (SS-N-3 Shaddock)
1962

1964

(Modified) Whiskey613А

613АД

SSG1 x П-70 Аметист (SS-N-7 Starbright) [7]
1960Whiskey Twin Cylinder644SSG Whiskey Twin Cylinder class SSG.svg 2 x П-5 Пятёрка (SS-N-3 Shaddock)

2 х П-5Д under Project 644Д [8] and 2 х П-7 under Project 644-7 [9]

1961Whiskey Long Bin665SSG Whiskey Long Bin class SSG.svg 4 x П-5 Пятёрка (SS-N-3 Shaddock)
1963 Juliett 651

651К

SSG Juliett class SSG.svg 4 х П-5/6 Пятёрка (SS-N-3 Shaddock)
1986(Modified) Juliett 651ЭSSGN Juliett class SSGN.svg 4 х П-5/6 Пятёрка (SS-N-3 Shaddock)
1960 Echo I 659SSGN Echo I class SSGN.svg 6 x П-5 Пятёрка (SS-N-3 Shaddock)
1963 Echo II 675SSGN Echo II class SSGN.svg 6 x П-5/6 Пятёрка (SS-N-3 Shaddock)

Later 8 x P-500 Базальт (SS-N-12 Sandbox) under the 675МК and 675МУ program and 8 x P-1000 Вулкан under Project 675МКВ

1969 Papa 661 " Anchar "SSGN Papa class SSGN.svg 10 x П-70 Аметист (SS-N-7 Starbright)
1967 Charlie I 670 " Skat "SSGN Charlie I class SSGN.svg 8 x П-70 Аметист (SS-N-7 Starbright)
1973Charlie II670M "Skat"SSGN Charlie II class SSGN.svg 8 x П-120 Малахит (SS-N-9 Siren)
1992+ (scrapped underway)Charlie III06704 " Chaika-B"SSGN8 x 3 П-800 Оникс (triple-tube inserts)
1980 Oscar I 949 " Granit "SSGN Oscar I class SSGN.svg 24 x П-700 Гранит (SS-N-19 Shipwreck)
1986 Oscar II 949A " Antey "SSGN Oscar II class SSGN.svg 24 x П-700 Гранит (SS-N-19 Shipwreck)

Plans for Project 949АМ upgrade to fit missiles compatible with UKSK  [ ru ] VLS; П-800 Оникс, Клуб, 3M22 Циркон; triple-tube inserts (3 x 24)

1987 Yankee Notch 667AT "Grusha"SSGN/SSN Yankee Notch class SSGN.svg 32 x РК-55 Гранат (SS-N-12 Sampson)
1989 (missile program cancelled) Yankee Sidecar 667M "Andromeda"SSGN Yankee Sidecar class SSGN.svg 12 x П-750 Метеорит (SS-NX-24 Scorpion)
2013 Yasen 885 " Yasen "SSGN Graney class SSN.svg П-800 Оникс, Калибр family, 3М22 Циркон
2021Yasen-M/Yasen-II885МYasen-MSSGN Graney class SSN 885M variant.svg П-800 Оникс, Калибр family, 3М22 Циркон

Khruschev encouraged the development of missiles in the Soviet Union; thus the issues of effective nuclear deterrence and delivery and US Carrier Strike Groups were to be solved through advances in missilery. Submerged submarines are more concealable than surface ships; missiles carried upon them were therefore safer from attack by NATO surface fleets, land-based aircraft, and long-range patrol bombers. Thus the strategic and tactical strike missions were solved through the equipment of submarines with large, long-range cruise missiles: first through the modification of existing boats, then by boats being built for the task.

The Whiskey variants and Echo I cruise missile submarines deployed with a nuclear land attack version of the P-5 Pyatyorka (SS-N-3 Shaddock) from the late 1950s to 1964, concurrently with the US Regulus force, until the strategic land attack mission was transferred entirely to the SSBN force. Along with the Julietts and Echo IIs, these continued as SSGs or SSGNs with an antiship variant of the P-5 until circa 1990. The Echo Is were an exception; they could not accommodate the anti-ship targeting radar and served as SSNs after the land attack missiles were withdrawn. [10]

Apart from true guided-missile submarines, late-Soviet attack submarines could launch various types of torpedo tube-launched missiles starting with the RK-55 and continuing with the Kalibr family of missiles. Cruise-missile capable Soviet submarines may have a different designation to incapable sister boats (Victor III (Project 671RTM) boats became Project 671RTMK as they gained this ability, K for Крылатая ракета; cruise missile). [11] Due to standardization of torpedo tube diameters, which are 533 mm, modern Russian attack submarine classes (even the diesel Kilo and Lada) are capable of launching long-range strategic cruise missiles from their torpedo tubes, without needing specialized compartments for missile tubes. [12] [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine-launched ballistic missile</span> Self-propelled gravity-assisted guided weapon flying from an independent underwater craft

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Oscar-class submarine Soviet nuclear cruise missile submarine class

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">SSM-N-8 Regulus</span> Type of cruise missile

The SSM-N-8A Regulus or the Regulus I was a United States Navy-developed ship-and-submarine-launched, nuclear-capable turbojet-powered second generation cruise missile, deployed from 1955 to 1964. Its development was an outgrowth of U.S. Navy tests conducted with the German V-1 missile at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. Its barrel-shaped fuselage resembled that of numerous fighter aircraft designs of the era, but without a cockpit. Test articles of the Regulus were equipped with landing gear and could take off and land like an airplane. When the missiles were deployed they were launched from a rail launcher, and equipped with a pair of Aerojet JATO bottles on the aft end of the fuselage.

A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarines became a major weapon system in the Cold War because of their nuclear deterrence capability. They can fire missiles thousands of kilometers from their targets, and acoustic quieting makes them difficult to detect, thus making them a survivable deterrent in the event of a first strike and a key element of the mutual assured destruction policy of nuclear deterrence. The deployment of ballistic missile submarines is dominated by the United States and Russia. Smaller numbers are in service with France, the United Kingdom, China and India; North Korea is also suspected to have an experimental submarine that is diesel-electric powered.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine-launched cruise missile</span> Seaborne weapon

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Charlie-class submarine

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<i>Grayback</i>-class submarine Class of US Navy submarines

The Grayback-class submarine was a class of two guided missile-carrying submarines of the United States Navy. They carried the Regulus I and Regulus II nuclear cruise missiles, deployed 1957–64, that were rapidly phased out by Polaris Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs). They and USS Halibut were the sole submarines designed specifically to carry Regulus missiles, and the only submarines capable of carrying Regulus II. However, USS Tunny and USS Barbero were modified earlier to carry two Regulus I missiles per boat.

Russian submarine <i>Tula</i> (K-114) Russian Delta-IV-class submarine

K-114 Tula is a Project 667BDRM Delfin-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). As such, she carries a complement of R-29RM Shtil and R-29RMU Sineva nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) as her primary deterrent mission, along with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, the latter for self-defense. Built in Severodvinsk during the late 1980s, she served with the Soviet Navy before being transferred to the Russian Navy following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Tula underwent an extensive overhaul during 2000–2004 and was fitted with upgraded Shtil SLBMs, several of which were launched from her during her later operational life. She was sponsored by the city of Tula, and is homeported in Gadzhiyevo.

Regulus missile submarines Group of submarines operated by the US Navy

The Regulus missile submarines were a group of submarines operated by the United States Navy capable of carrying the Regulus cruise missile. Between 1959 and 1964, a total of five boats were used to undertake the first submarine-based nuclear deterrent patrols by the United States. Regulus submarines were used for this task until 1964, when sufficient ballistic missile submarines carrying the Polaris ballistic missile became available.

References

  1. ↑ Friedman since 1945, p. 183
  2. ↑ "Patrol Insignia for Regulus veterans" (PDF). Navy Nuclear Weapons Association. Summer 1997. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Congressional Research Service (18 July 2005). "Navy Trident Submarine Conversion (SSGN) Program:Background and Issues for Congress". Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  4. ↑ Ronald O'Rourke. "SSGN: A "Second Career" for the Boomer Force". Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Navy's Virginia Class Submarines to Get 76% More Firepower". 15 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Проект П611 (NATO – "Zulu-?")". deepstorm.ru. Deep Storm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Проекты 613А и 613АД (NATO – "Whiskey"?)". deepstorm.ru. Deep Storm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Проект 644(NATO – "Whiskey Twin Cylinder")". deepstorm.ru. Deep Storm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Проект 644(NATO – "Whiskey Twin Cylinder")". deepstorm.ru. Deep Storm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Gardiner and Chumbley, pp. 343–345, 396–402
  11. ↑ "Проект 671РТМ и 671РТМК "Щука" (NATO – "Victor-III")". deepstorm.ru. Deep Storm. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ↑ Wertheim, Eric. "Russia's Kilo-class Submarine: Improved And More Deadly Than Ever". usni.org. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Starchak, Maxim. "Russian Navy to upgrade vessels with Kalibr cruise missiles". defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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