Trident I C-4 Missile Deployment (1979-2004)

Trident I C-4 Missile Deployment (1979-2004)

The Trident I C-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was deployed with the U.S. Navy Fleet of strategic submarines from 1979 to 2004.

Trident I SLBMs began their initial operational capability (IOC) in 1979. That meant that Trident I deployment started before the Ohio-class SSBNs were ready.

Lafayette class deployment

So, Trident I missiles were added to existing Lafayette-class SSBNs. Specifically, 6 submarines of the James Madison sub-class and 6 submarines of the Benjamin Franklin sub-class.

These submarines were first made for Polaris/Poseidon SLBMs and conversion was required. The Lafayette submarines converted to carry the Trident I C-4 missiles were:

  • USS James Madison (SSBN-627)
  • USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629)
  • USS John C Calhoun (SSBN-630)
  • USS Von Steuben (SSBN-632)
  • USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN-633)
  • USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634)
  • USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640)
  • USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641)
  • USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643)
  • USS Henry L Stimson (SSBN-655)
  • USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657)
  • USS Mariano G Vallejo (SSBN-658)

These submarines were based on the Polaris Missile Facility Atlantic at Charleston, South Carolina.

By 1982, the number of Trident I SLBMs on Lafayette-class submarines reached its peak of 192 missiles, which equaled 1,536 W-76 thermonuclear warheads. That same year, Ohio-class SSBNs designed for Trident started to be commissioned.

Trident I C-4 Missile Deployment 1979-2004

From 1982, the number of Trident I SLBMs on Lafayette-class submarines stayed at 192 missiles. This meant there were 1,536 warheads. This number stayed the same for ten years. But in 1992, it dropped to 176 missiles or 1,152 warheads. By 1993, all submarines of the Lafayette class were decommissioned.

Ohio class deployment

The initial eight ships of the Ohio class, stationed at the Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific in Bangor, Washington, were configured to carry 24 Trident I (C4) SLBMs. These submarines were:

From the ninth Trident submarine, specifically the USS Tennessee (SSBN-734), every new SSBN was fitted with the Trident II missiles. These Trident II configured submarines were based at the Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic at Kings Bay, Georgia.

W-76-warheads-deployment-trident-c4-1979-2004 chart

In 1993, Ohio-class boats had 192 Trident I missiles or 1,536 warheads.

At the beginning of the 2000s, the U.S. Navy converted the four oldest C4-capable Ohio submarines to a conventional (non-nuclear) role and the other four to carry D5 missiles. By 2004, all Trident Is were not in use anymore.

SSBNs and SLBM Launchers

The table below details the Trident C4 deployment from 1979 to 2004 (as of December 31):

YearSSBNs
(Trident)
SSBNs
(Lafayette)
Launchers
(Lafayette class)
Launchers
(Ohio class)
Total
Launchers
19790232032
19800696096
1981081280128
198211219224216
198321219248240
198441219296288
1985512192120312
1986712192168360
1987812192192384
1988812192192384
1989812192192384
19901012192192384
19911212192192384
19921311176192368
19931400192192
19941500192192
19951600192192
19961700192192
19971800192192
19981800192192
19991800192192
20001800192192
20011800168168
20021800168168
20031800168168
2004180000

W-76 Warhead deployments

The table below details the W-76 warheads deployment in Trident C4 missiles between 1979 to 2004 (as of December 31):

YearW-76
(Lafayette class)
W-76
(Ohio class)
Total
19792560256
19807680768
1981102401024
198215361921728
198315363841920
198415367682304
198515369602496
1986153613442880
1987153615363072
1988153615363072
1989153615363072
1990153615363072
1991134413442688
1992115213442496
1993015361536
1994015361536
1995015361536
1996015361536
1997015361536
1998015361536
1999015361536
2000015361536
2001010081008
2002010081008
2003010081008
2004000

Further reading

Bibliography

  • Evolution of the U.S. Sea-Based Nuclear Missile Deterrent: Warfighting Capabilities by George J. Refuto, 2011

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Javier Guerrero
Javier Guerrero
Javier is the editor @ Nuclear Companion and loves to investigate and write about the cold war.

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Nuclear Companion: A nuclear guide to the cold war