Ballistic missile submarine (USS George Washington)
Submarino lanzamisiles balísticos (USS George Washington)
- Date
- 1959-1960 · confidence high
- Place
- Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
- Credited to
- US Navy (Hyman Rickover, Polaris)
- Field
- Conflict
What it is
A nuclear submarine that launches Polaris ballistic missiles while submerged; the first submerged launch took place on 20 July 1960. It gave nuclear deterrence a nearly undetectable platform.
She was built by converting an attack-submarine hull under construction (Scorpion) with a 40 m missile section.
What it led to
- second-strike nuclear deterrence
- Trident and Typhoon submarines
- strategic arms control treaties