Biggest U.S Submarine Ever Built

The Ohio class of nuclear-powered submarines, including 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and the 4 cruise missile submarines (SSGNs), are the biggest submarines of the U.S. Navy. The lead vessel of the class is USS Ohio (SSBN-726).

Every SSBN sub has 20 Trident II ballistic missiles, and each SSGN can carry 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, along with Harpoon missiles fired through its torpedo tubes.

The submarines are 170 m long and 13 m wide with a 10.8 m draft. They can attain a speed of 12 knots when on the surface and 20 knots when they are submerged. Each submarine displaces 18,750 tonnes when submerged and can carry 24 Trident II missiles.

They are the 3rd largest subs ever constructed, behind Russia’s Typhoon Class and the Borei Class.

These subs together carry around half of U.S. active thermonuclear warheads. All the Ohio-Class Submarines, apart from USS Henry M. Jackson are named after the U.S. States.

Additionally, this class of subs has enhanced stealth capabilities than their counterparts, being virtually undetectable in their 1982 sea trials, giving an edge to the U.S. Navy.

The subs can operate for 15 years between major overhauls. The Columbia-class submarines which will enter service in 2031, will overtake the Ohio-Class as the largest U.S. Submarines, with the lead vessel, USS District of Columbia, displacing around 20,810 tonnes.

Special Features of Biggest U.S Submarines

They were made for strategic deterrent patrols and every submarine was assigned 2 rows, the Blue Row and Gold Crew, each serving 70 to 90-day deterrent patrols.

The subs have logistics hatches installed to offer resupply and repairs, decreasing the time in port for replenishment. The hatches enable the transfer of supply pallets, equipment replacement modules and machinery parts.

The subs were built from sections of hull, manufactured at the facility of General Dynamics Electric Boat in Rhode Island and then assembled at its shipyard in Connecticut.

Brief History

The Ohio Class was designed in the 1970s to carry the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile. The first 8 subs had 24 Trident I C4 SLBMs. Starting with the 9th Trident submarine, the Tennessee, the remaining ones were equipped with the bigger, 3-stage Trident II D5 missile.

Beginning with Alaska in 2000, the U.S. Navy began to convert the remaining ballistic missile submarines with C4 missiles to carry D5 missiles, a task which ended in 2008.

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