More Firepower Than All the Bombs in WWII? The USS Ohio was Built For One Thing
The changes made to the Ohio will ensure the Cold War-era system can dominate in the twenty-first century’s dynamic threat environment.
As if to acknowledge that the balance of military power has shifted decisively in favor of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the United States Navy has made waves with the recent deployment of the USS Ohio (SSGN-726) guided-missile submarine.
That’s because the Ohio has spent the last three years undergoing a significant overhaul at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Now that the sub has made its way out of the shipyard and to the Indo-Pacific, where it will be based out of Guam, Beijing is apoplectic.
The reason is easy to understand.
The overhaul of the Ohio was obviously well worth it. After all, most reports indicate that, thanks to its time in the shipyards, the USS Ohio now possesses more firepower than all the bombs dropped in World War II put together. And if that doesn’t stop the hearts of even the most vociferous war hawk in Beijing, not much else will.
At a time when the Chinese defense industrial base is outmatching America’s atrophied defense industrial base—producing 232 times more ships than the Americans do per year—the U.S. Navy has shifted to simply enhancing the systems they already have. The upgrades to the USS Ohio, already an iconic and lethal submarine, will make one’s skin crawl.
Understanding the Ohio’s Overhaul
The overhaul of the USS Ohio was extensive. It wasn’t just repairs made to key systems, but also serious upgrades to its weapons systems.
The Ohio can carry up to 154 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs). Originally designed as a nuclear missile submarine (SSBN), the submarine was converted to an SSGN in the early 2000s. 22 of the submarine’s original 24 missile tubes were converted into launchers for the Tomahawks.
Each of those tubes can hold a Multiple All-Up-Round Canister (MAC) containing seven Tomahawk missiles, resulting in a maximum loadout of 154 missiles. This makes the USS Ohio one of the most missile-heavy platforms in the U.S. Navy, capable of delivering a devastating barrage against land-based targets. The Block IV Tomahawk (the tactical loadout) is the most common variant fired by the Ohio.
Meanwhile, the Ohio retains a robust torpedo capability for self-defense and anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare. It is equipped with four 21-inch torpedo tubes located in the bow, a standard feature of the Ohio-class design. These tubes can fire the Mark 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) torpedo. The Ohio typically carries a relatively small complement of torpedoes—around eight to twelve—since its primary mission as an SSGN is to conduct missile strikes rather than undersea combat.
As for the repairs to the submarine itself, the Major Maintenance Period (MMP) at Puget Sound Shipyard, key structural and mechanical upgrades included the replacement of the submarine’s shaft, modernization of its torpedo tubes, repairs to the main ballast tanks, and preservation of the superstructure.
Considering this submarine first deployed in 1981 and is already at the end of its service life—but will have to continue serving until the Navy’s new Columbia-class submarines can make it out of development hell—the changes made to the Ohio will ensure the Cold War-era system can dominate in the twenty-first century’s dynamic threat environment.
Additional Enhancements for the Sub
There were further enhancements made to the Ohio’s communication and intelligence-gathering capabilities. Enhanced communication systems improve its ability to coordinate with other naval assets and serve as a forward-deployed command platform, a role it has fulfilled since its conversion from a ballistic missile submarine to a guided-missile sub in 2006.
The improved intelligence-gathering suite enhances the Ohio’s capability to collect and process data, making it a more effective asset for both conventional strike missions and special warfare support. These upgrades align with the ship’s role as a multi-mission platform.
Because the Ohio is now forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific with at least half of America’s submarine force, the importance of the region—as well as the severity of China’s threat to the US there—has never been clearer. Here’s the problem, though: even with its impressive firepower, the Ohio is but one submarine of a relatively limited submarine force. China, at least the fear goes, can overpower such a potent submarine because there is but one Ohio and many Chinese warships.
Regardless of whatever happens, the U.S. Navy was correct to prioritize the overhaul of this submarine and its deployment to the Indo-Pacific. As the Chinese threat grows and the region prepares for war, America needs every ship it can get.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
