Hi Bob!
Thanks for the reply and vote of confidence :) :) :)
Hi Tommyjoking! I'm going out on a limb here but, I think Bob meant to write that whatever it is he's making weighs 38,000 lbs each when completed. Please let me elaborate if I could...
When the first three "Ohio" Class "Boomers" were built. by the time they are uhh - hmmm - launched... I describe it that way because in reality, they do'nt get launched like the attack boats or the older boomers were in the past.
Instead, they get moved, positioned, and then lowered into a dry dock that eventually gets flooded with the submarine while actually still resting on the same wooden support platforms that came with the submarine hull from the 260 assembly building @ EB which is where the hull sections and alot of other "fun stuff" gets put together to roll out a completely assembled submarine hull.
By the time each one of those "Gals" manages to end up in the wet/dry/launch dock which I mentioned earlier, each one of the first three Trident "Super Boomers" otherwise known as missile boats or FBM's were approximately 16,000 tons with another 765+ tons to be lowered inside and added to it's exterior which btw, included it's paint job all sorts of "Fancy" items... Ohh yeah, I almost forgot, 24 SLBM's, normal & auxillary fuel oil, water, Food & other stores and other items of necessity including other stuff that even to this day I cannot mention!!! Giving the SSBN 726, USS OHIO, a total surfaced displacement weight of 16,765 TONS!!! Submerged, her displacement is approximately 18,750 TONS!!! She's quite a "HEAVY CHEVY GAL" also! ;)
Once the submarine after being commissioned or deemed seaworthy, is ready to go on patrols, each of these "Big Gals" as Bob affectionately describes them are 560+ feet long, a diameter of 42 feet and a draft of 36.5 feet (the depth of a vessel's keel below the waterline)... Yeah, I'd say she's a "Big Gal" but compared to a Russian Typhoon Class Boomer, She's definitely more like a "supermodel' in comparison to the Russian "Back Bottom Gal" that she is ;) Kind of like comparing an Umma Thurmon type of body contour(SSBN 726) against a Rosie O'donnell type body(Typhoon) ;)
Currently the USS OHIO has been converted and Re-Classified to become the first SSGN designation for the USN... As far as what their current displacement is on the surface or submerged, I cannot begin to even estimate because I was'nt personally involved in the process... However, based on the previous numbers, the displacement could be close to what was mentioned above. :) :) :)
My favorite boat, the USS MICHIGAN has also been converted to, and re-classified as an SSGN so if I remember correctly, three or four of the first Tridents are no longer considered "Super Boomers" :(
Still, they'll strike fear into the enemy knowing that they can "Unleash multiple cans of Wuppass - right pronto" to anyone who needs a proper reminder of how we as a nation can show our enemies just how much vengeance we can provide them if provoked!!! "DO'NT TREAD ON ME!!!" "SWIFT, SILENT and DEADLY!!!" Enough Said - CAPISH???
Respectfully,
Henry
