[montomike]

I remember when I saw the OHIO in drydock in Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton in 1979. Wow! I had no idea that a sub could be so big. I was precom on the USS Boston (now razorblades thanks to Billy the Perv).

Its the end of the world if they shoot off all 24 missiles. They are not Katushas filled with ball bearings.

[Phsstpok]

I saw an SSBN tied up at a pier at Port Canveral as we pulled out on a cruise a couple of years ago. They test launch missiles at the KSC range.

From what I understand from the web site I linked to the Ohio is currently undergoing conversion from SSBN (Trident II Missiles) to SSGN (cruise missiles and special ops missions). The USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia are also either already converted or going to be by next year.

All of our warships are impressive beasts.  But there's something eerily majestic about the Ohios.  They are so big and so quiet.  I'd really love to see a real Typhoon, though.  It's even bigger.  In fact, from what I have read, the Typhoon is bigger than the aircraft carriers in WW2 (48,000 tons vs 30,000 tons).