Cruise missile sub

The Washington Times ^ | December 21, 2007 | Bill Gertz

[george76]

The Navy this month completed its fourth conversion of a U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine into an extremely powerful, conventionally armed cruise missile launcher and covert transporter of U.S. special operations force.

The last converted missile sub the USS Georgia is now being readied for deployment around the world at its home port of Kings Bay, Ga., said skipper, Cmdr. Rodney E. Hutton.

The conversion of the nuclear missile submarines into Tomahawk-firing submarines is one element of a new Pentagon strategy of building up forces to be ready to counter any emerging threat from China.

Cmdr. Hutton said the Georgia will operate in the Pacific, as well as other oceans and can swap out its entire crew at Guam, a major strategic U.S. military hub in the Pacific.

In a telephone interview from the submarine, Cmdr. Hutton said the new Tomahawk submarines are "extraordinary force multipliers." Two of the submarines, each equipped with 154 long-range cruise missiles, can provide the same firepower as all the Tomahawk-firing ships in the 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom, as the Iraq invasion is called.

"I see the SSGN becoming one of premier platforms for any conflict today or in the future," said Cmdr. Hutton, using the Navy's term for nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines.

[george76]

fourth conversion of a U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine

[Oatka]

So what happens when the Chinese knock out the GPS satellies. What is the backup navigation for these missles?

[bill1952]

Not sure at all how I feel about this.

Of all of the elements of our TRIAD, the subs are by far the most important.

But I don’t have current numbers.

[RightWhale]

What is the backup navigation for these missles?

One who misspells missile has no need to know.

[bill1952]

Whatever it is would have to be damn accurate, given the warhead.

[george76]

If this is the reason : counter any emerging threat from China ?

Not sure.

If the Chinese take out our satellites, then we all have big problems.

[RightWhale]

Anybody who has need to know knows. Anybody who doesn’t know doesn’t have need to know.

[george76]

Thanks.

Anybody who has need to know knows...

[Dr.Zoidberg]

What is the backup navigation for these missles?

Ultra accurate gyroscopes combined with terrain following radar and a power computer.

It might not be able to circumcise a gnat, but I'd wager when they are through, there won't be any foreskin left on said gnat.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Anybody who has need to know knows...

Anybody who has no need to know, doesn't know and wants to know is nosey.

[EternalVigilance]

Wow. One sub could put a cruise missile through the bedroom window of 154 mullahs all at once. Sweet.

[RightWhale]

Gyrodrift is the problem with inertial guidance. Still, ICBMs can now drop their warheads in a trashcan halfway around the world using only inertial guidance, so GPS might or might not be important. Probably not.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks george76.

[Cvengr]

It's all about target lists, baby.

[EternalVigilance]

It’s the perfect way to say “who loves ya, baby”

[AFreeBird]

So what happens when the Chinese knock out the GPS satellies. What is the backup navigation for these missles?

One word: CLASSIFIED!

[george76]

Speaking about ...nosey.

[Kevmo]

Cool, more chances for some real military work.

bmflr

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According to Intrade, the winner of the December 12th GOP debate was... Duncan Hunter.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938773/posts

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I think at least the AF recently conducted a test bombing run using different aiming methods than GPS.

I wonder if these submarines could launch long range UAVs that could perform several tasks. They would probably have to be expendable.