Navy Submarine Launches 4 Ballistic Missiles Off California Coast

[jpak]

Source: Times of San Diego

The Navy reported an Ohio-class submarine test fired four Trident II D5 nuclear-capable ballistic missiles off the coast of California over a three-day period last week.

The tests come as the San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson enters the disputed waters of the South China Sea on a routine patrol.

The missiles were unarmed and all launches were conducted over the Pacific Test Range. There were several reports of bright lights in the sky during the test period.

When armed, the three-stage Trident missiles carry eight independently targeted nuclear warheads. Each of the Navys fleet 18 Ohio-class submarines patrols with 24 of the missiles, which have a range of 4,600 miles.

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Read more: http://timesofsandiego.com/military/2017/02/19/navy-submarine-launches-4-ballistic-missiles-off-california-coast/

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[PoliticAverse]

1. That'll teach people not to talk about seceding... n/t

[underpants]

27. Cue Ken Burns music and graphics

Dearest Clementine,
It was like Fort Sumpter all over again....

[Buckeyeblue]

34. That made me laugh out loud. Very nice.

[underpants]

35. :-)

[ffr]

2. That should bolster Mr. Orange's flagging poll numbers

Now if we can just get a conflict started somewhere in the world to prop his numbers up, he'll be popular again.

[LA-Italian]

3. San Diego! Why not Connecticut?!

Shouldn't we be launching these missle tests 30 miles off the Connecticut coast where a certain Russian eavesdropping sub has been laying in wait?!

[CTyankee]

4. Geez, I live in CT and I don't want a fucking war around here anywhere close to me!

[NutmegYankee]

17. You live within 50 miles of the premier attack submarine base.

[CTyankee]

20. Oy.

[paleotn]

22. Yep, Sub Base New London in Groton.

Home to a bunch of LA class and Virginia class fast attack boats. Spent time there a long, long time ago.

[CTyankee]

23. sometimes I just blank out on Groton and New London...now I know I'm losing my mind...

[IronLionZion]

12. Home base of the Pacific fleet and one of our largest Naval bases

they do this all the time

On the East coast it's Norfolk

[NutmegYankee]

16. Pearl Harbor is home base of the Pacific Fleet.

[IronLionZion]

19. Correct, but their secondary base is San Diego

[hack89]

13. Who says the message is for Russia? Nt

[Blue Idaho]

5. Dickless is saber rattling...

Unfortunately he doesn't understand the subtle nuanced language of international military action.

[cstanleytech]

7. I doubt Trump had anything to do with this as tests like these tend to be scheduled months ahead of

time.

[jaysunb]

9. Correct

They do this a couple times a year, mostly from Vandenberg Missile Center.

It makes some pretty spectacular contrails.

[harun]

24. +1

[xor]

33. I was thinking it might have something to do with the failed trident test launches by the Brits

Ensure there aren't some unknown issues within in the systems.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Wag the dog after Comey briefed Senate Intelligence Committee Friday?

[Brother Buzz]

8. Bummer the weather was so crappy

When they do these tests in Southern California, the rocket plumes are totally visible in Northern California. I find it spectacular how fast they cross the sky, and it's also a reminder Southern California is actually east of us. A twilight shot is the best because the the sun is over the horizon, but the plume is so high, it still strikes it.

The East Coasters have Kennedy Space Center, but us West Coasters have to settle for Vandenberg shots, or this Navy submarine launch.

[jaysunb]

10. +1 n/t

[sl8]

15. "Bright light seen across Bay Area sky Tuesday morning was Navy missile"

Bright light seen across Bay Area sky Tuesday morning was Navy missile
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/02/14/bright-object-seen-across-bay-area-sky/

BAY AREA — The bright light with a large, glowing tail that slowly moved across the early morning sky Tuesday, seen from the East Bay to the Peninsula, was a Navy missile test, a military spokesman said.

Navy Strategic Systems Programs spokesman John Daniels said an Ohio-class submarine off the coast of California, south of the Bay Area, launched two Trident II D-5 missiles, one at 3:30 a.m. and another at 6:20 a.m. The latter was seen by many around the region.

“It was part of a routine missile test that has been planned for a couple of years,” Daniels said. “This was not in response to any ongoing world activities.”
...

Link to tweet

/photo/1

[Brother Buzz]

18. LOL, I'm a flyweight and...

haven't been conscious to notice squat that early in the morning for a long time. Tell them Brother Buzz says, "They really should schedule them around 7pm for the best optics, and for our viewing pleasure".

[Crash2Parties]

11. Time to check the exiration date on the iodine tablets...

& batteries in the Geiger counter. Oh, and replace the rolls of duct tape that got sticky after sitting since 2011. Good time to change out the HEPA filters, too...

[Rex]

14. A plutocracy could not ask for a better system than America. nt

nt

[Equinox Moon]

21. Does anyone think about the slaughter of ocean-life?

[hack89]

25. Good one! Nt

[MindPilot]

28. Ummm, they don't blow up.

or did you forget your sarcasm tag?

[JohnnyRingo]

26. That should bring California back in line.

A warning shot across the bow of The Golden State should end talk of resisting Washington.

[MindPilot]

30. No, you have it backward.

Those are San Diego home-ported vessels, crewed and commanded by people many of whom do or will call California home.

Message: "we can put one of those motherfuckers on the ninth green at Mar-a-lago, and the boat doesn't even have to leave port".

[sl8]

32. Pretty sure all west coast Ohio class subs are home-ported in Bangor, WA. n/t

[Aristus]

29. I don't think there's any reason to be paranoid about Trump's involvement, if any.

This sounds like a routine test. And it may be more of a message to North Korea than to any secession-minded Californians.

[Brother Buzz]

31. Totally routine

Navy Strategic Systems Programs spokesman John Daniels said an Ohio-class submarine off the coast of California, launched two Trident II D-5 missiles, one at 3:30 a.m. and another at 6:20 a.m.

"It was part of a routine missile test that has been planned for a couple of years," Daniels said. "This was not in response to any ongoing world activities."

[kiranerys]

36. North Korea, or China

I'm more worried about the latter. But yeah, if this is about sending a message, it's about geopolitics, not a warning about the somewhat implausible secession effort by some folks in CA.

[Blue_Tires]

37. What, do they just aim them for an empty spot in the ocean or what?

[jpak]

38. Kwajalein Atoll

[EX500rider]

39. Scary picture.....that's what the end of the world would look like..,

That's several MIRV warheads coming down to target. (dummies in this case thanks god)

[FogerRox]

40. 14 Ohio boomers have Tridents, 4 more Ohio subs carry cruise

missiles.

[EX500rider]

41. The Trident II has been flawless:

The Trident II is one of those rare complex systems that consistently perform flawlessly. They do exist. For example, test firings of production models of the Trident II have never failed. There have been 148 of these missile launches each involving an SSBN (ballistic missile carrying nuclear sub) firing one of their Trident IIs, with the nuclear warhead replaced by one of similar weight but containing sensors and communications equipment.

The recent UK misfire was a Trident I.

The success of the Trident is in sharp contrast to the problems Russia and China have had developing SLBMs. The latest Russian SLBM, the Bulava (also known as R-30 3M30 and SS-NX-30), was almost cancelled because test flights kept failing. The Bulava finally successfully completed its test program on December 23rd, 2011. That made 11 successful Bulava test firings out of 18 attempts. The last two missiles make five in a row that were successfully fired. As a result of this, the Bulava has been accepted into service, with a development test firing success rate of 61 percent, but some last minute glitches led to more tests being scheduled and Bulava has yet to enter service.

Then there is the Chinese JL (Julang) 2 SLBM, which was supposed to enter service in 2008 and still hasn’t. This missile has had a lot of problems, as have the SSBNs that carried them. The 42 ton JL-2 has a range of 8,000 kilometers and would enable China to aim missiles at any target in the United States from a 094 class SSBN cruising off Hawaii or Alaska. Each 094 boat can carry twelve of these missiles, which are naval versions of the existing land based 42 ton DF-31 ICBM. No Chinese SSBN has ever gone on a combat cruise because these boats have been very unreliable and they have no dependable SLBMs to carry.

https://strategypage.com/htmw/hticbm/20170223.aspx