The Vanguard Class SSBN

The Vanguard Class SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear) provides the United Kingdom's strategic and sub-strategic nuclear deterrent. The first Vanguard class submarine was launched in 1993 carrying Trident II D5 missiles and is now the cornerstone of our Defence policy and significantly contributes to the Alliance's deterrent forces.

Vanguard Class SSBN Ballistic Submarine Names
Ship Name & Pennant No.
Vanguard - S28
Victorious - S29
... [Read More]

Guided Missile Submarines — SSGN

Description: Nuclear-powered submarines armed with tactical missiles and the ability to transport and support special operations forces.

Background: Four Ohio-class Trident submarines that were previously scheduled for inactivation during Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004 are being converted to guided missile submarines (SSGN) over a five-year period ending in 2008. The primary missions of the SSGN will be land attack and Special Operations Forc... [Read More]

Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines - SSBN

Description: Nuclear-powered submarines armed with long-range strategic missiles.


Background: Strategic deterrence has been the sole mission of the fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) since its inception in 1960. The SSBN provides the nation's most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability. The Ohio class submarine replaced aging fleet ballistic missile submarines built in the 1960s and is far more capable.


Ohio... [Read More]

Attack Submarines - SSN

Description: Attack submarine, designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships.

Background: The concept of technical superiority over numerical superiority was and still is the driving force in American submarine development. A number of Third World countries are acquiring modern state-of-the-art non-nuclear submarines. Countering this threat is the primary mission of U.S. nuclear attack submarines.

Their other missions range from inte... [Read More]

Frigates - FFG

Description: Frigates fulfill a Protection of Shipping (POS) mission as Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) combatants for amphibious expeditionary forces, underway replenishment groups and merchant convoys.


Background: The guided missile frigates (FFG) bring an anti-air warfare (AAW) capability to the frigate mission, but they have some limitations. Designed as cost efficient surface combatants, they lack the multi-mission capability necessary for modern surface combat... [Read More]

Destroyers — DD, DDG

Description: These fast warships provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities, and can operate independently or as part of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.




Features: Destroyers and guided missile destroyers operate in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups. Destroyers primarily perform anti-submarine warfare... [Read More]

Cruisers - CG, CGN

Description: Large combat vessel with multiple target response capability.


Features: Modern U. S. Navy guided missile cruisers perform primarily in a Battle Force role. These ships are multi-mission [Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW)] surface combatants capable of supporting carrier battle groups, amphibious forces, or of operating independently and as flagships of surface action groups. Due to their extensi... [Read More]

The Bermuda Triangle

1. US Coast Guard and US Navy. "Bermuda Triangle Fact Sheet." (below)

2. US Navy. "The Bermuda Triangle: A Selective Bibliography."
3. Rosenberg, Howard, "Exorcising the Devil's Triangle," Sealift 24, No. 6, (June 1974) 11-15
4. Loss of Flight 19 FAQ
5. USS Cyclops history

Bermuda Triangle Fact Sheet


Prepared by the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters and the Naval His... [Read More]

Aircraft Carriers - CV, CVN

Description: Aircraft carriers provide a wide range of possible response for the National Command Authority.

The Carrier Mission
To provide a credible, sustainable, independent forward presence and conventional deterrence in peacetime,
To operate as the cornerstone of joint/allied maritime expeditionary forces in times of crisis, and
<LI>To operate and support aircraft attacks on enemies, protect friendly forces and engage in sustained ind... [Read More]

USS Constitution was one of six frigates authorized for construction by an act of Congress in 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed them to be the Navy’s capital ships. Larger and more heavily armed than the standard run of frigate, Constitution and her sisters were formidable opponents even for some ships of the line.


Built in Boston of resilient live oak, Constitution’s planks were up to seven inches thick. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the cop... [Read More]

Background on the HMS Glasgow

The destroyer was the first British warship to enter the Falkland Islands Exclusion Zone on May 1, 1982, as the incursion of the Argentineans brought down the weight of the British military in protection of the people of the Falkland Islands.

This period earnt HMS Glasgow her reputation as a lucky ship, particularly for her miraculous escape when a bomb passed clear through her engine room without exploding or causing serious injury.

The destroyer... [Read More]

The Vanguard Class SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear) provides the United Kingdom's strategic and sub-strategic nuclear deterrent. The first Vanguard class submarine was launched in 1993 carrying Trident II D5 missiles and is now the cornerstone of our Defence policy and significantly contributes to the Alliance's deterrent forces.

Vanguard Class SSBN Ballistic Submarine Statistics

Displacement: 15,980 tons dived
Length: 149.9 m
Beam: 12.8 m
Draught:... [Read More]

Mission

The main roles of the Invincible-class Aircraft Carriers are:
- Provide the platform and facilities for the command and control of maritime and joint forces - as a flagship.
- Air defence using the latest variant of the Royal Navy Sea Harrier, FA2, coupled with the Airborne Early Warning Sea King helicopters.
- Power projection ashore using Royal Air Force Harrier GR7s escorted by Sea Harrier FA2s.
- Surface attack (shipping), battlefield interdiction (land targets) an... [Read More]