Free Republic

As noted earlier on www.navlog.org, the US Navy is converting four Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to cruise missile subs (SSGNs) with the dual duty of launching and supporting special warfare operations. Toward that end, in late January, the Navy held “Giant Shadow,” an exercise off the Bahamas’ Berry Islands to test this concept. Tested was an integral part of these boats’ new mission: launching and employing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs). “Giant Shadow” tested how the SSGN, special warfare forces, UUVs, UAVs, and various sensors could provide ISR support to generate a course of action...