What might have been: CVB(N)s, BBBs and T-ABs?
January 4th, 2010 | Books Historical nuclear weapons Science and technology Ships Submarines | Posted by Phil Ewing
The ballistic missile sub George Washington, commissioned 50 years ago on Dec. 31, would have been only the first of many types of warships to carry ballistic missiles in the Navy's original plan // Navy
A few days ago we observed the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the ballistic missile sub George Washington, the Navy’s first boomer and the culmination of its bid to grasp its share of the U.S. strategic deterrence mission. Did you know, however, that submarines were originally only one slice of a Navy plan to field nuclear ballistic missiles throughout the fleet?
In their excellent history “Cold War Submarines,” authors Norman Polmar and K.J. Moore write that the Navy considered spreading Polaris missiles all over the place. Carriers, battleships, cruisers and even specially built, disguised “merchant ships” would sail with missiles aimed at vital targets in the Soviet Union:
Lest we forget …
December 31st, 2009 | Blogs Historical Navy nuclear weapons ordnance Submarines | Posted by Lance Bacon
Thanks to Joel “Bubblehead” Kennedy, who reminds us of the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of USS George Washington (SSBN 598), the first ballistic missile submarine. What must it have been like to be there July 20 1960, when the skipper sent a burner 1,100 miles downrange, then sent President Eisenhower the message: POLARIS — FROM OUT OF THE DEEP TO TARGET. PERFECT.
I think Bubblehead says it best:
Service in SSBNs might not be as glamorous and exciting as being on an attack boat, but the bottom line is that our strategic capability is the cornerstone of our national security, and as the most survivable leg of our nuclear triad, SSBNs play an unmatched role in our defense. I’m thankful there are men out there on strategic patrol during this holiday season so that my family can sleep soundly at night.”
Check out his post(s) at bubbleheads.blogspot.com
He flew low over Cuba, then visited 39 years later
November 13th, 2009 | Aviation Historical nuclear weapons | Posted by Andrew Scutro
Some of us here at Scoop Deck prefer to take our news from paper. The deliberate design of words and images on pages you can turn allows a reader to find news or information he or she might have otherwise missed by pointing and clicking.
Take obituaries. They often make good reads not because someone is dead, but because the deceased enjoyed a rewarding life, a life worth sharing with strangers. It’s for that reason that we’d like to point out the obituary of one Capt. William B. Ecker.
It turns out this Omaha-native who went to University of Maryland became a naval aviator with a no kidding role in world history. Read his story to the end. He’s got a great take on one of the world’s most famous communists.
Undersea update
October 23rd, 2009 | nuclear weapons Submarines | Posted by Andrew Scutro
Just in time for the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium next week here near Washington, D.C., the good news arrives that the ballistic missile submarine West Virginia successfully launched two unarmed D-5 Trident II ballistic missiles on Oct 23., likely off the Navy’s missile test facility in Port Canaveral, Fla.
Maybe more likely to come up in discussion at Sub League will be the recent honor bestowed on the crew of the fast attack submarine Hartford. They were commended on Oct. 20 for 1,000 consecutive days without any of the 140 crew involved in a drunk driving incident. What might ignite a few wisecracks during a coffee break is that Hartford has been under repair at Electric Boat in Groton because on March 20 in the Strait of Hormuz it collided with the amphib New Orleans.
Filipino rep: U.S. Navy keep out
August 19th, 2009 | Carriers Liberty nuclear weapons | Posted by Phil Ewing
The carrier George Washington sailed out of Manila Bay Aug. 15 after a port visit, which angered a member of the Philippine Congress // MC2 Clifford Davis/Navy
Not everybody loves visits from the carrier George Washington as much as the Australians. When the ship pulled into Manila Bay last week, a representative in the Philippine Congress called in no uncertain terms for GW to turn right around and leave.
U.S. aircraft carriers, as “floating bases” for strike aircraft, are as bad as the U.S. bases the Navy used to maintain in the Philippines, said Rep. Walden Bellow, of Quezon City. And worse is the fact that the Navy won’t confirm or deny they carry nuclear weapons, he said. Bello offered a solution, though:
We … demand the immediate withdrawal of the USS George Washington from Philippine territory and call for a moratorium on all further US warship entries into the country. If the US insists on “neither confirming nor denying” the presence of nuclear weapons in its ships, we demand that a congressional committee be allowed to fully inspect all US warships in our territory.
Scoop Deck wants to hear what Manila’s saloon-keepers think of that idea.
Failure to (re)launch
July 15th, 2009 | nuclear weapons Royal Navy Submarines | Posted by Andrew Scutro
//U.S. Navy
There’s a steady cascade of reports out of Great Britain about a lack of support for Royal Navy involvement in the next iteration of the Trident missile submarine. The argument is that with likely threats not coming from an actual country that can be punched back with a sea-launched ballistic missile, scarce dollars, if spent on the military, should be spent to defend against more likely threats. Prominent former military leaders have called for plans to improve the sea-based deterrent to be cast aside.
The U.S. Navy asked for $495 million in the 2010 defense budget to begin work on a future replacement for the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine. Since the U.S. and British boomers share the Trident ballistic missile technology, the Royal Navy has been assumed as a partner in updates to the missile systems.