Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Military Cuts Summary
Message-ID: <13424@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 23 Jan 90 03:57:46 GMT
References: <13376@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute (formerly OGC), Beaverton, OR
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From: terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker)
In article <13376@cbnews.ATT.COM> randy@ms.uky.edu (Randy Appleton) writes:
>
>
>Here is my summary of the "where is the most cost effective place to cut the
>military" question.  Any ideas out there?
>
[stuff deleted]
>
>3) Converting old SSBN's to SSN's.  I don't know yet.  There may be some 
>technical difficulties, (like SSBN sonar stinks, and the conversion would
>then cost to much).
>[Anybody know.  Somebody must]
>
There is an article in the current issue (Jan90 I think) of the USNI
Proceedings that discusses use of the few SSBNs that will have some
service life left when they are converted from the active SSBN role.
Most of the comments I used in my original posting were based on the
points in this article.  The author had much less ambitious plans,
using them as Reserve Force subs to maintain a supply of submariners.
Proposed mission were mine laying (and sweeping), special forces
support (2 converted SSBNs already do that), and decicated ASW
training platforms.  Nothing like conversion to an attack boat.  The
bottom line was that such a conversion would barely be cost effective,
but would abviously be less than new construction for similar
missions.  The author sponsored the idea mainly to get some subs in
the NRF (Naval Reserve Force).  As NRF vessels they would have limited
time underway and the hull life could be extended.  The point in
relation to your proposals is that converting the SSBNs for these
limited missions would be barely cost effective, imagine how much more
would be needed to make them viable ASW boats.

-- 
Terry Rooker
terryr@cse.ogi.edu