Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile: Strategic Depths of Modern Warfare

By Fouad Sabry

What is Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile

A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhead and allows a single launched missile to strike several targets. Submarine-launched ballistic missiles operate in a different way from submarine-launched cruise missiles.

How you will benefit

(I) Insights, and validations about the following topics:

Chapter 1: Submarine-launched ballistic missile

Chapter 2: Intercontinental ballistic missile

Chapter 3: UGM-27 Polaris

Chapter 4: UGM-73 Poseidon

Chapter 5: First strike (nuclear strategy)

Chapter 6: Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle

Chapter 7: Chevaline

Chapter 8: Ballistic missile submarine

Chapter 9: George Washington-class submarine

Chapter 10: Yankee-class submarine

(II) Answering the public top questions about submarine launched ballistic missile.

Who this book is for

Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Billion Knowledgeable
• Release date: Jun 19, 2024

Book preview

Chapter 1: Submarine-launched ballistic missile

The acronym SLBM stands for submarine-launched ballistic missile, which refers to a type of ballistic missile that may be launched from submarines. Typically, modern variations are capable of delivering multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Each of these MIRVs is equipped with a nuclear warhead, which enables a single missile to strike many targets simultaneously. Ballistic missiles that are fired from submarines function in a manner that is distinct from cruise missiles that are launched from submarines.

With ranges of over 5,500 kilometers (3,000 miles), modern submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) are closely related to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). In many instances, SLBMs and ICBMs may be considered to be members of the same family of weapons.

Around the time that World War II was coming to a close, the Germans came up with the first viable design of a submarine-based launch platform. This design involved a launch tube that contained a V-2 ballistic missile type and was towed behind a submarine, known by the code-name Prüfstand XII.

War came to an end before it could be put to the test, The engineers who had worked on it, however, were spirited away and sent to work for the Soviet Union and the United States on their respective SLBM programs. The United States was involved in Operation Paperclip.

During the firing of missiles, warships were required to be surfaced in order to operate this and other early SLBM systems, In spite of this, launch methods were finally modified to enable underwater launching in the 1950s and 1960s after some time.

The world's first submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was launched by a submarine of the Zulu-IV class, which had been converted from Project 611, an R-11FM (SS-N-1 Scud-A) aircraft, On September 16, 1955, a naval derivative of the SS-1 Scud began operations.

Except for the Russian RSM-56 Bulava, all Soviet and Russian submarine-launched ballistic missiles have been liquid-fueled, whereas all Soviet and Russian SLBMs have been solid-fueled, which became operational in the year 2014.

The United States Navy's George Washington (SSBN-598) was the world's first operational nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). It was equipped with sixteen Polaris A-1 missiles and entered service in December 1959. It also carried out the first SSBN deterrence patrol between November 1960 and January 1961.

SLBMs of the early era had a limited range, which determined the sites of their basing and deployment. The Polaris A-3, which had a range of 4,600 kilometers (2,500 nautical miles) by the late 1960s, was installed on all United States submarine bases. This was a significant advance over the Polaris A-1, which had a range of 1,900 kilometers (1,000 nautical miles). Additionally, the A-3 was equipped with three warheads that were arranged in a line around a single target.

In spite of the fact that the United States did not commission any new SSBNs between the years 1967 and 1981, it did launch two new SLBMs. With the intention of incorporating larger diameter launch tubes into future missiles, thirty-one of the forty-one original US SSBNs were constructed. These thirty-one submarine-based bombers were retrofitted with the Poseidon (C-3) missile when it was first put into service in the early 1970s. In order to accommodate the Trident I-equipped force, the SSBN facilities of the base in Rota, Spain were disestablished. These facilities principally consisted of a submarine tender and a floating dry dock. In addition, the Naval Submarine Base King's Bay in Georgia was constructed.

1981 was the year that saw the United States of America and the Soviet Union both commission larger SSBNs that were built for new missiles. The American big submarine ballistic missile (SSBN) was of the Ohio class, popularly known as the Trident submarine. It had the largest SSBN armament ever, consisting of 24 missiles. Initially, it was a Trident I missile, but it was ultimately constructed with substantially larger tubes for the Trident II (D-5) missile, which entered service in 1990.

As a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the conclusion of the Cold War in 1991, the building of new SSBNs in Russia came to a halt for more than ten years, while in the United States, it slowed down. Almost immediately, the United States deactivated its remaining 31 older SSBNs, with some of them being converted to serve other purposes. Additionally, the base at Holy Loch was no longer in use. As a result of the stipulations of the Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction agreement, the majority of the former Soviet SSBN fleet was gradually dismantled until the year 2012. At that point in time, the Russian submarine-based ballistic missile force consisted of six Delta-IVs, three Delta-IIIs, and a single Typhoon that served as a testbed for new missiles (it was reported that the R-39s that were exclusive to the Typhoons were discarded in 2012). Deltas were equipped with upgraded missiles like as the R-29RMU Sineva (SS-N-23 Sineva), which were developed specifically for them. In 2013, the Russian government gave the go-ahead for the first submarine of the Borei class, which is also referred to as the Dolgorukiy class after the pilot vessel. At the end of 2015, two more had joined the military. The purpose of this class is to serve as a replacement for the Deltas, which are getting on in years. It is equipped with sixteen solid-fuel RSM-56 Bulava missiles, which have a range of around 10,000 kilometers (5,400 miles), and six MIRV warheads. Although the United States is currently in the process of constructing a replacement for the Ohio class, the first of the class was not laid down until October 2020.

Since their introduction into service during the Cold War, ballistic missile submarines have been of immense strategic importance to the United States of America, Russia, and other nuclear powers. This is due to the fact that they are able to conceal themselves from observation satellites and fire their nuclear warheads with a degree of impunity that is almost unheard of. Because of this, they are impervious to a first attack that is intended against nuclear forces. This capacity enables both sides to keep the potential to conduct a devastating retaliatory strike, even if all land-based missiles have been destroyed. Because of this, neither side is required to adopt a launch on warning posture, which carries with it the risk of accidentally starting a nuclear war. In addition, the use of highly accurate missiles on ultra-quiet submarines enables an attacker to sneak up close to the coast of the enemy and launch a missile on a depressed trajectory. A depressed trajectory is a non-optimal ballistic trajectory that trades off reduced throw-weight for a faster and lower path, effectively reducing the amount of time that passes between launch and impact. This opens the door for the possibility of a decapitation strike.

Among the several kinds of SLBMs (current, historical, and in the process of being developed) are::

Several of the former Russian submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) have been repurposed into launch vehicles for the Volna and Shtil satellites, which may be launched from a submarine or from a launch facility on land.

{End Chapter 1}

Chapter 2: Intercontinental ballistic missile

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are ballistic missiles with a range greater than 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) that are primarily designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons (delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads). Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons are also capable of being delivered with varied degrees of efficacy, but they have never been employed on ICBMs. The majority of contemporary designs include multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing a single missile to carry numerous warheads, each of which can attack a distinct target. Only Russia, the United States, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and North Korea are known to possess operational intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The low precision of early ICBMs made them appropriate mainly for use against large targets, such as cities. They were considered a safe option for basing, as they would keep the deterrent force close to home, where it would be difficult to assault. The use of a more precise, manned bomber was still necessary for attacks against military targets, especially those that were fortified. Even the tiniest point targets can be successfully assaulted with second- and third-generation designs (such as the LGM-118 Peacekeeper).

Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs), short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), and tactical ballistic missiles have greater range and speed than intercontinental