SSGN is the United States Navyhull classification symbol for a cruise missilesubmarine. The SS denotes a submarine, the G denotes "guided missile," and the N denotes nuclear power. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The United States Navy uses hull classification symbols to identify the types of its ships. ... A Tomahawk cruise missile A cruise missile is a guided missile which uses a lifting wing and most often a jet propulsion system to allow sustained flight. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... A guided missile is a military rocket that can be directed in flight to change its flight path. ...
The US Navy is modifiying surplus Ohio classTrident submarines to SSGN configuration. This is achieved by the installation of vertical launch systems (VLS). If the maximum of 154 Tomahawk missiles were loaded, one Ohio-class SSGN would carry an entire Battle Group's equivalent of cruise missiles. The United States has 18 Ohio class submarines: 14 nuclear-powered SSBNs, each armed with 24 Trident II SLBMs; they are also known as Trident submarines, and provide the sea-based leg of the triad of the United States strategic deterrent forces 4 nuclear-powered SSGNs, each armed with 154... Ohio-class submarine launches Trident ICBMs (US Navy graphic) The Trident missile is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which is armed with nuclear warheads and is launched from submarines (SSBNs), making it a SLBM. The Trident was built in two variants: the I (C4) UGM-93A and II (D5) UGM... The VLS cells on board USS San Jacinto. ... A Tomahawk cruise missile The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile with stubby wings. ...
The first SSGN in the USN was the USS Halibut (SSGN-587). USS Halibut (SSGN/SSN-587), a unique guided missile submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the halibut, a large species of flatfish found on both sides of the Atlantic. ...
USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the Navy's first modern guided-missilesubmarine, took a significant step towards rejoining the fleet Dec. 19, when it arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., with a broom atop its sail to signify its clean sweep of the ship's initial sea trials.
Further, SSGNs will be able to carry two Advanced SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) Delivery Systems, two Dry deck Shelters, or one of each using the lock-in/lock-out chambers as their docking sites.
SSGN embodies a new level of adaptable warfare that is suited for today's security environment.