Israel’s newest submarine is joining the big leagues. 

An event occurred recently that received very little press. The first Ohio-Class submarine began the process of being decommissioned. The USS Georgia finished its final patrol as a guided-missile submarine. After 42 years of service and a midlife reactor refit, the Georgia returned home for the last time. One has to note that Georgia and three other boats were converted from 24-missile Trident nuclear ballistic missile platforms into 154-Tomahawk-carrying cruise missile platforms. Twenty-two of twenty-four silos were converted, with each holding seven unique Tomahawks, thus giving an idea of the massive size of a single 59-ton Trident D5 missile. The end of the Georgia’s run marks a significant reduction of available cruise missiles for use by U.S. forces. 

Submarines are incredible weapons platforms and allow stealth and flexibility not generally available with any other system. Georgia was a ballistic missile boat but was converted to the cruise missile role when Pentagon planners realized that they could keep the submarine leg of the Nuclear Triad and free up other resources for more conventional warfare. The remaining two Trident silos were generally used for SEAL-related activity. 

No other country has the submarine force that the U.S. currently has. Between fast-attack, ballistic missile, and guided missile subs, the U.S. fields around 70 nuclear-powered boats. With their nuclear reactors, they can stay submerged indefinitely and are only limited in underwater endurance by food availability. The Virginia-class fast-attack subs will soon be joined by Ohio’s replacement, the Columbia-class of nuclear ballistic missile subs. They will have 16 nuclear missiles, and their reactors will run for 42 years without need for expensive refueling that took up to three years in dry dock. I wish my car could go so long between visits to the gas station. 

While no country has the size or firepower of the U.S. submarine........

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