Ballistic missile submarine - Definition and Overview

SSBN is the United States Navy Hull classification symbol for a fleet ballistic missile submarine. The SS denotes a submarine, the B denotes ballistic missile capability, and the N denotes nuclear power. It differs from SSN, attack submarine, which primary mission of the SSBN is nuclear detterence while hunter/killer is the primary mission for the SSN.

The SSBN also is unique that it has two crews per boat to maximize patrol time. In the U.S. Navy, the two crews are called blue crew and gold crew. In the Royal Navy, the two crews are called port crew and starboard crew. The French Navy strategic nuclear submarines are labeled "SNLE", for Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engin ("Device-Launching Nuclear Submarine"); their crews are blue and red crew.

See also

• SSN
• SLBM
• Ohio class submarine
• Le Triomphant class submarine
• Redoutable_class_submarine

Example Usage of Ballistic