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Ballistic missile submarine

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Type 094
Arihantclass
Borei class
Ohioclass
Triomphantclass
Vanguardclass

Aballistic missile submarineis asubmarinecapable of deployingsubmarine-launched ballistic missiles(SLBMs) withnuclear warheads.These submarines became a major weapon system in theCold Warbecause of theirnuclear deterrencecapability. They can fire missiles thousands of kilometers from their targets, andacoustic quietingmakes them difficult to detect (seeacoustic signature), thus making them a survivable deterrent in the event of afirst strikeand a key element of themutual assured destructionpolicy of nuclear deterrence. The deployment of ballistic missile submarines is dominated by theUnited StatesandRussia(following the collapse of theSoviet Union). Smaller numbers are in service withFrance,theUnited Kingdom,ChinaandIndia;North Koreais also suspected to have an experimental submarine that is diesel-electric powered.[1][2]

Ballistic missile submarines should be distinguished from so-callednuclear submarines,which does not refer to a submarine carrying nuclear weapons, but instead refers to submarines with anuclear propulsion engine.

History

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The first sea-based missile deterrent forces were a small number of conventionally poweredcruise missile submarinesand surface ships fielded by the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s, deploying theRegulus I missileand the SovietP-5 Pyatyorka(also known by itsNATO reporting nameSS-N-3 Shaddock), both land attackcruise missilesthat could belaunched from surfaced submarines.Although these forces served until 1964 and (on the Soviet side) were augmented by the nuclear-poweredProject 659(Echo I class) cruise-missile submarines, they were rapidly eclipsed by SLBMs carried by nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines beginning in 1960.[3]

Ballistic missile submarine origins

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USSGeorge Washington– the lead boat ofUS Navy's first class of Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines.George Washingtonwas the first operational nuclear-powered multi-missilestrategic deterrenceasset fielded by any navy.

Imperial Japanese NavyI-400-class submarinesare considered the strategic predecessors to today's ballistic submarines, especially to the Regulus missile program, which began about a decade after World War II.[4]

During World War II, German researchers developed theA4(V2), the first ballistic missile. Toward the end of the war, a V2 version was developed at thePeenemünde Army Research Stationto be towed in a launch container behind a submarine. Each submarine was to tow up to three of these 36-meter containers, manned by ten soldiers, through theNorth Sea.OffEngland,the container would have been brought to the surface and the missiles fired. Prototypes were already being tested on theBaltic coastbefore the project had to be abandoned in 1945 with the evacuation ofPeenemünde.Three containers were already under construction at that time. The commander of the Army Experimental Station,Walter Dornberger,described the project as "not unpromising".[5]

The first nation to field ballistic missile submarines was the Soviet Union, whose first experimental vessel was a convertedProject 611(Zulu IV class) diesel-powered submarine equipped with a single ballistic missile launch tube in its sail. This submarine launched the world's first SLBM, anR-11FM(SS-N-1 Scud-A, naval modification of SS-1Scud) on 16 September 1955.[6]

Five additional Project V611 and AV611 (Zulu V class) boats became the world's first operational ballistic submarines with two R-11FM missiles each, entering service in 1956–57.[7]They were followed by a series of 23 specifically designedProject 629(Golf class) boats, completed 1958–1962, with three vertical launch tubes incorporated in the sail/fin of each submarine.[8]The initialR-13(SS-N-4) ballistic missiles could only be launched with the submarine on the surface and the missile raised to the top of the launch tube, but were followed byR-21(SS-N-5) missiles beginning in 1963, which were launched with the submarine submerged.

SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia,in silver and gold, awarded by the US Navy to sailors who completed at least one SSBN patrol.

The world's first operational nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine wasUSSGeorge Washington(SSBN-598)with 16Polaris A-1missiles, which entered service in December 1959 and conducted the first SSBN deterrent patrol November 1960 – January 1961. [9](TheUnited States Navy'shull classification symbolsfor nuclear ballistic missile submarines areSSBN– theSSdenotes submarine, theBdenotesballistic missile,and theNdenotes that the submarine isnuclear powered.[10]) The Polaris missile and the first US SSBNs were developed by a Special Project office under Rear AdmiralW. F. "Red" Raborn,appointed byChief of Naval OperationsAdmiralArleigh Burke.George Washingtonwas redesigned and rebuilt early in construction from aSkipjack-classfast attack submarine, USSScorpion,with a 130 ft (40 m) missile compartment welded into the middle. Nuclear power was a crucial advance, allowing a ballistic missile submarine to remain undetected at sea by remaining submerged or occasionally atperiscopedepth (50 to 55 ft (15 to 17 m)) for an entire patrol.

A significant difference between US and Soviet SLBMs was the fuel type; all US SLBMs have been solid fueled while all Soviet SLBMs before 1980 were liquid fueled. The USSR and subsequently Russia deployed three different SLBM types with solid fuel (R-31in 1980,R-39 Rifin 1983, andRSM-56 Bulavain 2018). However, these did not replace liquid-fueled SLBMs in service, and new liquid-fueled SLBMs were developed and introduced (R-29RMintroduced in 1986,R-29RMUintroduced in 2007) after deployment of the R-31 and R-39.

With more missiles on one US SSBN than on five Golf-class boats, the Soviets rapidly fell behind in sea-based deterrent capability. The Soviets were only a year behind the US with their first nuclear powered ballistic missile boat, theill-fatedK-19ofProject 658(Hotel class), commissioned in November 1960. However, this class carried the same three-missile armament as the Golfs. The first Soviet nuclear submarine with 16 missiles was theProject 667A(Yankee class), the first of which entered service in 1967, by which time the US had already commissioned 41 SSBNs, nicknamed the "41 for Freedom".[11][12]

The United Kingdom's first nuclear ballistic missile submarine was theResolution-classof four submarines built for theRoyal Navyas part of theUK Polaris programme.The first to be completed wasResolution,laid down in February 1964 and launched in September 1966. After commissioning in 1967, a period of sea trials followed, culminating in the test firing of a Polaris missile from theUSAF Eastern Test RangeoffCape Kennedyin February 1968.Resolutioncommenced her first operational patrol in June 1968.

Deployment and further development

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The short range of the early SLBMs dictated basing and deployment locations. By the late 1960s theUGM-27 Polaris A-3missile was deployed on all US and UK ballistic missile submarines. Its range of 4,600 kilometres (2,500 nmi) was a great improvement on the 1,900-kilometre (1,000 nmi) range of Polaris A-1. The A-3 also had three warheads that landed in a pattern around a single target.[13][14]The Yankee class was initially equipped with theR-27 Zyb(SS-N-6) missile with a range of 2,400 kilometres (1,300 nmi).

The US was much more fortunate in its basing arrangements than the Soviets. Thanks toNATOand the US possession ofGuam,US SSBNs were permanently forward deployed at Advanced Refit Sites inHoly Loch,ScotlandandRota, SpainforAtlanticandMediterraneanareas, and Guam for thePacificareas, by the middle 1960s resulting in short transit times to patrol areas near the Soviet Union. With two rotating crews per SSBN, about one-third of the total US force could be in a patrol area at any time. The Soviet bases, in theMurmanskarea for the Atlantic and thePetropavlovsk-Kamchatskyarea for the Pacific, required their submarines to make a long transit through NATO-monitored waters in the Atlantic to their mid-ocean patrol areas to hold theContinental United States(CONUS) at risk.

That resulted in only a small percentage of the Soviet force occupying patrol areas at any time and was a great motivation for longer-range Soviet SLBMs, which would allow them to patrol close to their bases in areas sometimes referred to as "deep bastions". The missiles were theR-29 Vysotaseries (SS-N-8, SS-N-18, SS-N-23), equipped onProjects 667B, 667BD, 667BDR, and 667BDRM(Delta I through Delta IV classes).[15]The SS-N-8, with a range of 7,700 kilometres (4,200 nmi), entered service on the first Delta-I boat in 1972, before the Yankee class was even completed. A total of 43 Delta-class boats of all types entered service 1972–1990, with the SS-N-18 on the Delta III class and theR-29RM Shtil(SS-N-23) on the Delta IV class.[16][17][18][19]The new missiles had increased range and eventually Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV), multiple warheads that could each hit a different target.[15]

The Delta I class had 12 missiles each; the others have 16 missiles each. All Deltas have a tall superstructure (aka casing) to accommodate their large liquid-fueled missiles.

Poseidon and Trident I

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Although the US did not commission any new SSBNs from 1967 through 1981, they did introduce two new SLBMs. Thirty-one of the 41 original US SSBNs were built with larger diameter launch tubes with future missiles in mind. In the early 1970s thePoseidon (C-3) missileentered service, and those 31 SSBNs were backfitted with it.[20]Poseidon offered a massive MIRV capability of up to 14 warheads per missile. Like the Soviets, the US also desired a longer-range missile that would allow SSBNs to be based in CONUS. In the late 1970s theTrident I (C-4) missilewas backfitted to 12 of the Poseidon-equipped submarines.[21][22]The SSBN facilities of the base at Rota, Spain were disestablished and theNaval Submarine Base King's BayinGeorgiawas built for the Trident I-equipped force.

Trident and Typhoon submarines

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USSAlabama,anOhio-class(aka Trident) submarine.

Both the United States and the Soviet Union commissioned larger submarines designed for new missiles in 1981. The American large SSBN was theOhioclass,also called the "Trident submarine", with the largest SSBN armament ever of 24 missiles, initially Trident I but built with much larger tubes for theTrident II (D-5) missile,which entered service in 1990.[23][24]The entire class was converted to use Trident II by the early 2000s. When theUSSOhiocommenced sea trials in 1980, two USBenjamin Franklin-classSSBNs had their missiles removed to comply withSALTtreaty requirements; the remaining eight were converted toattack submarines(SSN) by the end of 1982. These were all in the Pacific, and the Guam SSBN base was disestablished; the first severalOhio-class boats used new Trident facilities atNaval Submarine Base Bangor,Washington.EighteenOhio-class boats were commissioned by 1997,[25]four of which were converted tocruise missile submarines(SSGN) in the 2000s to comply withSTART Itreaty requirements.

AProject 941(Typhoon-class) nuclear ballistic missile submarine.

The Soviet large nuclear ballistic missile submarine was theProject 941Akula,more famously known as the Typhoon class (and not to be confused with theProject 971Shchukaattack submarine, called "Akula" by NATO). The Typhoons were the largest submarines ever built, at 48,000 tons submerged (more than 2½ times the displacement of theOhio-class). They were armed with 20 of the newR-39 Rif(SS-N-20) missiles. Six Typhoons were commissioned 1981–1989.[26]

The United Kingdom commissioned the 15,600-tonVanguard-classsubmarine in 1985, to carry up to 16 Trident II missiles.

Post-Cold War

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With thecollapse of the Soviet Unionand the end of theCold Warin 1991, construction of new nuclear submarines by Russia was put on hold for over ten years and was slowed in the United States. Additionally the US rapidly decommissioned its 31 older remaining SSBNs, with a few converted to other roles, and the base at Holy Loch in Scotland was disestablished. Most of the former Soviet nuclear submarine force was gradually scrapped under the provisions of theNunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reductionagreement through 2012.[27]

The Russian ballistic missile submarine force then stood at six Delta IVs, three Delta IIIs, and a lone Typhoon used as a testbed for new missiles (the R-39s unique to the Typhoons were reportedly scrapped in 2012). Upgraded missiles such as theR-29RMU Sineva(SS-N-23 Sineva) were developed for the Deltas. In 2013 the Russians commissioned the firstBorei-class submarine,also called theDolgorukiyclass after the lead vessel. By 2015 two others had entered service. This class is intended to replace the aging Deltas, and carries 16 solid-fuelRSM-56 Bulavamissiles, with a reported range of 10,000 kilometres (5,400 nmi) and six MIRV warheads. The USColumbia-class submarineis set to replace theOhio-class, with construction beginning in 2020.

In 2009,Indialaunched the first of its indigenously builtArihant-class submarines.[28]North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles from submarines in 2021[29]and 2022.[2]

Purpose

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Further information:Second strike,Nuclear triad,Attack submarine,andCruise missile submarine

Ballistic missile submarines differ in purpose from attack submarines and cruise missile submarines. Attack submarines specialize in combat with other vessels (including enemy submarines and merchant shipping), and cruise missile submarines are designed to attack large warships and tactical targets on land. However, the primary mission of the ballistic missile boat isnuclear deterrence.They serve as the third leg of thenuclear triadin countries that also operate nuclear-armed land based missiles and aircraft. Accordingly, the mission profile of a ballistic missile submarine concentrates on remaining undetected, rather than aggressively pursuing other vessels.[30]

Ballistic missile submarines are designed forstealthto avoid detection at all costs, and that makes nuclear power, allowing almost the entire patrol to be conducted submerged, very important. They also use many sound-reducing design features, such asanechoic tileson their hull surfaces, carefully designed propulsion systems, and machinery mounted on vibration-damping mounts. The invisibility and mobility of nuclear ballistic missile submarines offer a reliable means of deterrence against an attack (by maintaining the threat of asecond strike), as well as a potential surprisefirst strikecapability.[30]

Armament

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Main article:Submarine-launched ballistic missile
USSSam Rayburnshowing the hatches for theUGM-27 Polarismissiles

In most cases, nuclear ballistic missile submarines generally resemble attack subs of the same generation, with extra length to accommodate SLBMs, such as the RussianR-29(SS-N-23) or theNATO-fielded and American-manufacturedPolaris,Poseidon,andTrident-IImissiles. Some early models had to surface to launch their missiles, but modern vessels typically launch while submerged atkeel depthsof usually less than 50 metres (160 ft). Missiles are launched upwards with an initial velocity sufficient for them to pop above the surface, at which point their rocket motors fire, beginning the characteristic parabolic climb-from-launch of a ballistic missile. Compressed air ejection, later replaced by gas-steam ejection, was developed by Captain Harry Jackson of Rear AdmiralRaborn'sSpecial Project Office when a proposed missile elevator proved too complex.[31]Jackson also derived the armament of 16 missiles used in many SSBNs for theGeorge Washingtonclassin 1957, based on a compromise between firepower and hull integrity.[32]

Terminology

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United States and United Kingdom

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In the US Navy, SSBNs are sometimes called Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines, or FBMs. InUS naval slang,ballistic missile submarines are calledboomers.In the UK, they are known asbombers.[33]In both cases, SSBN submarines operate on a two-crew concept, with two complete crews – including two captains – calledGoldandBluein the United States,StarboardandPortin the United Kingdom. The designationSSBNis also used throughout NATO under STANAG 1166.[34]

France

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TheFrench Navycommissioned its first ballistic missile submarines asSNLE,forSous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins(lit. "nuclear-powered device-launching submarines" ). The term applies both to ballistic missile submarines in general (for instance "British SNLE" occurs[35]) and, more technically, as a specific classification of theRedoutableclass.Its successor, theTriomphantclass,is referred to as SNLE-NG (Nouvelle Génération,"New Generation" ). The two crews used to maximise the availability time of the boats are called "bleu", (blue) and "rouge", (red) crews.

Soviet Union and Russian Federation

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The Soviets called this type of shipRPKSN[36](lit. "Strategic Purpose Underwater Missile Cruiser" ). This designation was applied to theTyphoon class.Another designation used wasPLARB(«ПЛАРБ»– подводная лодка атомная с баллистическими ракетами, which translates as "Nuclear Submarine with Ballistic Missiles" ). This designation was applied to smaller submarines such as the Delta class. After a peak in 1984 (followingAble Archer 83), Russian PLARB deterrence patrols have declined to the point where there is less than one patrol per sub each year and at best one sub on patrol at any time. Hence the Russians do not use multiple crews per boat.[37]

India

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India classifies this type of a submarine as aStrategic Strike Nuclear Submarine.[38]

Active classes

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Map showing submarine operators (green) and ballistic missile submarine operators (orange).

Nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine:

AIP based ballistic missile submarine:

Classes under development

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Retired classes

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FranceFrance
Soviet Union/RussiaSoviet Union/Russia
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United StatesUnited States
These five classes are collectively referred to as "41 for Freedom".

Accidents

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Main article:HMSVanguardandLe Triomphantsubmarine collision

On 4 February 2009, the BritishHMSVanguardand the FrenchTriomphantcollided in the Atlantic.[56]Vanguardreturned toFaslanein Scotland, under her own power,[57]andTriomphanttoÎle Longuein Brittany.

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^James Kraska, Raul A. Pedrozo (2022).Disruptive Technology and the Law of Naval Warfare.Oxford University Press.p. 139.
  2. ^ab"North Korea fires likely submarine-launched ballistic missile, South Korea says".Reuters.7 May 2022.
  3. ^Gardiner & Chumbley 1995,pp. 352–353, 549, 553–554.
  4. ^Zimmer, Phil (5 January 2017),"Japan's Underwater Aircraft Carriers",warfarehistorynetwork,archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2019,retrieved2 March2018
  5. ^Polmar, 2003, S. 103 f.
  6. ^Wade, Mark."R-11".Encyclopedia Astronautica.Archived fromthe originalon 9 March 2002.Retrieved23 April2011.
  7. ^"Large submarines – Project 611".Retrieved26 July2015.
  8. ^"Ballistic missile submarines – Project 629".Retrieved26 July2015.
  9. ^"Man and the FBM: The US Navy deploys its 1st Polaris Ballistic Missile Subs"onYouTube
  10. ^"SECNAVINST 5030.8"(PDF).United States Navy. 21 November 2006. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 July 2014.Retrieved10 September2008.
  11. ^Gardiner & Chumbley 1995,p. 403.
  12. ^"Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines – Project 667A".Retrieved26 July2015.
  13. ^Friedman 1994,pp. 199–200.
  14. ^Polmar 1981,pp. 131–133.
  15. ^abGardiner & Chumbley 1995,pp. 355–357.
  16. ^"Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines – Project 667B".Retrieved26 July2015.
  17. ^"Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines – Project 667BD".Retrieved26 July2015.
  18. ^"Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines – Project 667BDR".Retrieved26 July2015.
  19. ^"Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines – Project 667BDRM".Retrieved26 July2015.
  20. ^Friedman, p. 201
  21. ^Gardiner & Chumbley 1995,p. 553.
  22. ^Friedman 1994,p. 206.
  23. ^Friedman 1994,pp. 206–207.
  24. ^Gardiner & Chumbley 1995,p. 554.
  25. ^Gardiner & Chumbley 1995,p. 613.
  26. ^"Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines – Project 941".Retrieved26 July2015.
  27. ^"Verifying".Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2015.Retrieved26 July2015.
  28. ^"India's nuclear submarine dream, still miles to go".Reuters.31 July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 1 August 2009.Retrieved24 January2011.
  29. ^"N.Korea confirms submarine launch of new ballistic missile".
  30. ^ab"Ballistic Missile Submarines | Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet".csp.navy.mil.Retrieved23 May2024.
  31. ^Friedman 1994,p. 194.
  32. ^Friedman 1994,pp. 195–196.
  33. ^"Submarine Service – Royal Navy".Retrieved26 July2015.
  34. ^"NATO glossary of abbreviations used in NATO documents and publications (AAP-11)"(PDF).NATO.Retrieved1 February2014.
  35. ^"SNLE-NGLe Triomphant".netmarine.net. Archived fromthe originalon 21 May 2014.Retrieved19 October2014.
  36. ^РПКСНРакетный подводный крейсер стратегического назначения(Raketny Podvodnyy Kreiser Strategicheskogo Naznacheniya)
  37. ^"Russian SSBN Fleet: Modernizing But Not Sailing Much".Federation of American Scientists. 3 May 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2013.Retrieved19 October2014.
  38. ^"INS Arihant completes India's nuclear triad, PM Modi felicitates crew".The Economic Times.6 November 2018.Retrieved15 September2019.
  39. ^"Does China have an effective sea-based nuclear deterrent?".ChinaPowerCSIS. 28 December 2015.
  40. ^"Janes | Latest defence and security news".
  41. ^"China Now Has Six Type 094A Jin-Class Nuclear Powered Missile Submarines".6 May 2020.
  42. ^"India's Undersea Deterrent".The Diplomat.Retrieved13 May2016.
  43. ^Rajagopalan, Rajeswari Pillai."India Launches 3rd Arihant Submarine | ORF".ORF.Retrieved9 February2023.
  44. ^"The nuclear submarines" Alexander III "and" Krasnoyarsk "were handed over to the Navy".30 November 2023.
  45. ^"Économie de la mer. SNLE 3G: la mise en chantier prévue pour 2023".ouest-france.fr.26 October 2018.Retrieved23 June2019.
  46. ^"From India Today magazine: A peek into India's top secret and costliest defence project, nuclear submarines".India Today.Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2021.Retrieved9 September2023.
  47. ^"India's Undersea Deterrent".The Diplomat.Retrieved19 May2019.
  48. ^Roblin, Sebastien (27 January 2019)."India is Building a Deadly Force of Nuclear-Missile Submarines".The National Interest.Retrieved2 September2019.
  49. ^"New Successor Submarines Named"(Press release). Gov.uk. 21 October 2016.Retrieved21 October2016.
  50. ^"New nuclear submarine given famous naval name".BBC News.21 October 2016.Retrieved21 October2016.
  51. ^"Q&A: Trident replacement".BBC News.11 November 2006.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2006.Retrieved1 December2006.
  52. ^"The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent"(PDF).Ministry of Defence.4 December 2006.Archived(PDF)from the original on 6 December 2006.Retrieved5 December2006.
  53. ^Weinberger, Sharon Weinberger Sharon (11 May 2010)."Five Big-Ticket Pentagon Programs in the Cross Hairs".Aol news.AOL Inc. Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2010.Retrieved11 May2010.
  54. ^Chavanne, Bettina."Gates Says U.S. Navy Plans Are Unaffordable".The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Retrieved12 May2010.[permanent dead link]
  55. ^Unnithan, Sandeep (23 July 2009)."Deep impact".indiatoday.Retrieved19 October2014.[permanent dead link]
  56. ^Williams, Rachel (16 February 2009)."Nuclear submarines collide in Atlantic".The Guardian.London.Retrieved16 February2009.
  57. ^"Nuclear subs collide in Atlantic".BBC News.16 February 2009.Retrieved4 May2010.

Sources

[edit]
Library resourcesabout
Ballistic missile submarine
Wikimedia Commons has media related toBallistic missile submarines.
  • Friedman, Norman (1994).U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History.Annapolis, MD:United States Naval Institute.ISBN1-55750-260-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995.London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN1-55750-132-7.
  • Miller, David; Jordan, John:Moderne Unterseeboote.Stocker Schmid AG, Zürich 1987, 1999 (2. Auflage).ISBN3-7276-7088-6.
  • Polmar, Norman; Noot, Jurrien:Submarines of the Russian and Soviet Navies, 1718–1990.Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1991.ISBN0-87021-570-1.
  • Polmar, Norman; Moore, K.J. (2004).Cold War Submarines: The Design and Construction of U.S. and Soviet Submarines, 1945–2001.Dulles, VA: Potomac Books.ISBN978-1-57488-594-1.
  • Polmar, Norman (1981).The American Submarine.Annapolis, MD: Nautical and Aviation Publishing. pp.123–136.ISBN0-933852-14-2.
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