SLCM
Encyclopedia
Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile or SLCM's are cruise missile
s that deliver conventional and/or nuclear payloads and are launched from ship
s or submarine
s. Current versions are typically standoff weapons which are used to attack predetermined land targets.
Four US Navy ballistic missile
submarines (SSBN) have been converted to SSGN
s. They are able to launch up to 144 Tomahawk cruise missiles to any number of targets. The advantage that the submarines have over guided missile destroyer
s and cruiser
s is the ability to remain undetected and launch while submerged.
The previous US Navy cruise missile submarines (4 SSG and 1 SSGN) deployed with the Regulus missile
from 1958 until retired in 1964 with the arrival of the Polaris missile submarines in the Pacific.
Specific types of SLCMs include:
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
s that deliver conventional and/or nuclear payloads and are launched from ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s or submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s. Current versions are typically standoff weapons which are used to attack predetermined land targets.
Four US Navy ballistic missile
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
submarines (SSBN) have been converted to SSGN
SSGN
A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that can launch guided missiles. SSGN is the United States Navy hull classification symbol for a nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine. The SS denotes "Ship, Submersible" , the G denotes "guided missile," and the N denotes "nuclear powered"....
s. They are able to launch up to 144 Tomahawk cruise missiles to any number of targets. The advantage that the submarines have over guided missile destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s and cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s is the ability to remain undetected and launch while submerged.
The previous US Navy cruise missile submarines (4 SSG and 1 SSGN) deployed with the Regulus missile
SSM-N-8 Regulus
The SSM-N-8A Regulus was a ship and submarine launched, nuclear armed cruise missile deployed by the United States Navy from 1955 to 1964.-Design and development:...
from 1958 until retired in 1964 with the arrival of the Polaris missile submarines in the Pacific.
Specific types of SLCMs include:
- BrahMosBrahMosBrahMos is a stealth supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a joint venture between Republic of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed BrahMos Aerospace...
(India/Russia) - P-700 GranitP-700 GranitThe P-700 Granit is a Soviet and Russian naval anti-ship cruise missile. Its GRAU designation is 3M45, its NATO reporting name SS-N-19 Shipwreck...
(Russia) - P-500 Bazalt (Russia)
- Tomahawk missile (U.S.A)
- BrahMos II Hypersonic Missile (India/Russia)
- Popeye Turbo (believed to be related to the Israeli made PopeyeAGM-142 Have NapThe Popeye is an air to ground missile developed and in use by Israel, of which several types have been developed for Israeli and export users. A substantially modified long range cruise missile variant of the Popeye Turbo is believed to be used to arm the Israeli submarine based nuclear forces...
) (Israel)