A unique sub-variant of the Ohio-class guided missile submarines, the converted nuclear-powered ballistic missile boat USS Florida, returned at the end of July 2024, to base at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, following a 727-day deployment to 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
Due to their payload of Tomahawk cruise missiles, rather than the Trident II D5 ballistic missile, the four converted sub-variant boats of the Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) have been designed as nuclear-powered guided missile submarines (SSGN).
During the near two-year mission, which saw five crew rotations carried out, the USS Florida conducted “vital missions” that were deemed “crucial to national security”, the US Navy stated in an early August release.
In total the boat travelled more than 60,000 nautical miles, with various crews visiting Greece, Guam, Diego Garcia, and the UK, as part of routine port calls.
Captain Peter French, blue crew commanding officer of USS Florida, said that it was “uncommon” for submarines based on the US east coast to deploy to the Pacific theatre.
“We operated in several different oceans… [and have] demonstrated the versatility of the SSGN platform,” French said.
In November 2023, the US Department of Defense confirmed that an Ohio-class submarine was active in the 5th Fleet area of operations, amid the early actions of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Ohio-class SSGN sub-variant on the way out
The four converted SSGNs of the Ohio class, the oldest of the series, the USS Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia, which were refitted into their new configuration from the early 2000s onwards. The 14 remaining Ohio-class SSBNs will gradually be replaced by 12 Columbia-class SSBNs from 2031.
The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics based at Groton, Connecticut, built 18 Ohio submarines commissioned between 1981 and 1997.
According to the requirements of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, START II, which was agreed in June 1992, the number of strategic missile submarines was limited to 14 from 2002. Rather than decommissioning these four submarines, the US Navy converted them to the SSGN configuration.
In September 2002, Electric Boat received a contract for the conversion of USS Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia, which were refitted to accommodate up to 154 Tomahawk TLAM (land attack) or Tactical Tomahawk (Block IV) missiles, while also being capable of conducting special operations missions.
In many respects, the SSGNs perform similar functions to the Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSN), although their performance characteristics, while classified, will be significantly different. They are able to embark a much larger number of munitions compared to the Los Angeles-class.
However, according to the US Navy’s latest shipbuilding plan, all four SSGNs will be retired from service by 2028, with no direct replacement, with two boats (USS Ohio and USS Florida) to be decommissioned in 2026.
Given this, and the length of the deployment just undertaken, the USS Florida could well have concluded its operational service with the US Navy.
