SSBNs

As long as we had SSBNs, the Soviet Union, or at least its major cities and (most important to the leaders of the Soviet Union) the Soviet leadership, was going to be hit by firepower of a magnitude that would have had Admiral Ackbar croaking with fright.

Matthew Yglesias » Cold War Hawks and the Soviet Economy 2010

The result of the attack is the fracturing of the GIUK gap, which allows the Soviet Northern Fleet to place all their SSBNs (ballistic submarines) in friendly-controlled waters with a few SSNs (fast-attack submarines) to stand guard (a bastion defense).

Matthew Yglesias » Defending Countries that Don’t Defend Themselves 2009

SSBNs, but such threats - or other technical problems - cannot be ruled out over the long term.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010

This decision will not affect the number of deployed nuclear warheads on SSBNs.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010

The NPR concluded that ensuring a survivable U.S. response force requires continuous at-sea deployments of SSBNs in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the ability to surge additional submarines in crisis.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010

To support this requirement, the United States currently has fourteen nuclear-capable Ohio-class SSBNs.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010

Strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) and the SLBMs they carry represent the most survivable leg of the U.S. nuclear Triad.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010

Today, there appears to be no credible near or mid-term threats to the survivability of U.S. SSBNs.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010

However, given the stakes involved, the Department of Defense will continue a robust SSBN Security Program that aims to anticipate potential threats and develop appropriate countermeasures to protect current and future SSBNs.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010

Depending on future force structure assessments, and on how remaining SSBNs age in the coming years, the United States will consider reducing from 14 to 12 Ohio-class submarines in the second half of this decade.

Steven G. Brant: Wall Street, Nuclear Weapons, MLK Jr., and the Road From Ruin 2010