the
boats [18 built] Was
8 C-4's (Pacific) and 10 D-5's (Atlantic), but now the C-4's have been converted.
Four went to the
D-5 configuration, and the other four serve other special missions as SSGN's
(1)
(2) (3)
(4) --
technology demonstrators to deploy SEALs, fire Tomahawks, and other such
systems to have been incorporated into batch 2 of the Virginia-class NSSN's [see
lower section].
Upon completion of the four C-4 boat conversions to the D-5 configuration,
the new total of 14 D-5 SSBN's were redistributed between the two oceans (most likely 7 x
7). |
submarine
evolution to the Ohio
|
Ohio
cutaway
|
Ohio
missile launch cartoon
|
stealthy
Ohio props probably look similar to this Sturgeon-class prop...
|
|
...Uh-oh:
looks like Microsoft Virtual Earth disclosed the Ohio prop design
inadvertently in August 2007, while in drydock at Bangor WA:
(source)
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
under
construction
|
under
construction
|
under
construction
|
the
launch of SSBN 728
|
|
driving
something big
|
driving
something big
|
damn
that's a big boat
|
you
on the boat
|
returning
home
|
them
tiny guys is da crew
|
driving
something big
|
not
desirable duty
|
enlarged
pic, crew on boat, #1...
|
...
#2.
|
in
Seattle: on Puget Sound...
...and
Hood's Canal.
|
through
Hood's Canal Bridge, WA, on the way to Bangor
|
loading
torpedoes
|
loading
torpedoes
|
torpedo
tube inspection
|
special
missions: SEALs deploy underwater
|
accident
training: flooding
|
accident
training: fire, crew at stations
|
are
these things big or what?
|
text
information...
THE NEXT GENERATION BOOMER:
SSBN(X) |
|
missile
tubes (24 per boat) |
missile
tubes open, empty
|
missile
tubes open, full
|
missile
tubes open, close-up
|
missile
tubes open, under way
|
|
the
missiles (SLBMs): Trident I C-4 (UGM-96) and Trident II D-5 (UGM-133)
[Tridents
carry ~1/2 of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, by number of warheads; more
info, C-4... more
info, D-5...] |
C-4
exploded view
|
C-4
flight profile
(Note: actual
C-4 range is 4000 nm, not the 2500 nm stated here -- that was the range
for the C-3 Poseidon; D-5 range is 4000-6000 nm)
|
C-4
to D-5 comparison
|
D-5
exploded view
|
The
D-5 and C-4 side by side
|
how
the aerospike works
|
ground
handling / testing
|
loading
a C-4 at port (Bangor, WA)
|
loading
a C-4 at sea
|
loading
a C-4 at sea
|
a
way-too-detailed installation drawing of a Trident II missile loaded in an Ohio silo:
small
(205 kB), big (1.11
MB)
(government
auditor, I found this in the public domain at http://www.fortunepaint.com/trident_line_art.htm
on January 14, 2002; see WHOIS info below for them)
Registrar: MELBOURNE IT, LTD. D/B/A INTERNET NAMES
WORLDWIDE; Organization: Fortune Painting; Address: 4170 Golf Drive _ San Jose, 95127 CA UNITED STATES; Admin contact: Robert Fortune; E-mail: aerocon@FORTUNEPAINT.COM,
bob@fortunenet.com; Phone: 408 2727001; Tech contact: VERIO VERIO; E-mail:
hostmaster@VERIO-HOSTING.COM; Phone: 888 6636648; Nameservers: ns1.best.com,
ns2.best.com,
ns3.best.com
|
0:
T
= 0
|
1:
dome
penetration
|
2:
underwater
ascent
|
3:
coast
to apogee, fire
|
Launch
sequences 0 thru 3 (Windows WMV movie, 1.2 MB)
|
powered
flight begins
|
A dual Trident underwater launch
(MPEG movie, 4.0 MB)
|
oops!
a really bad launch on initial D-5 testing
|
MIRVs hitting targets
|
the
evolution of Fleet Ballistic Missiles
|
missiles-in-boat-silos
evolution, A-1 to D-5
|
Trident:
the big picture (seen
with all other nuclear missile programs) |
START
compliance has implemented Trident de-rating (fewer warheads per
missile)
|
|
|
|
|
the
Re-Entry Vehicles / Bodies & Warheads: W76 and Mk-4 [3200 in
inventory, 100 kiloton yield ea.], or W88 and Mk-5 [400 built,
475 kiloton yield ea.]
|
|
the operation of
a modern nuclear warhead & RV
(W87 Peacekeeper
MX ICBM shown)
|
warheads in the
vehicle assembly process
(W87 Peacekeeper MX
ICBM shown)
|
W76 neutron
generators being dessicated in support of today's W76 upgrade program to
near-W88 lethality
|
the MC2912 arming,
fuzing, and firing system for the W76 & Mk-4
|
a
single W76 or
W88 in action
(eight W76's
per missile or five* W88's per missile [*could carry 8 but...])
|
the W88 &
Mk-5 package
|
*Why W88 production was halted at 400 units instead of
4,000 - 5,000 units
(1)
(2)...
How the W76's
are being upgraded to W88 lethality against hardened targets
|
Next-generation warheads beyond W76 & W88 for Trident
missiles
(1) (2)
(3) (complaints
about)
Nuclear arsenals of the world, by country
Nuclear
weapons FAQ's |
|
a
500 kiloton nuclear explosion (Ivy KING air-drop Super-Oralloy all-fission bomb)
(Quicktime Movie, 3.0 MB) |
|
|
|
