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Yolume 7 Issue 77 Modern I.5 to 5 Ton Trucla

Self-Propelled Gus of World Wu II
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Q Aerospace Publishing Ltd 1985 Euly Missiles
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tlodernMissile The missile control section aboarci
British'Resolution' class submartne
a

Submarines
does not look particularly dramatjc,
but in dozens of such places belovt
the sea similar crews stand ready to
unleash their mighty charges,
hoping that they never have to put
their equipment to the ultimate test.

Silently fiuough the depths, the most menacingleuiathans

the world has known make thefu stealthy way, For months at
a time the missile-catrying submarines of five nations patrol
the seas, thefu awesome destntctive powet concealed and
protectedby the vast spaces and depths ofthe ocean.
The nuclear-powered baliistic missile submarine (SSBN) and the sub-
marine-launched ballistic missrie (SLBM) have become the shield of
both the Eastern and Western power blocs. With vast areas of the
world's oceans to roam on long lonely submerged patrols, the boats
provide an almost totally rmmune second-strike capabilrty against the
opposing bloc's population centres and industriai targets and so keeps
ihe possrbility of a first strike weli in check.
The resources required to finance, build, outfit and maintain in service
such a force mean that only a handful of countries can afford to operate
these vessels, The largest operator by far is the Soviet Union whrch, after
20 or so years, has at last outstripped the USA in terms of total force levels
and capabilitres, wrth around 62 SSBNs of six different classes in service,
The Americans by contrast now field only 36 of three diflerent classes,
The Soviets also have five different missile types to the Americans' two,
although the latter stlll lead in overall numbers of warheads carried, To
back up the Americans in NATO and to provide an independent deter-
rent, the UK maintains one of its four Polaris-equrpped SSBNs on patrol Because of this type of submarine's relative invulnerability to iS-,'.-
continuously, whilst France remains outside the NATO organization but countermeasures, rt is expected that such boats will be around for i::a:--.-
still deploys one or two of her six-vessel SSBN force as part of her decades to come, although possibly rn modifred form as new mtss..=
natronal strategic deterrent. In a bid to counter both major superpowers types and defences evolve.
the People's Republlc of China became the flfth SSBN operator recently
when she deployed the first of ai least four 'Xia' class SSBNs with an Larger than most cruisers of WorldWar ll, the current generation of ballistic
rndigenously designed and built SLBM fitted wrth a thermonuclear rntsstTesubmarines asrepresented by themassive USS Ohio arewithout
warhead, parallel in their frightening destructive might.
m iil['n"aoutab.le' class ssBN
First of the French stategic missile
submarines was Le Redoutable
(56 I I ), commissioned in December
197 1.

Le Redoutable cutaway drawing key 35 Surface navigation platform

36 Whipaerial
45 Controlconsole
46 Galley
56 FoMardescapehatch
57 Pump
'I Single screw 11 Airconditioning plant 25 Access door 37 Dieselexhaust 47 Crewquaners 58 Torpedoroom
2 Rudder 12 Maincondenser 26 Tunnel 38 EW (ElectronicWarfare) 48 Wardroom 59 Sparetorpedo
3 Hydroplane '13 Aftescapehatch 27 Loading hatch mast 49 Galley 60 Torpedotubes
4 Enginethrustblock 14 Dieselgenerating room 28 Switchboard room 39 Snorkel 50 Sonarcontrol 61 Torpedopons
5 Propulsion motor 15 Controlpanel 29 Pump room 40 Radarmast 51 Juniormesshall 62 Compressed airflasks
6 Batterydrivecontroller 16 Turboqenerator 30 Bulkhead 41 Periscopes 52 Pressurehull 63 Accesstubetoconninq
7 Flagstaffholder '17 Ballast 31 Missile tube 42 Directionalantennae 53 Stores tower
B Main engine room 18 Motorgenerator N,4SBS M20 submarine- 43 Controlroomhatch 54 Batteries
9 Gearbox 1 I Motordriven feed pump launched ballistic missile 44 Centralcontrol position 55 Batterycovers
10 Turbine 20 Reactorcompanment 33, Conning tower (sail)
21 Reactor 34 Bridoe 13
22 Turbofeedpump "1
23 Primary coolant pump
24 Access hatch

The first French SSBN (or more cor-
rectly Sous-Marin Nucl6are Lance-
Engrne or SNLE) Le Redoutabie (SO
was authorized in March 1963, laid
down in November 1964 and commis-
sioned in 197i after being employed
for 2Yz years on trials as the prototype
for the French naval deterrent known
as the Force de Dissuaston in official
circles. She and her'Le Redoutable'
class sistership Le Terrible (5612)
were initially equipped with the 2400-
km (1,490-mile) rangTe hvo-staqte solid-
propellant inertially-gnrided Ml SLBM
that had a single S00-kiloton thermo-
nuclear warhead and a CEP of 930 m
(3 050 ft) In 1974 the third unrt, le
Foudroyant (5610), was commis-
sioned with the improved 3100-km
(1,925-mile) range M2 missile with a
more powerful second-stage motor
but carrying the same warhead and
having a similar CEP, The two pre-
vious vessels were then retrofltted
withthe M2 system durinqtheir normal
overhauls. The fourth boat , L'lndompt-
able (5613), was commrssioned urto
I l) service in 1977 with the vastly im-
proved M20 missile that has the same
range and accuracy as the M2 but car-
ries a new 1.2-megaton yield specially
hardened warhead with what is be-
lieved to be chaff dispensinq penetra-
tion aids to confuse defending radar
systems. The last vessel, .Le Tonnant
(5614), was also completed wrth the
M2O whilst the three units equipped
with the M2 have now been brought up
to the same standard, From i9BS the
last four units built will underqo yet
another modification to carry the M4
SLBM that s due to enter serurce in
January of that year aboard L'lnf|exi-
bie, All five boats are to be converted
to carry the underwater-launched
SM,39 Exocet anti-ship missile and the
sonars of-L7n{exrbJe. The planned de-
letron dates for the class are 56 1 I 1997, Le Foudroyant (.S 6 I 0) and her sister- Americans, unlike the British Poiaris
5612 1999, 5610 2002, 5613 2OO4 and slrps were design ed and built in boats, which required considerable
s614 2008, France without any help from the desjgn assisfance.

'L'Inflexible' class SSBN

Ordered in September l9?8, the sole
'L'Inflexible' class boat L'lntlexible
(S6tS) is to be an intermediate design
between the 'Le Redoutable' class and
a new class of 14,000-15,000 tons plan-
ned to be operational around 1993-4.
She will retain most of the external
charactedstlcs ofthe ea.rlier class, but
the intemal fittings and sensors will
differ by taking advantage of the adv-
ances made in the propulsion system,
electronics and weapons srnce the'Le
Redoutable' class boats were con-
structed, The rationale behind this in-
termediate boat lies in the fact that
France requires three SSBNs to be
continuously available, of which two
are to be on patrol. In order to achieve
this the French-navy has to have six
submarines in sewice, a number one
more than the 'l,e Redoutable' class
total,
l,aid down in March 1980, LIrflexi-
ble will achieve operational status in
January 1985 and is not due for deletion
untll 2012. Like all French missile sub-
marines, she will have two crews, Bleu
(blue) and Ambre (amber), to crew the
vessel in rotation in order to maxtmize
the time spent on patrol between reac-
tor-refuellinq reflts, French SSBNs nor-
mally undertake patrols of two months'
duration, with three months as the
absolute maximum, All the vessels are
based at lle Iron€nre near Brest and
have special protection when transit-
ing to and from the port, This includes
the French navy's sole A6rospatiale SA
32IG Super Frelon ASW helicopter Divingdepth:350 m (1, i50 ft)
unit, Plottille 32F, which operates in operational and 465 m (1,525 ft)
qroups of up to four helicopters to maximum
screen the boats, one helicopter dunk- Armament: 16 launch tubes for 16 M4
ing its sonar whiist the others stand submarine-launched ballistrc missiles,
back ready to attack if required, and four 533-mm (21-in) bow tubes for
14 L5 ASW and F17 anli-ship
Specification torpedoes plus four SM.39 Exocet anti-
't'Inflexible'class ship missiles
Displacement: 8,080 tons surfaced and Electronics: one surface-search radar,
8,920 tons dived one passive ESM system, one DLT D3
Dimensions: length 128,7 m (422,2 ft); torpedo and Exocet fire-control
beam 10,6 m (34.8 ft); drauerht 10,0 m system, one DSUX 2] sonar, and one
(32 8 f0 DUUX 5 underwater telephone
Propulsion: one pressurized water- Complement: 135
cooled reactor powering two steam
twbines driving one shaft
Speed: 18 kts surfaced and 25 kts
dived

Iazz
'Le Redoutable' class SSBN (continued)
Specification
'te Redoutable'clasS
Displacement: 8,045 tons surfaced and
8,940 tons dived
Dimensions: lenglh 128.7 m (422.2 tt),
beam 10.6 m (34.8 ft); draught I0,0 m
(32.8 ft)
MzO SLBM
The Mer-Sol Balistigue Strat6gique
M20 is essentially a vaiiant of the ear-
lier two-stage M2 with the Rita 11/P6
second stage converted to carry a
single re-entry vehicle (RV) with an
MR60 l,2-megaton yreld thermonuc-
iear warhead and associated penetra-
tion aids, Since initial deployment in
1977 aboard L'lndomptable, the mis-
sile has been refitted to carry the light-
er but similar-yield MR61 warhead.
Both types were specially hardened to
resist damage from the electromagne-
tic pulse (EMP) and fast radiation pro-
duced when nuclear-tipped anti-
baljrstrc missiles (from systems such a
the ABM-] 'Galosh' network around
Moscow) explode in therr vicinity, The
M20 is ejected by compressed air, and
is the culrnination of a missile program-
me that started design development in
1959 and entered operational service
as the MSBS Ml in 1971, The develop-
ment progressed through the uprated
M2 that entered sewice rn 1974 to the
present M2O, The whole 16 M20 mis-
sile outfit of a French SSBN can be
launched within 15 minutes. From 1985
the M20 missile will be replaced
aboard the last four ofthe 'Le Redout-
able' class by the M4, which is virtually
a new design for a MIRV payload, The
last M2O missiles, however, will not be
phased out until.Le Redoulable herself
is paid off rn 1997,
Specification
M20
Tlpe: submarine{aunched ballistic
mrssile
Dimensions:length 10,4 m (34, I ft);
diameter 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
taunch weight: 20054, 6 kg (44, 2 13 lb)
Performance: range 3100 km (1,926
miles); CEP 930 m ( 1,017 yards)
Propulsion: one pressurized water-
cooled reactor powering two steam
turbines driving one shaft
Speed: 18 kts surfaced and 25 kts
dived
Divingdepth:250 m (820 ft)
operationaland 330 m (1,085 ft)
maxrmum
Armament: 16 launch tubes for 16 M20
submarine-launched ballistic missiles,
andfour 550-mm (21,7-in) bowtubes
for 18 L5 ASW and F 17 anti-ship
torpedoes "
Although due to be eventually
superseded by the M4, the M20
remains in sewice aboardtlKe'Le
Redoubtable' class. It is armed with a
) .2-megaton yield thermonuclear
warhead that is specially hardened
against the elfects of detensive ABM
nucle ar w e a p on systems.
Warhead: one re-entry vehicle with an
MR61 I,2-megatonweaponand
penetration alds
Propulsion: solid-propellant rocket
Guidance:inertial
Modern Missile Sr:bmarines
Above: The French try to maintain a
minimum of two SNLEs on patol at
any one time, with submarines sudr
aslre Terrible (5612) being sqer;ned.
on departure and return byFrench
navy surface units, submarines and
ASW aircraft in order tomaintain
security.
Electronics: one Calypso surface-
search radar, one DLT D3 torpedo i:=
control system, one passive ESM
system, one DSUV 23 sonar, and one
DUUX 2 underwater telephone
Complement: 135
FRANCE
M4 SIBM
Destined to attain operational capabil-
tly with L'lnflexible in 1985, the Mer-Sol
Balistigue Strat6gique M4 was tested at
sea in early March 1982 from the ex-
perimental mrssrle submarine Gym-
nofe, The design of the missile was
started in 1976, and the missile was
fired for the very first time from a land-
based test pad in November 1980. The
three-staqe solid-propellant weapon
has a payload of sx 15O-kiloton yield
multiple independent re-entry vehi-
cles (MIRVs) of gneater circular error
probability (CEP) accuracy than pre-
vious French single-warhead SLBMs,
with the added advantage ofadvanced
penetration aids to defeat enemy bal-
Iistic missile defences. The interval
between missile launchings is also
shorter, and the possible launch depth
is greater as a result ofthe use ofpow-
der charge injectron, thia significantly
improving the launch platform's suwi-
vability factor. A1l the French navy
SSBNs except Le Redoutable are due
to have the M4 retrofitted from 1985,
and wrll thus have extensive modifica-
tlons to their launch tubes, together
wtth new flre-control and missile tube
ejector systems. The refit schedule
will be in the order Le Terrible, Le
Foudroyant, L'lndomptable and le
Tonnant, and is to be part of the boats'
normal overhaul cycles,
Specification
M4
Type: submarine-launched ballistic The M4SLBM is due to enter service
missile in early I 985 aboard the SNLE
Dimensions: length 1 1,05 m (36,25 ft); L'Inflexible (55' I 5 ). The new missile
diameter L92 m (6 ft 3,6 in) has a longer range than previous
Launch weight: 35073, 2 kg (77, 323 lb) FrenchSLBMs.
Performance: range 4000 km (2,485
miles); CEP 460 m (503 yards) Propulsion: solid-propeliant rocke:
Warhead: srx ]S0-kiloton MIRVs Guidance: inertial
I'lissile Submnrine Developrnenf
With agenesis reaching back toGerrnan plans of WorldWar II, the concept of the
missild-armed submaiine is not new. Both theAmerican andSovietnavie!made use
of captured.Germantechnologryinthepost-waryears,butitwasintfrel950s thatthe
modern conception of the nuclear-powered, nuclear-missj/e-arrnedsubmarine
aro,se.
Although the precrse origins of the Amerrcan
submarine-launched strategic rnissile prog-
ramme cannot be traced, it is known that on 5
lvlarch 1946 the Chief of Naval Operations
ordered the conversion of two World War tI
fleet submarines, the USS Cusk and USS Car-
E"r"lo, to cariy and flre two of the air-
breaLhrng Loon missiles whjch had been de-
rived from the German V- L At the same time as
the first successful Loon was launched in
March i947 from the Cusk, deveiopment prog-
rammes for two indigenous long-range sub-
marine bombardment missiles werb in prog-
ress; these became the Rigel and Regulus. The
forrrrer was subsequently cancelled in 1953 be-
cause of launcher probiems, but in the year
prer,.-ious the fleet submarrne USS Tunay had
been converted to carry two Regulus I mrssiles,
which could be fired from the surfaced sub-
marine, An additronal unrt, the USS Barbero,
was later converted along the same lines, and
two more unlts, the USS Grayback and USS
Growler, were completed on the stocks as mis-
sr.le launchers but with capacity for four mis-
srles.
Nuclearpower
With the advenL oi the nuclear reactor for
submarine propulsion a further conventtonal
boat, the USSHa/ibul whLchhad oeenordered
as a Regulus carrier, was reordered rn 1956
wrth the new propulsion system and the ability
to carry five missiles, She was to have been
followed by a class of even larger nuclear-
powered submarines each carrying four of the
larger supersonic Regulus II lollow-on misstles,
i 524
But rn I958 this new missile was cancelleci and
the submarines reordered as attack units.
Soviet systems
: .-
The Reoulus ll had fallen foul of the Polaris
ballisiic missile. Evolved during the mrd-1950s,
this new type of underwater-launched missile
required a projected force level of 30 sub-
marines to be on station from a total of 45-50
units, To accommodate the 2220-km (1380-
mrle) ranqre interlm Poiaris A! .moQgl a cr.ash
conversion proqramme was initiated in the late
1950s to insLall o 39 6 m (130-fr) long section ior
16 mrssiles abaft the fln in the hulls olsix 'Skip-
jack' class attack submarines to produce the
'George Washinqton' SSBN class. As these ves-
sels were being -aunched so the six Elhan
Allen' class vessels, designed from the keel up
as SSBNs, were laid down. These were in eflect
ballistic mrssite versrons oi the conlemporary
'Thresher' ciass SSNs and made effective use of One o{ the first launctres of Polaris 43, in } 964,
that rype s suoerior machtnery-silencrng lech- signalled the culmination of the aslonrshing
niques and deeper divlng hull materrals. scientific and industrial achievement which
Equipped with the Polaris A2 SLBMN they marked the Polaris programme.ln the spaceof
fiveyears the USA had built 41 boafs and
were rapjdly fcll:r.r'eo dorn'n Lhe production estabftsfted a s trategic advantage over tfte USSR
line by the still larger 3l-strong'Lafayette'and that was to last into the I 9 80s.
Benjainln Frankhn. classes of SlBNs, ihe last 23
of whrch commissrcned inio service carrying
the Polaris A3 mrssrle Wnen 'he first Pacifrc
Fleet SSBN carried oui iis frrst patrol at the end
oi 1964 so the five ReEir:}us I submarines were Now deactivated, fhe USS Robert E. Lee (SSB]VS'0J,
phased out after seven years of patrols in the
with four sister ships, comprised the 'Gearge
area, Al1 of the 4l Polaris-equipped vessels Washington' class ofS,SBiVs fh atwas converted
were completed between 1959 and 1964, from the'skipjack' class attack submarine desjg::
which still ranks as one of the major rndustriai to give the world's first true ballislrcm:ssiJe
and military achievements oi recent times in submarines.

16,'6
r:i"&di!\ '.*lF r'-
the Western world.
Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union durinq the
1950s the leadership, under Khrushchev afrer
rhe dearh of Stalin. elevated Admiral Gorshkov
10 the navy commander-in-chrefs post wrth the
direclrve to build new missile-armed sub,
marines and surface shrps to defend rhe Sovier
hcmeland. Before 1g56, when Gorshkov be-
came C-in-C, the Sovrets had already had rn
development a submarine ballisrrc missile
programme based on technology captured
ftorn the Germans at the end of World War 11.
This culminated rn September 1955 when a
conventionally armed R-l lFM mrssrle derived
from the Soviet army's 'Scud' tacticai ballistic
missile was ]aunched from a converted 'Zulu'
., r,.:iS
*s,'.-.
.Hr , ''.,
class conventional submarine. This was foi-
lowed by flve further 'Zulu V' conversions
(1956-8. each wrth two^mrssrles)^and the 23
specrally burlt Project 629 (builr 1958 62, each
wuh ihree missiles) Colfl ciass boars whrch
carried the surface,launched R-13 (SS-N-4
Sark) missrle In their usual manner of de-
ve-op-ng alternative stralegic submarine svs-
Iems the Soviers also designed and burlt rtre p-S
(SS-N-3C'shaddock') surlace-launched in-
ertially-gutded 800-kiloton yield cruise missile
which was tested in 1957 on a conventional
submarine given the NATO codename 'Whrs-
key Single Cylinder' This was foilowed by flve
Whiskey lwin Cylinder (]959-61 each-wrth
two P-5s, and seven 'Whiskev Lcnq Bin' (1961-
Modern Missile Subnra: ::-.e s
The f o llow - on class to lie Sovjef ' Tw i n C y ! i n c e :
conversions was the'Whiskey Long Bin' gpe. - : : -:
involved lengthening the huit andi"tirtthTZ'
section into the sail to carry four SS-]V-3C -
'Shaddock' strategic cruise missj,le coniajre---
launchers at a fixed angle of t 5 degrees.
5, each with four P-5s) conversions
As these entered service so the Sc,-,::s .-..
introduced their own nuclear-powet". ,-
-
sions using a common desrgn rbot T:re j:-l
class became known in the West as lhe __ -
(erght built 1959-62 each with three ---_:- =.
whilst the SSGNs became the Ech,- I :_. : -
1960-2. each wrth six P-Ss). 'lhe lar:r .' :, ': ,
only nuciear-powered class equippe: -.'
..
'
strategic cruise missiies because :.: j
=
navy was shifted from its strategic rc-e -:. :.-.=
early 1960swhen the newland-basei S::- _:.:
=
Rocket Forces assumed rhe task _l: =: - :
deploying rhe submerqed.iaunch R-. - j:-1 .:
'Serb') mrssrle on seven of the Hc:e.: :: :. .
the HoLel Ii' subciass and on 13 oi:ne I _. :
grve the Golf II vanant, rhe Soviet na -' I : .-. -'
march the massive American SSB\:-_:-_
untri the strateglc role was reassrgr.=: '_ .-
=
navy as one ol its primary roles, B.v ::-s ..::.-
Soviet mililary rnrelligence had oi:ir:.+ : .: : .'
of the relevant plans of the Amenca: =:_-..:.
Allen' class, together wrth British lcl:-:::._:=
sonar derarls Thus in 1967 there e:_'=:-+:
vice the first 'Yankee' SSBN that was ,..3..' :.,:".,
lar in appearance to the Americer- :-,... .-
equipped with a new long-range 1o-r :r::-:...
cy sonar of the type requlred for J: ! I _ :_ *. ,.
tions.
in a programme that matcheci a
SSBN consrruction rale. the Sov;e-. : -
its between 1967 and 1974 at nr, o si :-
The first Soviet nuclear-powered baJlrstic.-n:s-.:. :
submarrne c/ass was the'Hotel' type.
R econtigu red in the t I 60 s to c ar il
ri e .SS-r\'. j
these boals are now being phased ou t an d a : t
either being scrapped or converted to other ::"::
sucfi as subme rged naval command pos ts.
Missile Submarine Development
evenhral use oflboth coasts of the USA,'Howev-
er, because these vessels had to translt iong
distances throueth enemy-controlled waters to
their patroi areas, the Soviets designed and
tested new lonqr-ranQle SLBMs ,thal could be
fired lrom waters adjacent to the Soviet home-
land and still hrt tarsets in the USA, To
accommodate lhese they simpiy took the
'Yankee' design and enlarged it to give the
]2{ube 'Delta i' with the SS-N-B and then the
16-tube 'Deita 1l' with the same mnsile. With
MlRVlng of submarine-launched misslles the
Soviets aqain modifled the 'Delta' to produce
the 'Delta lll'variant with 16 SS-N-]8s
As the Soviets inlroduced the first oithe 'De-
lta' Series the Americans began to deploy the
Poseidon MlRV-equipped SI,BM aboard iheir
last 31 SSBNs to improve force capabiltties. Ils
foilow-on, the Trident, whtch olfers longer
range, was ultimately deemed to requlre a new
submaiine deslgn with more missile tubes to
obiain greater cost effectiveness. As an intertm
measure 12 of the Poseidon-equipped units
were converted to carry the Tndent 1 SLBM
Thc result of the new desjgn programme was
the 'Ohro' class which. wtth 24 missrle tubes for
initially the Tndent I and then the Trldent II
when. il becomes available, is the West's
iarsest SSBN and will eventually be the only
type in service with the US Navy.
As soon as the Soviets learnt ol the new class
they began design ol thetr own counterpart,
the incredibly large 'Typhoon' ciass, which
attained operational status in 1983 With 20 mis-
srle iubes lorward of the fin ior the SS'N-20, the
rressel is sBecifically designed for operations
under the Arctic ice cap, a capability which is
not matched by the West. For lhe luture the
Soviets intend io introduce a new SLBM, the
SS-NX-Z3 into servjce.possibiy on board
another 'Deltal variant, whilst the Americans
are stiil researchinq the pssslbtlity of procuring
a cheaper SSBN than lhe 'Ohios' to carry the
Trident IL
Polaris and Trident
Of the other three SSBN opeiators, the UK
burlt rn the late 1960s the 'Resolution'class of
four units wlth British technoloery but carrying
the American Polaris A3 SLBM. These are due
to be replaced in the mid- 1990s by four 'V' ciass
SSBNs carryrng the Trident II missile system.
The design will be larger than the current
Polaris vessels but will have only i6 missiie
tubes rather than the 24 aboard comparable
American submarines, France, the other Euro:
pean nation equrpped wlth SSBNs, went her
own way designing and building both the sub-
marines and the missiles that they carry. The
first class burlt was the 'Le Redoutable', the five
units of which have been followed by a single
interim uni|, L'lnflexible, that is the lrrerunner
of an enlirely new design br the 1990s, More
recently American intelligence has indlcated
thai Communist Cbina has made operationai
the first of the 8,800-ton 120-m (393.7-ft) iong
SSBNs known as the 'Xia' c1ass. Fitted with I2 of
the rndigenous lwo-stage solld-propeLlant CSS- A'Yankee I'tlassSS8jVruns on the surface. The
N-2 SLBM a iorce of up to six units is expected Sovrets keep several units ol this type offeach
to be operational by the late 1980s, tareteted coast of the United States to provide a ininimum
primarily against the Soviei Far East, warning attack on.firne-sensitive largels sucft as
S tlategic Air C ommand bomber bases in't&e ever
Where the SSBN goes lrom heie is probably ofanuclearwar.
dependent on how successful is the develop-
ment and deployment of 'Star Wars' beam and The'Ohio' class of SSBN, much larger than its
laser weapons, but what ts likely is that the predecessors, is to.be armed with the Trident I I
weapons load carried may well switch towards mrssjjesyslern, ?fieD5mtssi/e in that system wi|l
the strategic ultralow-]evel cruise missile, wilh tor the tirst time be accurate enough to allow
tire Soviet narry probably leading the way. submarjnes lo altack'hard' targets.
 USSR

'Yankee' class SSBN Modern Missile Submarines

The 'Yankee' class was the first mool-
ern Soviet SSBN to be built, The design
was apparently based on the plans of
the US 'Benjamtn Franklin' and
'Lafayette' classes that were covefily
obtained by Soviet mititary intelli-
gence (GRU) in the early 1960s Thirty-
four units were built between 1967 and
1974 at the shipyards in Severodvinsk
and Komsomolsk, the peak year being
1970 when lO vessels were comoleted.
The Yankees' are distrngruishabie from
the later 'Deltas' by having a smaller
rise to the 'turtle-back' missile com-
partment abaft the sail, In 1976 one unit
was convefied to a 'Yankee II' class
conflgmratron in which the original 16
missile tubes were replaced by 12lar-
ger units for the experrmental solid-
propellant SS-NX- l7 SLBM. The'Yank-
ee II' also differs from the similar t2-
round 'Delta Is' by havrng a sloping
forward edge to, the lurtle-back' cas-
ing of the missile tubes,
In order to comply with the SALT
agreement a number of 'Yankee I'
SSBNs have been deactivated as
SLBM carriers By mid-1984 t0 had
been so treated, a number being con-
verted to SSNs by the complete re- ing the American higher command Diving depth: 400 m (1,315 ft) Apparently builtwith the aid of
moval of the missile sectron of the hull. echelons as much as possible to ease operational and 600 m ( 1,970 ft) Polaris missile submarine plans
Another has posslbly become the trials the task of follow-up ICBM strikes. maxlmum stolen from the Americans, the
plarform for the highly accurate SS-N- More recently, NATO sources have in- Armament: 16 ('Yankee I') or 12 'Yankee I'class, wilhils SS-N-6
21 533-mm (2 I-in) diameter 7-m (23-ft) dicated that severai of the 'Yankees' in ('Yankee il') launch tubes for i6 SS-N-6 missiles, formed the major part of the
long cruise missile with a single 200- each theatre have been switched to ('Yankee I') or 12 SS-NX-17 ('Yankee Soyjel ^SSBJVfleet in the early t g 70 s.
kiloton yield warhead and a range of operate against theatre nuclear II') submarine{aunched balhstic
3000 km (1,865 mrles). targets, with the submannes operating missiles, and six 533-mm (21-in) bow sonar. one medrum-frequency tc::'. : :
At present three or four of 14 'Yank- in sanctuary areas closer to the Soviet tubes for a maximumof 12 533-mm (21- fire-control sonar, VHF/SHFAIHF
-
ee I' boats, plus the odd 'Yankee II' in homeland, These vessels are believed in) weapons, though the normal load is communications systems one VLF
the Northern Fleet, are on station at to be replacrng the older'Hotel II'and eight 533-mm (21-in) ASWanti-ship towed communications buoy, one E- :
any one time off the eastern seaboard 'Golf II submarines in this role. torpedoes and six 406-mm (16-in) ASW floating antenna, one 'Brick Group
of the USA, wrth a further unit either on torpedoes ESM surte. and one 'Park Lamp
transit to or from a patrol area. Over- Specification Electronics: one'Snoop Tray' surface- drrection-fl nding antenna
laps do occur, and these occasionally 'Yankee'class search radar, one low-frequency bow Complement:130
raise the number of boats on patrol. Of Displacement: 7,700 tons surfaced and
the nine 'Yankee Is' tn the Pacific Fleet 9,300 dived A total o{ 34 'Yankee I' class
two are on permanent patrol off the Dimensions: lenqth 130 0 m (426.5 ft); su bm ar ines were cons tr uc ted
USA's western seaboard with another beam ll,6 m(38. I ft); &aughtB 0 m in a relatively short space of
on transit to or from the patrol zones, (26 3 fr) time at the Severodvinskand
The forward-deployed'Yankees' are Propuision: two pressurLzed water- Komsomolsk shipyards.
assigned the wartime role of des- cooled reactors poweringT four steam Some I0 units of the class
troying time-sensitive area targets turbines dnving two shafts have now been converted to
such as SAC bomber alert bases and Speed: 2O kts surfaced and 27 kts other duties.
carriers/SSBNs in port, and of disrupt- dived

USSR

SS.N.6 SIBM
The photographs that have been re-
ieased of what NATO codenames
'Sawfly'are in fact of a competitive pro-
totype that was never taken into ser-
vice, Such ruses are a common pafi of
Soviet disinformation exercises. The
actual SS-N-6 was tested on a diesel-
electdc 'Golf class submanne that was
converted around 1970 to carry and
fire srx such weapons in a lengthened
sail structure that was added to an lB-
m (59{t) extension to the hull, Being a
third-generation weapon, the missile
is actually something of a hybrid as it
utilizes both components and technol-
oqy derived from the land-based SS- I l
ICBM. It is a single-staqe SI:BM with
liquid-propellant propulsion, The ori
ginal 2400-km (1,490-mile) ranqe SS-N-
6 Mod I with a srngle 7OO-kiloton yield
warhead entered service two years
before the 'Golf trials boat used to test
the much improved and lighter SS-N-6
Mod 2 variant in 1972, This missile uses
a 650-kiloton warhead instead of the
previous one and has a 600-km (375-
mile) increase in range, which enables
'Yankees' cruising off either US sea-
board to provide full target coverage
lrom the 183-m (600-ft) contour. At the
same time the SS-N-6 Mod 3 began
rr
li
ii, ,l ,r'il
i.
:i 's+m.,ei
development, initial deployment hap- Now beingused in its Mod 3 version
pening in 1974, one year after the SS- with two Multiple Re-entry Vehicle
N-6 Mod 2, This third vadant has the w arhe ads, fie SS-JV-6 arms the
same range as tts predecessor, but the 'Yankee I' class ofSSE/V.
single RV has been replaced by two
3SO-kiloton yield multiple re-entry
vehicles (MRVs) for use against iargie Specification
area targrets such as cities, By t9B5 ss-N-6
those 'Yankee Is' that were left ln ser- Type: submanne-launched Da,i-.: :
vice had either SS-N-6 Mod I or SS-N-6 missile
Mod 3 missiles in their tubes, Dimensions: length 10,0 m (32.E ...
diameter LB m (5 ft 10 9 in)
SS-N-6 SIBM (continued)

Launchweight: 18900 kg (41,667 lb)

Performance:range (Mod 1) 2400 km
(1,490 miles) or (Mods 2 and 3) 3000 km
( 1,865 miles); CEP lB50 m (2,023 yards)
Warhead: one ?OO-kiloton yield re-
entry vehicle in Mod l, or one 650-
kiloton yield re-entry vehicle in Mod 2,
ortwo 35O-kilotonyield MRVs in Mod 3
Propulsion: liquid-propellant rocket
Guidance: inertial

Predecessor to the SS-N-6 SLBM was

theSS-N-S'Serb'. Thk utilized a cold
gas ejection system to fire the missile
clear of the launch platform, where
the main rocket motor was ignited.
The'Yankee' class SSBiVs use a
similar sy s tem to ejecf tfi e SS-JV-6
mrsr7es from their launch tubes'

L iilrt" r, nDelta II' and Delta III' class ssBNs

The 'Delta I' class design was an en-
largemenl of the previous 'Yankee'
class design. Built initially at Severod-
vinsk and then at Komsomolsk in the
Soviet Far East, the 'Delta I' was the
world's largest undetsea craft when
the first unit was completed in 1972,
The erghteenth and last of the class
was completed at Komsomolsk in 1977.
Desrgnated a ballistic missile sub-
marine (podrodnaya lodka raketnaya
laylataya or PLRK) by the Sovrets, the
class carries two parallel rows of sx
missile tubes for the SS-N-8 missile aft
of the sail, which is set forward with
divrng planes on each side.
in 1975 at Severodvinsk an inteirm
batch of four'Delta II' class units was
constructed, These were essentially
the earlier desrgn lengthened by
16,2 m (53.2 ft) to make possrble the
incorporation of a further four mtssile
tubes to match contemporary Westem
SSBNs. These boats were followed in
1976 by the flrst units of the 'Delta III'
class, They are similar to the 'Delta II'
boats but have the 'turtle-back' struc-
ttue aft ofthe sail increased in height to
accommodate the longer and more
capable SS-N-18 in the missile tubes,
At present the 'Delta III' is tn senes
construction, with some 15 units built to
date, and at least another two or three
are expected before a new variant is
introduced to cary the SS-N-23, The
22'Delta I', 'Delta II'and'Delta III'class
vessels in the Northern Fleet have pat-
rol areas in the Greenland, Norwegian
and Barents Seas with one vessei nor-
mally on patrol in each location. More
recently it has been revealed that a
further unit is deployed in the eastem
Atlantic, probably as far south as the
Azores, in order to complicate Yet
further the task of US defence radars.
In the Pacific Fleet only tlvo of l5 'Delta
I'or 'Delta III' class units are on patrol at
any one time, one in the Sea of Okhotsk
and the other in the Bering Sea,
However, tn time of tension the num-
ber of unils on patrol would be in-
creased consrderably so that an effec-
tive second strlke force would be
available in a protracted nuclear ex-
change. It was also revealed in the
latest US Department of Defense
Soviet Military Povrrer document that
the Soviets have been practising
SLBM missile resupply from tenders in
protected areas, whilst those sub-
marines in port or under refit would for
protection either be dispersed to con-
crete-hardened tunnels built into cliffs
or be submerged in the deep fjords
that lie just off their piers,
Specification
'Delta'class
Displacement: 8,750 tons surfaced and
10,000 tons dived for 'Delta I', and 9,750
tons surfaced and I 1,000 tons dived for
'Delta il' and'Delta III'
Dimensions:lengrth 136,5 m (447.8 ft)
for'Delta I' and I52.7 m (501 ft) for
'Delta II' and'Delta III'; beam 12.0 m
(39.4 ft); drauqht B.7 m (28,5 ft)
Propulsion: two pressurized water-
cooled reactors powedng four steam
turbines dnving hvo shafts
Speed: 20 kts surfaced and 26 kts
('Delta I'), 25 kts ('Delta II') or 24 kts
('Delta lll') dived
Divins depth: 400 m ( 1,315 ft)
operational and 600 m ( 1,970 ft)
maxlmutn
Armament: 12 ('Delta I') or 16 ('Delta l1')
launch tubes for 12 ('Delta i') or 16
('Delta II') SS-N-B submarine-launched
ballistic missiles, or 16 launch tubes
('Delta lll ) for 16 SS-N- lB submanne-
Now into its third variant, the 'Delta'
class ballistic missilesubmariner
es se ntially the'Y anke e' de sign
lengthened to accommodate new
SLBMs.
launched balhstic missrles, and six 533-
mm (2l-in) bow tubes for a maximum of
12 533-mm (21-in) weapons, though the
normal load is eiqht 533-mm (2l-in)
ASWanti-ship torpedoes and six 406-
mm ( l6-in) ASW torpedoes
Electronics: one'Snoop Tray' surface-
search radar, one low-frequency bow
sonar, one medium-frequency torpedo
fire-control sonar, VHFiSHF/UHF
commumcations systems, one VLf
towed communtcations buoy, one ELF
floatlng antenna, one 'Brick GrouP'
ESM suite, one 'Park Lamp' direction-
flnding antenna, and one'Pert Spring'
satellite navrgation system
Complement: 130 ('Delta I') or i40
('Delta II'and 'Delta III')
OnIy four 'Deltal/' c/ass submarines
were built, as an interim desigm. The
only difference between the vessels
and the earlier 'Delta ls' is an
increase in hull length.

1528
Soviet Submqrines in Action
With a tradition of submarine
operations, the Sovietnavy has long
maintained the largest submarine force
in the world, the surest shield against
nuclear attack being a submarine-based
deterrent.
The Soviet Union maintains the world's largest
force of ballistic missile submarines for
strategic attack. As of March 1984 the force
numbered 64 vessels embarking a total of 936
nuclear-tipped missiles, T\ruo of the total do not
count towards the SALT limit oi 62 SSBNs
whilst an additronal 15 older vessels with 45
embarked missiles are not included 1n SALT
limitations because they are assigned to the
theatre strike and anti-shipping roles,
The l4 units'of the 'Delta lll' class, together
wrth the two'Typhoons', were completed in the
last seven years and carry the Sovrets' SLBM
MIRV force of 264 SS-N-18 and SS-N-20 mts-
siles, It is these units, together with the I8 ear-
her'Delta I' and four'Delta II' class boats, which
are fitted with the long-range SS-N-8 that per-
miis the boats' assignment to patrol areas in
waters adjacent to the Soviet Union. This
alfords the boats considerable immunity from
NATO ASW operations, and also allows the
submarines to fire from their home ports if re-
quired and still strike the continental USA
(CONUS) The remaining 22 'Yankee I' class
boats and the solrtary 'Yankee II'unit are used
primarily on forward-deployment patrols off
both coasts of the CONUS to disrupt American One of the remaining'Golf-ll' conventional three tubesfor tfteS^S-JV-5'Serb', retained in the
strategic command, control and communica- powered ballistic missile submarines is fitted with Northern Fleet for trials purposes.
tions networks in the early minutes of a nuclear
exchange and to destroy as many strategic At present the Soviet navy's Northern Fleet The Northern Fleet missile boats ha-..e a
weapon systems (such as SAC bombers on has the malority of the SSBN force with two much harder task if they want to transit to pa :: .
alert and SSBNs stili in port) as possible, More 'Typhoons', 21 'Delta UIynI', 14'Yankee I' and areas off the US eastern seaboard or for :-=
recentlyit has learnt that several 'Yankees' the srngle 'Yankee Ii', together with several occasional 'Delta' that qtoes as far south as -,:-:
have been reassigned to patrol areas on the older 'Hotel II'and 'Golf trials vessels, All are Azores, since the vessels have to transi: --:-:
eastern side of the Atlantic and the Norwegian located at bases on the Kola peninsula. The natural series of 'choke pornts' known as :.:
sea, where as part ofthe Soviet theatre nuclear Paciflc Fleet, with nine 'Yankee I' and 15 'Delta Greenland-lceland-United Krngdom Gap .:: =
lorces they can bombard piaces such as the Tlll' class boats, has two SSBN bases, one near offers NATO the best chance of detectrng :::-
UK. To ensure an adequate level of com- Petropavlovsk on the Kamchatka peninsula by use of the Sound Surveillance Under S:=
munications under most operating condittons, and the other near Vladivostok close to the (SOSUS) fixed sonar array network. Th= :=-
the Soviets are depioying an dxtremely low lunction of the Soviet, Chinese and North Ko- maining'Deltas' and'Typhoons' thai opera e -:,
frequency (ELF) radio transmission system that rean borders. It rs likely that the 'Deltas' and the Soviet side of the gap have to be ]:.-:-:=:
will allow the submannes to receive messagtes strategic-role 'Yankees' operate from the for- down by rndividual nuclear-powereo hi--l
at depths well in excess of what is achieved mer as it gives access to both the Sea of attack submarines sent into their sancb:ar:=s ::-
currently by usrng towed buoys and floating Okhotsk and Bering Sea sanctuary area, whtlst hrgh-nsk missions wlth llttle chance oi s'-:-, --.-=
antennae, the latter base would house the theatre-role once they have destroyed a target, To rr.r==:
To enhance their SSBNs' capabilities further 'Yankees' as it is close to Japan and well within NATO's problems further, the 'Typhoor- ::::=
in a protracted nuclear exchange, the Soviets launch ranqe of most of the important American would actually be operating wiihin the i::-:
are regularly practising the resupply of mts- Far Eastern bases. icepack which is a notoriously difflcu: i-S-,','
sile-exhausted SSBNs from missile tenders
anchored in protected waters, the reloadtng
and refurbishment of the missile tubes taking
less than 24 hours to complete. In these resupp-
ly zones, and in the sanctuary areas within
which the SSBNs operate close to the Soviei
homeland, specialist surface warship and sub-
marine task groups with reglmental-sized
maritrme patrol aircraft support are assigned to
d,eal with any NATO ASW untis that may
attempt to attack the missile submarines. But if
the Americans go after the command echelons
ashore, and destroy the hardened under-
ground bunkers which house them, then
alternative mobile aircraft and multiple vehi-
cle-based command posts are available, The
SSBNs which are still under refrt or simply have
not sailed would be dispersed to protected
camouflaged tunnels constructed near their The sole'Yankee//'SSBJVTs converted to carry l2 some two or three knots fastet underwater thatl
home ports or taken out to the deep water SS-IV-i Tmsfead of J 6,SS-iV-6mssiJes. ln all other any of the contemporarywestemSSBlf destgns. j:
flords just off the docks and submerged. respects the boat is similat to the 'Yankee I', being r's based on the Kola Peninsula.
Soviet Submarines in Action

environment because of the hiqh background

noise from the moving ice flows. Submarines
which hide within or just under the ice (as the
'Typhoon' ls built to do) could only be detected
at relatively short ranges by other submarines
operating at very slow speeds, a tactical situa-
tion whlch nullifies the normal advantages of
Western attack submarines so that the winner Yfiiiffi
iffii.iiiii;.ii:j
oi any such engagement would slmply be the ii{ffi
more alert unit with the qurcker trtgger flnger
on the torpedoes, This rs the main reason why
both the UK and USA are placing great emph- !:.: . ,;
asls on under-ice ASW operatrons by their ibirr# i ..1:tr*i*i.!.r!;::

attack submarines, periodically announclng r:rrrjj:ijtisrr,ii:

the sending of such craft on 'trips' to the North ir*tiiffi r: ;"&t

r;;.w'
,

Pole and staging submarine exercises by :i.'iiii14F,.:-.

several boats within the Arctic ctrcle,

e.: #.:ii.,,
Jii.+ +-,i.;,,ri
Future plans
For the future the Soviets are certain io capi- ?F.,*
talize on this NATO deficlencv by increasing
their 'Typhoon' fleet for under-the-ice opera-
tions and by decreasing the number of their ;!::i!i: :: :,', :' :i:i I t: ..,

forward-deployed'Yankees' to the minimum t'.*- a

required, so enhancing the survlvability of ,",:W,

:4..
::

thelr SSBN forces, A new MIRVed SLBM is .

already under flight test for future retrofitting to

the existing 'Delta IIIs' and to arm a new mid-
1980s SSBN class to comPlement the
'TYphoons', Older vessels such as the 'Delta Is' i;i
may well be switched to theatre roles, whtle
the 'Yankees' appear to be under gradual con-
version to other tasks including, possibly, one
of the mdn carriers of the Soviet submarine-
launched cruise missile force of SS-N-2ls

Above: Construction of the 'Delta III' class

continues at Severodvinsk at the rate of two units
per year. The hatches in the aft part of the rar'sed
rear decking are believed tocover towedvery low
frequency communications buoys..whilst i ust
forward of the rudder can be seen the top of a
submarine rescue buoy marker.

I 530
 Modern Missile Submarines

Soviet' Delta lll'clqss

Ballisfic lvlissile
Submqrine
Below : For many years the world's largest
underwater vessel, the'Delta III' class of ballistic
mrssrTe submarine is a mainstay of currentSoviet
strategic capability. At least 15 have heen built at
Severodvinsk, with several more under
construction, possibly in a modified form to take
the next-generation SS-N-23 missile. At present the
class is armed with 16 SS-N- I I MIRV missiles, each
with several low-yield warheads. ?ie SS-/V-J 8 fias
a range of up to 8000 km (almost 5,000 miles).
L fivphoon'
.SS.N.zO'SLBM
SSBN and
The 'Typhoon' class boats are the
largest undersea vessels yet built, and
are believed to be based on a cata-
maran-type design that comprises hvo
'Delta III' hulls joined by a single outer
covering to give increased protectton
against ASW weapons, in overall size a
'Typhoon' is almost half as long again as
the US 'Ohio' class Tndent missile-
carrying submarines, and has a dis-
placement some 9,500 tons greater
when running on the surface, It is
thought that the class has been built
specifically for operations with the
Soviet Northern Fleet in the Arctic ice-
pack. The two parallel rows of missile
tubes fitted forward of the stub-like sail
a-ftof the craft's centre point, together
with the high-rise hull and retractable
bow hydroplanes, allows the sub-
marine to break easily ihrough the
spots of thin ice (known as polnyas)
wrthin the Arctic ice sheli
The flrst unit was laid down in 1975 at
Severodvinsk and launched ln 1980. It
achieved operational status in 1983. A
second unit has now been completed,
whiist there are at least another four
under senes construction in a special
covered shipyard. A US intelligence
report suggtests that by the early I990s
eight of these monsters will be in ser-
v]ce,
To arm the 'Typhoon' the Soviets
started to design a fifth-gteneration
L HT.N.A, SS.N-I8 and SS.NX.z3 SLBMs
Introduced into operational sewtce rn
1972 aboard the 'Delta I' class SSBN,
the SS-N-8 is a fourth-generation SLBM
that beqan flight trials back in 1969
aboard a lengrthened'Hotel' class nuc-
lear-powered baltistic missile sub-
marine (codenamed 'Hotel III') con-
verted to carry and fire three of the
missiles in an enlarged sail, A second
fials vessel was con'erted ln the early
1970s from a dresel-electdc 'Golf class
bailistic missile submarine. Code-
named 'Golf III' and fltted to carry and
fire six SS-N-Bs, the vessel has now
been dismantled under the SAI,T
limitations..The SS-N-B is a two-stage
hquid-propellant missile that, in its SS-
N-8 Mod I form, has a range of 7800 lcn
(4,845 miles), To ensure accuracy over
that range, steljar-inertial gnrldance is
used to update the navigation compu-
ter by utilizing tvvo 'star fixes' for mid-
course fllght profile corrections ln
1977 an engineering rmproved variant,
the SS-N-8 Mod 2, entered service with
a range of 9100kn (5,655 miles) and
the same warhead.
However, two years before this the
Sovrets had begmn fhght testing of the
fourth-qreneration 6500-km (4,040-
mile) range storable hquid-propellanl
I 532
SI,BM, the SS-N-20, from 1973. First-
flight tested in 1980, the SS-N-20 rs a
three-stage solid-propellant MIRVed
missile wrth a range of 8300 kn (5,160
miles). This allows the submarine to
fire the weapon from within the Arctic
circle and still hit a target anywhere
within the continental USA, Before the
end of this decade the Soviets are due
to test fly an improved version of the
ss-N-20.
Specification
'Typhoon'class
Displacement: 26, 000 tons swfaced
and 30,000 tons dived
Dimensions: length 170,0 m (557.7 ft);
beam 23,0 m (75.5 ft); draught not
known
Propulsion: four pressurized water-
cooled reactors powering four steam
twbines driving four shafts
Speed: 20 kts surfaced and 30 kts dived
Divins depth: 400 m (I,3i5 ft)
operational and 600 m ( 1,970 ft)
maxlmum
Armament: 20 iaunch tubes for 20 SS-
N-20 submarinelaunched bailistic
missiles, andsix 533-mm (21-in) bow
tubesfor amaximum of 24 533-mm (21-
in) weapons, though the normai load is
16 533-mm (2 I -in) ASWantrship
torpedoes and 14 407-mm ( I6-in) ASW
torpedoes
Electronics: one surface-search radar,
SS-N-18 (Soviet desiqnation RSM-50)
which became operational on the 'De-
Ita III' class in late 1976. The SS-N-I8
Mod l version was also the first Sovtet
SLBM to feature MIRV capability, This
was followed in 1979 by the SS-N-Mod
2 with a single warhead but much
gEeater range. The SS-N-18 Mod I was
then superseded in the same Year bY
the SS-N-I8 Mod 3 which has a larger
number of lower-yield MIRVs and the
same range,
Both the SS-N-B and the SS-N-18 are
expected to be replaced bY a new
lrquid-propellant SLBM, the SS-NX-23,
which is of similar size to the latter
missile but will have a erreater throvr-
weiqht, carry more MIRVs and be con-
siderably more accurate. It is ex-
A true monster oI the deep, the
Typhoon as been desrirned for
ft
operations under the polar ice. Its
huge size enables it to be armed with
T he mamm oth Typhoon SSBiV js
thought to be comprised of two
'Delta' class hulls in a side-by-side
configruration with the missile tube
comparhnentforward of the sail.
one ESM system, one low-frequency
bow sonar, one medium-frequency
torpedo fire-control sonar, VHF/SHF/
UHF communications systems, one
VLF towed communicatrons buoy, and
one ELF floating antenna
Complement: 150
Specification
ss-N-20
Type: submarine-launched ballistic
pected to egulp a 'Delta lil'variant tn-
itially and then be retrofitted to the
earlier boats,
Specification
ss-N-8
Type: submanne-launched ballistic
missile
Dimensions:length 12,9 m (42,3 ft);
diameter 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Launchweight:20400 kg (44,974 Ib)
Performance:range (Mod 1) 7800 lsn
(4,845 miles) or (Mod 2) 9100 kn (5,655
miles); CEP (Mod 1) 1410 m (1,540
yards) or (Mod 2) 1550 m (1,695 yards)
Warhead: one 8OO-loloton re-entry
vehicle
Propulsion: liquid-propellant rocket
Guidance: stellar-inertral
missi/es capab le of hitting the
continental USA without ever having
to leave northern Soviet waters .
Such submarines are being builtfor
operations beneath andwithin the
polar ice regions of the northern
hemisphere.
missile
Dimensions:length I5,0 m(49,2 ft);
diameter2.0 m(6 ft6,7 in)
Iraunch weight: not known
Performance: range B30O kn (5, 160
miles); CEP betterthan 1400 m (1,530
yards)
Warhead:between sx and nine
MIRVs of unknown yield
Pfopulsion: so[d-propellant rocket
Guidance: stellar-inertial
?lre SS-/V- J 8 ts n ow the mainstay of
flre Sovr'ef SSBjV force with the
introduction into sewice of aversion
carry ing M ultiple I ndependent Re -
entry Vehicle warheads.
Specification
SS-N-I8
Type: submarinelaunched ballistic
missile
Dimensions: length 14, I m (46.3 ft);
diameter l.B m(5 ft 10.9 in)
Launchweight: 25000 kg (55, I l5 lb)
Performance: range (Mods I and 3)
6500 lcn (4,040 miles) or (Mod 2)
B0O0 icrn (4,970 miles); CEP (Mods I
and 3) I4I0 m (1,540 yards) or (Mod 2)
1550 m (1,695 yards)
Propulsion: liqurd-propellant rocket
Guidance: stellar-inertial
 The shield protecting both East and

SUbPrrtrol: Westfrom thehorrors of nuclear war is

to a large extent provided by the
subrnarine forces of tlze res pec tive

the silenf navie s o p e r af:ng SSBJVs. T o th e m e n

responsr'ble for maintaining that shield,
hawever, a ml'ssi/epa trol means
isolationandtedium.

1:.rrr -31

{55.5iV6S1 ,tr
rlach
alter
t*Esie
Sub Patrol
As the last lines are slipped, the small tug
pushes the great bulk of the SSBN towards the
centre of the Ciyde river and the run to the
open water beyond, where the SSBN will slip,
beneath the waves for a lonely two-month pat-
ro1. Ahead lies the usual cat-and-mouse game
with the Soviet rntelligence-gathering trawler
off Northern lreland, whose job it is to record
the boat's acoustic signature and to signal the
boat's course back to the Soviet navy head-
quarters near Moscow. The Soviets already
know she is due to come down the river by
studying the patrol cycies, but do not know the
actual date or time of departure, which are
obtarned by the resldent GRU (Soviet miiitary
intelligence) officers, who live along the banks
of the Ciyde wlth the sole task of monitoring the
movements to and from the British SSBN base
at Faslane and the American submarine tender
at Holy Loch,
With nuclear power for propulsion and con-
tinual regeneration of the atmosphere, the en-
durance of the vessel is limited oniy by food
storage capacity and the stamina of the crew.
To take full advantage of this, the Royal Navy
uses two alternating crews, each with its own
skipper and full complement ol officers and
eniisted men. One crew takes the boat on pat-
rol whilst the other remalns in the home port
undergoing refresher courses, taking leave or
inducting new crewmen into the routine of op-
erations.
The skipper of the crew on patrol takes the
Unlike its Sou.iet contemporary, the mo.nstrous 'Typhoon' class, the
'Ohio' class ofSSBIVisnot eguipped to operate through weakspofs
(known as polnyas) in the polar ice. I n Areas where the ice {orms
bergs, however, madern sonar equipment would enable a
submarine to shelter in the'shadow' of the ice.
SSBN on the surface down the river and once
clear of the mouth dives it to begin a complex
series of escape and evasion manoeuvres de-
signed to ouiwit and confuse the watching
Soviets in the trawler as to the direction taken.
If by chance the Soviets have a submarine
waiting to attempt to trail the SSBN, then the
SSBN will halt for the appropriate 'delousing'
operation by friendiy units. Once free of unwei-
cbme eyes ihe boat-commences the trip to the
patrol area fully submerged,
Where it actualiy goes, the route taken and
the final return date is only pnsqyn to the skip-
per, No messages are transrnitted during the
duration of the patrol, but the boat approaches
to within several hundred feet of the surface at
regular intewals to receive operational mes-
sages and short family messages at periodic
intervals vra the floating ELF antenna and VLF
towed communications buoy that it carries. As
the boat heads towards the designated patrol
area at transit speed, the crew settles into the
routine that will be followed for the entire
cruise. Within the patrol zone the speed is
reduced to only a few knots to reduce the
chances of detection, but the boat will be kept
within firing range of its targets ln the Sovlet
Union at all times. The main emphasrs of the
daily schedules is directed towards keeping
the 16 weapons in the missile tubes in the
ready-to-launch status. Alt i6 will be available
for around 95 per cent of the trme spent in the
patrol area, whilst 15 will be ready for over 99
per cent of the ttme. The crew are kept at a
constan[ state of alert by periodical missile-
flring drilis, but an actuai launch can only be
conducted when the appropriate codes have
been received for the firing panel and safety
locks have been simuitanedu'sly disarmed bit
the skipper and one of his officers.
Evasive action
Apart from being ready to fire at any trme,
the boat has also to be ready to take evasive
action if any strange surface or submarine craft
are detected in the viclnity. To do this the boat
carries the latest state-of-the-art passive sonar
systems rncludrng a jong-range retractable
towed array which is streamed astern at every
opportunity to allow monitoring of contacts out
to a radius of 160 km (100 mrles) or so around
the boat's position, If the SSBN ls detected,
which both the Royal Navy and the US Navy
have claimed has never been done by the
Soviets, self-defence acoustic-homing t6rpe-
does and powered decoys are carried in the
forward torpedo room ready for use against
any hostile intent. But these are to be used only
in the final resort as the SSBN's primary ds-
fence is the boat's stealth aspects. it is be6arise
of this secrecy about locatron that the sub-
marine sends no radio communications since
the Soviets have a very capable radio direc-
tion-finding network based on shore stations
and ferret satellites to watch out for just such
transmissrons
The increasing sophistication of modern A,SW and
SSBJVhunlrng f echniques me an that old-style
short-ranged missiles would force subm arines to
patrol dangerouswaters. The new generation of
Iong. rangg d missrTes en leringr sewice w ill enable
,SS8iVs lo opera te in evet morC:remote sectors in
greater safety.
,:*i"
r
..:lr
{
,. ,tl

Crewaccommodation
Internally the ballistrc missile submarines
are a lot biqger and roomier than other nuc-
Iear-powered submarines, The captain and the
flrst or executive officer usually have their own
cabins whilst the remaining officers share two-
or three-berth rooms. The petfy officers and
enlisted men all have individual bunks, and the
mdn mess is iarger than normal as lt also dou-
bles up as the recreation hall, movie theatre
and study area, Internal decoratron is chosen to
provide a pleasant working environment to
help offset the boredom that may be encoun-
lered on long patrols. The ship's cooks are
;rven more than enough food to cover the dura-
-,ion ol the patrol and they make sure that
the
neals served throughout the daily cycle are lo
a very high cuiinary standard; they have the
additional problem that the sailors eat in shifts
as a result of watchkeeping requirements, so
:rost types of meals have to be available at all
:mes. To reduce the possibility of boredom
:aient shows, games and concerts are also
.rranged.
Once the time arrives for the submariae to
:eiwn to base it picks up speed again for the
:ansit, and as lt starts the withdrawal the boat
avoids any possible sonar contacis byusing the
s.ame tactics as those employed a-gainsi the
Soviet trawler. The SSBN again adopG these as
,::e Clyde estuary is approached, and swlaces
modem missiles are'cold launched', ejected
!4ost
kom their missile tube by compressedgrasei, tfte
rocket motor igniting as theweapon reaches the
surface. AllWestern missiles have a solid
propellant, but many Soviet systems are liquid-
propelled.
near to the mouth only to make the run up the
river to the docks. The crew then spends a
couple ofdays or so handing over the boat to
the other crew lor the next patrol cycle. A few
days before departure tire iroat is iate; i;;;;
lor a short shakedown trip to see if the vessel
and the equipment aboard are seaworthy,
Vulnerability
The SSBN is at its most vulnerable when
sailing to or returning from a patrol, usually on
the final leg whllst on the surface within several
miles of rts base. In times of tension or war it will
be necessary to increase protection afforded
to the vessels at these pornts, especially against
mines and air attacks. Those SSBNs operatlng
from the Clyde are particularly open to attack
from the former as the Soviets would probably
iry numbers of its special ASW rising mines
and underwater electrical potential influence
mines on the continental shelf and continental
rrse j ust off the western isles of Scotland, astride
submarine transit routes that have been deter-
mr.ned by watching SSBN operations in peace-
time. The attrition of missile submarines-at such
points could then easily be passed off as unin-
tentional by-products of the conventional war
phase rather than a direct assault on the West's
strategic stnke forces with all that entails,
Ahhough the invulnerability ol the SSBN on
patroi is quite often quoted by Western naval
Modern Missile Stdcmarines
chrefs as one ol the major advantages c: s..::-_
forces, the years of painstakmg colltc:tc:. a:-:
collation by the Soviets of all intelligence :--
formation, hydrographic data ald prcce-=
targeting patterns of Western SLBMs cc , :
easily suggest the likeliest oceaaic areas :::
the location of patrol zones. In wartrnle :1es.
would therefore receive the apcrccr-a:=
Soviet attention up to and includrng ihe
of ICBMs. Nor does the Western =.:::::
vie'r:ake :::
consideration the introduction of r:ei,,' S:',-=:
ASW systems exemphfied by the rece:-: .:.:-
ing ol synthetic-aperture radars ,.',-'n-:: :-_
apparently detect submerged sub;ia::::es
down to severai hundreds of feet bei:','; :=
surface. This means that satellite-basel s;s-
tems and aircraft fitted with the rada: ;;:^:
have the ability to detect SSBNs as ire-,- :.:-,-::
near the surface to receive communlca.:::: _
the technlque actually works then the i::f ::::-
tion of the 'Ohio' class SSBN into patroi ar:;.
erien more remote from the Soviet hor=l--i
than before becomes of paramour'. lrr:p,:.-
ance, as does the introduction of the LiKs-:e-,';
deterrent force with the Trident I1 SLBM: :=
current status quo is to be maintarned.
In the past, the major deterrent effect of
underwater missilesyslems las been the relative
invulnerability of the submarine. Added to that i!1
the future willbe greatly increased accuracy,
especially in the case of Trident, which wil| enabie
submarine forces fo be assign ed to patticular
targets ofvalue instead of'trashing' cities or area
targets.
Sub Patrol

*p
:?.:::{r: ,*tt

";if#rliii
' ' ::ltlirffiiin'
.,,.&;€:!.*.'
_l
,a:. Above: Missile submarines rely on Below:Although much better off than
.ffr.i,p,., secrecy for their own protection, the c r ew m e n abo a r d conve ntional
/afesf sorars b eing us ed to ev ade submarrnes, those on long
any hos tile tactical confrontation. submergedSSB/V patrols can still
find life tedious.

maintenance on the missileswhilst in elow : The prim ary offensive station positions would have the awesome
Above : The immense size of the B

'Ohio' class can be gauged from this their tubes is performed here, as are aboard any SSBN is the missile fire responsibility of exercising the final
inter nal view of the C4 Trident I the continual checks to see if they are control panel. Should the option. and potentially causing
missile tube compartmenL Any still functional. unthinkable occur, themenin these destruction on an unparalleled sca/e.
 € fier,ja*in Franklin' and'Lafayette' class
Although actually two classes, the 12
'Benjamin Franklin' class and 19
'Lafayette' class submarines are very
similar in appearance. The main differ-
ence is that the former were built with
quieter machrnery outfits. All have
diesel-electric stand-by propulsion,
snod masts and an auxiliary propeller,
As built, the first eight 'Lafayettes'car-
ried 16 single 8O0-kiloton yield war-
head 2775-km (1,72S-mile) range
Polaris A2 SLBMs, the rest receiving
the Polaris aS fitleO with three 200--
hloton yield MRVs. Of the Polaris A2
boats four (SSBN620 and SSBN622-625)
,vete rearmed with the Polaris A3 dur-
rg refuelling overhauls in 1968-70, In
Augmst of the latter year SSBN627 be-
.ame the flrst of the Poseidon C3 SLBM
:onversrons, whilst between Septem-
ber 1978 and December 1982 12 units
'rere fMher. converted to carry and
Below: The last 12 units built to the
'Lalayette' S S BN des ign were
otficially des ignated the' Benj amin
Franklin' class because they were
completed with quieter propulsion
i,fcf.freed UGM-Z3A Poseidon
= C3 SIBM
3y 1964two follow-on designs to the
ielaris were under review. One sub-
-.equently evolved into the Jrockheed
UGM-73A Poseidon C3 SLBM which
:culd use the launch tubes of the ex-
j:ng fleet of SSBNs, Ultrmately 3l out
:: the oriqinal 41 SSBNs built were
::itted to carry the Poseidon, although
sme were later fitted to carry the Tri-
ient L The Poseidon C3 entered oper-
=:cnal sewice in 1970 after initial flight
:ss in 1968, The missrle introduced
:e concept of MIRVing to Amencan
fire the Tndent I C4 SITBM, A1131 units
serve with the Atlantic Fleet, several
being forward-deployed to a sub-
marine tender located at Holy Loch on
the Rrver Clyde in Scotland, Several
units with Poseidon missiles have been
reassigned to the theatre nuclear role
in support of NATO, Each American
SSBN rs assigned two crews desig-
nated Blue and Gold, one manmng the
vessel durlnq a 70-day patrol and help-
ing during the following 32-day minor
overhar:-l before the other crew takes
the vessel out on patrol, Every sx
years each boat undergoes a complete
overhaul and reactor refuelling that
lasts about 22-23 months, The indi
vtdual submarines that compnse the
two classes are the USS .Lafayette
(SSBN616), USS A]exander Hamilton
(SSBN617), USS Andrew Jackson
(SSBN619), USS John Adams
machinery. Of tftese resse/s, sixfiarze
been converted to carry tlteC4
Tidentl SLBM inplaceof thi.eC3
Poseidon.
SLBMs, Up to a maximum of ]4 Mk 3
independently targeted RVs (each
mth a yield of 40 kilotons) can be car-
ried over a ranqe of 4000 }cn (2,485
miles), but wrth the normal loading of
10 MIRVs the range is increased to
5200 km (3,230 miles), Penetration aids
to confuse defence systems are also
carried. The two-stage solid-
propellant missiles are targeted main-
Iy against soft milrtary and industrial
targets such as airfields, storaqe de-
pots, and above-ground command and
SSBNs
Modern Missile Submarines
(SSBN620). USS ,lames Monroe
(SSBN622), USS jVarfian I/a/e
(SSBN623), USS Woodrow Wilson
(qFBN624) IJSS Henry Ctay
(SSBN625), USS DanjeJ Webst6r
(SSBN626), USS /ames Madison
(S!BN627) USS ?eiumseh (SSBN62B),
USS DanjeJ Eoone (SSBN629) USS-
John C. Cathoun (SSBNffiO) USS U/ys-
ses .S. Granl (SSBN63I), USS Zon
.Steuben (SSBN632), USS Casmjr
Pulaski (SSBN633), USS Sloner,rralJ
J ackson (SSBN634), USS Sam.Rayburn
(SSBN635), USS jVatfianjel Greene
(SSBN636), USS Eenlamrn Franklin
(SSBN640), USS Sjmon Botivar
(SSBN641), USS Kamehameha
(SSBN642), USS George Banctoft
(SSBN643), USS .[ewjs and Ctark
(SSBN644). USS /ames K. Potk
(SSBN645), USS Georse C. Marshatl
(SSBN654), USS llenry L. Stimson
@;
AC3 PoseidonSLBM just after
Iaunch. One problem for an SSBN
commander is that he would preter
all hisSLBMs tobelaunched in one
go and not in several groups because
each firing points to his location.
control facrlities. A total of 6lg oper-
atronal missiles was bought, and 304 of
these plps their 3.040 associated war-
heads are still afloat on the remainmo
l9 Poseidon-equipped SSBNs. T\vo oi
three Poseidon vessels are always
assigned to the NATO hrgh command
for the theatre nuclear role in Europe
and the Mediteranean, The Poseidon
wtll evenluallv be replaced bv the Tri-
dent lI
(SSBN655) USS George Wa.s,hington
Carver (SSBN656), USS Frana.s Scofi
Key (SSBN657), USSMan'ano G. Izali,+.
(SSBN65B) and USS Will Rqiers
t'o
(SSBN659). Those from SSBN64]::-
wards are of the 'Benjamil Fra:i-:-
subclass.
Specification
'Lafayette' and tsenjamin Franl<lin'
glasses
Displacement: 7,250 tors sr::acec
8,250 tons dived
--:
Dimensions: length 129.5 m (423 I :.
beam i0, I m (33.0 ft); draugrr I 3 r
(31.5 ft)
Propulsion: one SSW pressr-r-ze:
water-cooled reactor powerirrg :ri:
stearn twbines drinng one shai
Speed:28 kts surfaced and 25 ks
dived
Divingdepth:350 m (1,150 ft)
operational and 465 m (1, 525 ft)
maxtmum
Armament: 16 launch fubes for :i
Trident I C4 (SSBNs 627, 629. 5-?: :i2-
634, 640, 641, 643, 655, 657anci 6c8l ::
for 16 Poseidon C3 (remainder)
submarine-launched balls[c rnir=-
and four 533-mm (2l-in) bovr t:bes :::
12 Mk 48 ASWantr-stlp torpedoes
Electronics: one BPS- i lA or BPS-:5
surface-search radar, one ESM
system, one BQR-7 sonar. one BQF.- -:
towed-array sonar, one BQR-:9 sc:=:
one BQR-2 I sonar, one BQS-4 sc:a:
and extensive communicators a:-c
navigatron systems
Complement: 140 (:Laiaytte') or i6E
('Benjamin Frankiin')
Left: The C4 Trident l-equipped
'B e nj am i n F r a nkfih' c/asi yeiseJ USS
Mariano G. Vallejo (SS8JV658).
Nowadays Amerrban SSB,lVs do not
carry identifying pennant numbrs
for security reasons.
I-ockheed UGM-73A Polaris C3 SIEM (continued)
Specification
PoseidonC3
Type: submarine-launched ballistic
::-ssile
Dimensions: lenqth i0,4 m (34' ] ft);
:=n:.eteri.9m(6ft2in)
l,aunchweight: 29030 kg (64,000 lb)
Performance: range 4000-5200 km
.2 1813,230 miles) dePending on the
::r:,ber of MIRVs carriedt CEP 553 m
: ^: ,---^-\
E '6nio' class SSBN
Desiqned in the early 1970s as the fol-
bw-on SSBN to the 'Benjamin Franklin'
ard 'Lafayette' classes, the lead ship of
:he 'Ohlo' class, the USS Oftio
|SSBN726) was contracted to the Elec-
tnc Boat Divisron ofthe General Dyna-
mics Corporation in July 1974, As the
result of an unfortunate series of prob-
lems both in Washington, DC, and at
rle shrpvard, the lead vessel did not
:-.rn hei frrst sea trials until June I9B1
and was not flnally commissioned untll
November of that Year, three Years
:i5
Warhead:between 10 and 14 MiRVs
each with a 4O-kiloton weapon
Propulsion: solid-propellant rocket
Guidance: inertral
Destined to become the mainstay of theAmerican SSBN fleet in the next
aeiide and after, the'Ohio'classwilleventually carry theDS Tridentll SLBM
thatwitl allow these submarjnes to operate in patol zones close to the
American coasts, wherc they can be protected more easily.
late. Since then further delays have
occurred in the Programme but the
rate of production is now beginningi to
get back on schedule.
Each submarine is expected to have
a l2-month reactor refuelling refit ev-
ery nine vears and will work a Patrol
petioa of?O days with the next 25 days
ipent alongside a tender or jetty
readyrng for the next patrol. Because
of their longer-range T?ident missiles,
the 'Ohio' class boats have patrol areas
rn the remoter parts of the world's
StiII in sewice aboard 19 'Lafayettel
Benj amin Frankln' class,S,SBJVS, ffi e
C 3 Poseidon can carry up to I 4
oceans, making effective Soviet ASW
measures agtainst them virtually im-
possible for the foreseeable future,
especially as the boats are acoustically
very quiet.
At present four 'Ohios are in com-
mission: the Ofiio, the USS Michigan
(SSBN727), the USS F/orjda (SSBN72B)
and the USS Georgja (SSBN729), Stx
more are bulldlng: the USS Henry M.
Jackson (SSBN730), USS Alabama
(SSBN731) USS AJaska (SSBN732)
USS iVevada (SSBN733) and hvo un-
relatively low-yield warheads to
attack inde pendent targets.
named boats, At least another 11 are
projected. The flrst eigrht are to be
based in the Pacific at Bangor,
Washingrton, whilst the remainder will
go to the Atlantic Fleet at Kings Bay,
Georgia, to replace Poseidon boats
From SSBN734 onwards the 'Ohios'wtll
carrv the Trident II missile in their 20
tauni:h tubes whilst the others will be
refltted at the first available opportun-
itv.
Specification
'Ohio'class
Displacement: i6, 764 tons surfaced
and lB,TS0tonsdived
Dimersions: length 170,7 m (560.0 ft);
beam 12,8 m(42,0 ft); drausht 10.8 m
(35.s ft)
Propulsion: one SBG pressurized
water-cooled natural-circulation
reactor powering a turbo-reduction
drive to one shaft
Speed: 20 kts surfaced and 24 I<Is
dived
Diving depth: 300 m (985 ft)
operational and 500 m (1,640 ft)
maxlmun
Armament: 24 launch tubes for 24
Trident I C4 submarinelaunched
ballistic mrssiles, and four 533-mm (21-
in) bow tubes for an unknown number
of tube-launched weapons
Electronics: one BPS- l5A surface-
searchradar, one WLR-B(V) ESM
system, one BQQ-6 sonar, one BQS-13
sonar, one BQS-15 sonar, one BQR-19
sonar, one BQR-23 towed-array sonar,
and extensive cornmunications and
navigation systems
Complement: 133
under w aY'
Tft e USS Ohio (SSBJV7Z 6 )
This class represents the latest in
American technologY, and is
designed to defeat all toreseeable
ASW threats that the Soviets are
known to possess or believed to be
capable of develoPing.
ffi hesolution' class SSBN
ern Mis s i-le Sr:bmarine s

AJthough constructed in the United Kingdom, the four'Resoiufion'classSSBlVs

have a considerable atnount of their internal syslems based on American
componen[s tfi at wete used in the'Lafayette' c]ass.

3ficially stated in February 1963 was

:.e British governments rntentron lc
::der four or five 'Resolution' class
fclaris missile-equipped 7,000-ici
:. :clear-powered submarrnes ::-::
r;ruld take over the nuclear deterl3:-:
::,e from the Royal Air For::s ',--
:cmber force from 1968 onwards T::
-jst lwo parrs of boats were orde:: j :.
l"iay i963 from Vickers Shipb',lc-::;
-:i. Barrow-in-Furness,.and Cari.r:-:-
-.ird & Co. Ltd, Birkenhead; the cp:::-
::- a fifth unit was cancelled in Fei:r:-
=:_,' 1965, With characteristics vel;
.::iar to the American 'Lalayenes :+
,:ad ship HMS ResoJutrbn (S22) '*.s
=::ched in September 1966 and co;:--
:--rsroned in October of the follo'n -r-g
:::rr. The second vessel, HMS rte
:ulse (S23), followed in September
-::8, with the third, HMS Renown
J:l), and fourth, HMS fievenge (S2l)
:':::rnissioning in November 1968 ali
-e:ember 1969 respectively, Early n
- :3 the Reso]ulron sarled to Florida ur
:: United States for missile launch
:-=,s, making the UK's flrst successfi:l
:':-:r1S launch on 15 February. Four
-::ths later she sailed on her first de-
'=::ent patrol, As in French and Amer-
,;::. SSBNs, two crews (Port and Star-
:,--d) are used to maxrmize the tLme
:;::lt at sea, each patrol lasting around
----:ee months. When not aboard the
--::-as take leave and undergro re-
r:sher traimng at the 10th Submanne Diving depth: 350 m ( 1, 150 ft) I{MSRevenge (S27).In 1983 she
Jq:adron base at Faslane on the operational and 465 m ( i.525 ft) becarne lft e se cond of B ritain's
l-'.-de. According to curent plans the maxlmum Polaris submarines to operate wlth
i':-als boats are to be replaced on a Armament: 16 launch tubes for 16 the upgraded Polaris A3TK
-:-:-for-one basis from 1994 onwards Polaris A3TK submarine{aunched Chevaline system designed to
:.- iour 'V' class Trident II missile- ballistic missiles, and sx 533-mm (21- pene tt ate S oviet AB M d ef e n ce s
:=:rying submannes, All four boats in) bow tubes for an unknown number aroundMoscow-
-.=-,'e recently undergone conversrons of tube-launched weapons
:-:ng normal overhauls to carry the Electronics: one Type 1003 surface-
:--als A-TK variant fitted with the search radar, one type 2001 bow one ESM suite, and an extei:--.'=
l:-evaline MRV warhead system, sonar,oneType200Tsonar,oneType communicatronsoutfit
2023retractabletowed-araysonar, Complement:135

ffi i,o"f.n"ed UGM -27C Polaris A3 SLBM

=
l;:w the sole user of the US-designed
Lockheed UGM-2?C Polaris A3 SLBM
:: Royal Navy has recently had its
= :ckprle of Polaris missiles re-
=:-gined so that it can contrnue as the
-lls nuclear deterent force, with a
:=ge of 4749km (2,950 mites). The
::--:ish buy.of the missile was, accord-
--,; to US Congressional records, 102
r-:n another 30 purchased later to
--=ke up atlrrlion. These were equip-
;ejjltwith three British-desiqned and
-: 2OO-kiloton yield MRVs for use
rlilst area targets such as cities and
: =elds: the effect of a single high-
'--:-d
warhead falls off rapidly with dis-
t:-:e from the point of impact, where-
as severai smaller-yield weapons
around the rarget perrneter cause sig-
ruficantly more damage, However, as a
resu-lt of Sonet developments in ABM
defences it was decided rn the early
1970s that countermeasures would
have to be bult into the Polaris system
The result was the Polaris A3TK Che-
vaiine protect. whrch had rts roots in a
cancelled US warhead proQlramme
called Antelope, Chevaline involves
the replacement of the 20O-kiloton
MRVs with three 60-kiloton weapons
hardened against EMP and fast radia-
tion, as well as the inodification of the
carier bus to present defendinq radar
systems wrth a confusrngly large num-
Now used only by the United
Kingdom, the PolarisAS SLBM is
undergoing a rocket-motor
r ep laceme nt progr amme.
ber of credible threats at the same
trme, wilh the result that the incoming
warhead picture is swamped,
Although not specifled, these mod-
rflcations are believed to include the
fitting of chaff penetration ards and the
possrble carriage ofdecoys that on re-
entry behave as real warheads do, The
flrst submarine to be retrofltted wrth
the new system was HMS Renoryn. As
each boat comes in for refuelling she is
converted to the new missrle system,
t ockheed UGM-2?C Polaris A3 SLBM (continued)

Dimensions: length 9,8 m (32,2 ft);

diameter 1.4 m (4 ft 6 in)
Launchweight: 15876 kg (35,000 lb)
Performance: range 4748 km (2,950
miles); CEP 930 m ( 1,017 yards)
Warhead: three 60-kiloton yield MRVs
plus an unknown number ofdecoYs
Specification and chalf penetration alds
Polaris A3TK
ipping the ?' cJass subma rines of the R oy al N avy, the
E qu P ola r is A 3 is the las t Propulsion: solid-propellant rocket
Tlpe: submarine-launched ballistic Guidance: inertral
missile moabi ot ine pioneering SLBM to remain operational.

E i,octfreed UGM-96A Trident I C4 SIBM

The purpose of the tockheed UGM-
96A Trident I C4 missile development
proetramme was essentiallY to in-
brease the range of American SLBMs
to allow the use of largrer and remoter
patrol areas. A three-stage solid-
propellant missile, the Trident I was
fllght tested in 1977. becominq oper-
ational two years later aboard the
SSBN conversions of the 'Benjamin
Franklin' and 'Lafayette' classes, The
hrst two stages of the missile are
essentially the same as those fitted to
the earlier Poseidon C3 SLBM, but the
third stage is frtted wlth stellar-inertial
gnldance to give the required accura-
cv over the lonqer range. The first
eiqht 'Ohio' class SSBNs are being
itted to carry the Trident 1, but these
llril eventually be retrofltted to carry
:he yet longrer-ranged Tndent Ii in the
early t99Os. Rapid onboard targetlng
:o another pre-Planned target co-
crdhates package ls possible, but a far
lengrthier operation is required if the
system has to be fed new target co-
:idinates from an external source ,{s
ncreased range was considered to be
=ore important than accuracY im-
-lrovement, a CEP comParable with
'nat of the Poseidon was accepted, The
-:se of higher-yield warheads, howev-
er allows more hardened military and
rdustrial targets to be engaged on a
satrsfactory basis than was possible
-,",iih the earlier missile, and as such it is
believed that one Trident-equipped
submarine will have its re-entry vehi-
:les assigned to NATO for use in the
ireatre nuclear role, A total of 740 mis-
siles is to be procured, with eight
llIRVs per mtssile. Eventually, in the
::ext century, the American SSBN force
'rd be a mix only of 'Ohio' class boats
r.rth Trident II missiles, Fitted to I 2 of the 'LafaYettel
Launch weight: 3 175] kq (70 000 lb) At enormous cost, the Trident
Performance: range 6808 km (4,230 programme will Brovide the Benjamin FrankJrn' cJass SSBNs and
Specification the new'Ohios'. the Trident I
TridentIC4 mrles); CEP 549 m (600 Yards) seaborne element of the US strategic C4

Type: submarine-launched ballistic
nlssile
Dimensions:length i0.4 m (34,1 ft);
iiameter 1.9 m (6 ft 2.8 in)
Warhead: erqht MIRVs each with a
100-kiloton weapon
Propulsion: solid-propellant rocket
Guidance: stellar-inertial
deterrent for the foreseeable future. SLBM proves the nearestAmerican
Trident I employs the 7400 - km equivalent to the long-range Soviet
(4,600 -mile) ranged C 4 missile, which SLBM s but with m ore accur ate
will eventually be replaced by the D5. payloads of MRV w arhe ads.

: i,f"r.need Trident II D5 SIBM

fne lockheed Trident II D5 is the re-
s,:J1 cf an improved accwacy progrram-
i:e ior American SLBMs begun in Fis-
::i Year 1975, Scheduled for oPer-
::-::a1 deploYment on 'Ohio' class
SS3\s ftom the ninth vessel onwards
'- l--cember 1989, the Trldent il will
:e =.re accurate and have the abllity
:: =:ry a gneater number of largrer-
,r:ld warheads than its predecessor,
-:e Trident 1. The accuracy will be
s,.i.crent to make feasible the target-
-::: of Sonet hardened underground
::::ssrle srlos and command bunkers,
,:= will be the first time ever
that
-:-::e:rcan sea-based strateqlc forces
rmll have had the capabrlity to attack
any Soviet tarqet type. In additton to
thd Trident II the programme is aimed
at increasing the number of warhead
vehicles available to something like
the total at the height of the Poseidon
programme, but with gneater meqa-
ionnage to match Sovtet increases A
minimum of 857 missiles will be pro-
cured for the 20 or more 'Ohio' class
submarines.
A further batch of around 100 (to be
sewiced in the USA) wrll be procured
by the UK, as in 1982 it was decided
th-at thls missrle would be adopted for
the new 'V' class submarines that are to
replace the Polaris boats in the mid-
1990s. The Brttrsh missiles will differ in
that they will carry only eight lower-
yield MIRVs desigmed and built by the
Atomic Weapons Research Establish-
ment and Royal Ordnance Factortes,
Thrs lower number of ltqhter warheads
will allow the missiles to be fired over
even longer ranges than the US ver-
stons.
Specification
Trident II DS
Type: submarrne-launched balltstic
missile
Dimensions:length 13,96 m (45.8 ft);
diameter i.89 m (6 ft 2,4 in)
Launch weight: 57 I53 kg (I26,000 lb)
Performance: range 74OO-1 I 100 km
(4,600-6,900 miles) depending on
numberof MIRVscarriedl CEP92,5 m
(101 yards)
Warhead: between eight and 14
MIRVs each with a 375-kiloton weapon
Propulsion: solid-propellant rocket
Guidance: stellar-inertial

,:+:
 Armed Forces of the World

Brifish Arrng
Army Air Corps
Par4

Tne Army Air Corps has frve main roles, namely

rbservation and reconnaissance. armed action in
:ne anti-tank role, direction of artillery f ire, command
:nd control for land-based unlts, and movement of
men and material (to a limited degree only).
To carry out these duties within BAOB the Army
+ r Corps is organized into army aviation reglments.
:ach of these regiments (thereare basicallythree) is
33rt of an armoured division establishment, and ,t
::mes directly under the control of the armoured
: vrsron headquarters. Each regiment has two
squadrons, one equipped with Westland Lynx heli-
sopters and the other with 46rospatiale Gazelles.
The Lynx squadron has a basis of 1 2 helicopters,
but this might vary in some squadrons. The Lynx is
charged with the anti-tank role and s equipped with
up tc eight TOW anti-tank guided m ss les TOW is
an American wire-guided m ssile with a maxtmum
range of 3750 m (4,100 yards) and weighing approx- tant liaison role and ls frequently used by senior The shape of AAC equipment in the fu tu r e ? T r. :s
rmately 24 kg (52.9 lb). This makes the TOW a very commanders as a mobile command post. One Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander has recentl'/ be.er
powerful anti-tank weapon and the [ynxrTOW com- squadron of Gazelles rs deployed at I (BR) Corps disflayed under the acronym CASTOR {Corps
bination is regarded as among the best ant-tank level for just this role. The Gazelle is also widely Airborne Stand-off Radar) inan attempt to meei
weapon systems in use in NATO The Lynx helicop- used at all levels for general reconnaissance. the army's battlefield reconnaissance
ter crews have developed spec al ant -tank tactrcs The Lynx can carry a crew of two and up to 1O requirements.
and frequently train with their equiva ents from soldiers, although it is not intended that it will often This Westland Lynx AH.Mk I sports a full
other NATO nations. be used for the trooo-carrying role, a LasK lnder- complement of eight Hughes TOW ATG M s. Ar,
The Gazelle's main combat use is artillery taken for the army by the Royal Arr Force. The Lynx additional six to eight missiles can be carrieC :r.
observation and spotting, but it also has an impor- is a fairly large helicopter with a f uselage length of the cahinfor re-arming and awide range of ot:e:
weapons is available.

s
t"*ry.'
li..
t:ru

l*
 .Urltlsn
.SE zilrs
Army
Armed Forces of the World

1i.665 m (38.27 tl). but it is fast and manoeuvrable.
in the anti-tank role Lynx helicopters normally oper-
aie in pairs.
ln contrast Gazelles tend to operate individually.
Apart from the pilot the Gazelle can accommodate
cniyfour passengers, and no armament is carried. ln
olace of the seating special equipment such as
r,ght-vision deviQes can be carried, and it is possible
io use the Gazelle as a flying ambulance.
ln the United Kingdom some army aviation squad-
rons continue to use the Westland Scout helicopter,
and the one army aviation squadron to be formed in
'lne Territorial Army will also use the Scout. The
Scout is a sturdy multi-purpose helicopter that at
cne time used the AS.1 1 wire-gulded misslle for the
anti-tank role, but this has now been assumed by
tne LynxiTOW combination. At various times
-achineguns have been fitted to the Scout, either
on over-skid mountings or on pintles to be f ired f rom
:.e main cabin.
The only other helicopter used operationally by
tne Army Air Corps is the A6rospatiale Alouette
AH.Mk 2. This is now used in small numbers only
A busy scene at the Army Air Corps base, Middle
Wal|op, as three Gazelle AH.Mkl s prepare for
operations. The nearest machine, XW885/8, is
operated by the Advanced Rotary Wing School
(ARWS), as indicated by the Dav-Glo patches,
while the two in the background are from BAOR'
British Army order of battle
29 headquarters units
12 armoured regiments
7 armoured reconnaissance regiments
53 infantry battalions (including 6 Ghurka ba.ttalions)
3 parachute battalions (only 2 in para role)
1 Special Air Service regirnent
1 missile regiment (Lance)
3 air defence regiments (RaPier).
i7 artillery regiments
1 locating regiment
4 independent anti-tank units
10 engineer regiments
1 armoured engineer regiment
1 amphibious engineer regiment
1 independent engineer squadron
The equipment of the modern British infantryman-:
on the telt, the GPMG on a tripod tor the sustained
firerole;on theright, aCarIGustavRR and aLAW.
The soldier himself sports the new pattern helmet
and carries the Enfield 5.56-mm Individual
weapon.
Territorial Army order of battle
2 infantry brigades
5 armoured reconnaissance regiments
35 infantry battallons
2 $pecial Air Service regiments
2 field artillery regiments (Light Gun)
3 light air defence regiments (Blowpipe)
7 engineer regiments
'1 army aviation squadron
11 battalions Ulster Defence Regiment
A true workhorse during the Falklands war, and
carrently replacing the Lynx in the garrison Army
Air squadron, the Westland Scout AH.Mk I is seen
here transporting troops during the conflict. Note
the stabilized optical tracking sight above the
cockpit for use with the Nord AS I I air-to'surtace
.

,about eight all told) for liaison and the carriage of 4 army aviation regiments missrJes.
r"'lPs, but most of the Alouettes are based in Cyprus
'cr use with the UNIFCYP forces.
The Army Air Corps uses only one type of fixed-
ir'ng aircraft for operations, and that is the vener-
abie de Havilland Canada Beaver AL.Mk 1. This is
:sed for a variety of purposes that range from small-
scaie supply dropping to general communications.
iney can be used for photographic reconnaissance
and casualty evacuation, and have been fitted with
c':dspeakers for 'voice from the sky' purposes.
-,rere is no def inlte establishment for the Beaver as
tney are deployed as and wlren required. About
egnt are left in service, some of them in Northern
.etand and at least one at the BATUS training area in
Canada.
Middle Wallop in Hampshire is the main base for
:re Army Air Corps and also acts as the corps'
--.a', ng base. For flying training de Havilland Chip-
- -i-.< T.Mk 10s are used for basic training, followed
lr Bell 47Js for basic helicopter training; these Bell
-17Js are operated under contract with a civilian
crganization. For advanced training Lynxes and
3azelles are used.
The Army Air Corps operates about eight Beav-
els, about 20 Chipmunks. about 40 $couts, elght
Atouettes. 155 Gazelles and approximately B0
-!nxes, not all of which are fitted for TOW.