USS Ohio (SSBN-726, now SSGN-726) is an American submarine - the leading unit of the class of the same name. Ohio-class units were nuclear-powered submarines - carriers of ballistic missiles (SSBNs). Units of this type were built in the years 1979-1996. In total, 18 units of this class were created, out of 24 planned. They are all still in active service. The Ohio-class ship is 170 m long, 13 m wide, and has a displacement of 18,750 tons. The maximum underwater speed is approximately 25 knots.
Ohio-class ships were developed as a completely new structure, using the experience gained during the operation of ships of such classes as, for example, Lafayette or James Madison, but also intended to replace the so-called the "41 for Freedom" series. The Ohio-class ships are much larger than their predecessors, both in terms of length and displacement. They could, and many of them still can, carry 24 ballistic missiles compared to only 16 of these weapons on their predecessors. The new ships were also equipped with advanced sonar devices with similar properties to those installed on Los Angeles-class ships. The lead ship of the series - USS Ohio - was built at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton between 1976 and 1979 and entered service in 1981. A year later (1982), the USS Ohio set out on its first patrol with 24 Trident I C-4 ballistic missiles on board. Normal patrol service lasted until 1993, when the unit underwent a major renovation and modernization in the period that lasted until the end of 1994. From January 1995, the unit continued to perform the function of SSBN and performed patrols. However, at the end of 2002, the USS Ohio began a three-year renovation and reconstruction, which resulted in the removal of Trident missiles and their silos adapted to firing BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles, transforming the vessel from the SSBN type to the SSGN. In total, after the reconstruction in 2002-2005, the USS Ohio can carry as many as 154 missiles of this type! It was also adapted to support the actions of special forces. The unit is still in service.
