The US Navy nuclear mooring at provided an idyllic sheltered cove which was strategically located to allow Polaris to get “on station” in the shortest possible time. The 10,500-ton USS Hun!ey (AS-31) was modified from a Polaris to Poseidon missile support in 1975. part of the Triad will still provide the solid-fueled Polaris specifically for use auxiliary machinery required for the United States with the ability to respond on board submarines. To increase the storing, testing and launching of the with overwhelming force to any nuclear security of the strategic missile strategic Polaris weapon. The first attack. The fact that the United States platform, it was decided to design the successful launch occurred on 20 July could respond to any nuclear attack with system so that launches occurred 1960 by the USS George Washington devastating force has always been well- submerged. (SSBN-598). The coupling of the Polaris publicized. The sea-based portion of the The reasoning was that detection missile with the existing submarines triad has always been the least would be much simpler for the ranks as one of the most-successful susceptible to destruction by opposing adversary if the boats had to sit on the military programs of all time. forces. surface while firing. Even though it Although a 1200-mi range for a The first operational submarine- was a rapid deployment of a radical weapon was very long by 1960 standards, launched ballistic missile utilized by the weapon system, the program was a it had to be increased for one very US Navy was the Polaris (Al). As there complete success. Equipped with a important reason. It limited the area of was an urgent requirement for the single reentry vehicle and a maximum the ocean that Soviet antisubmarine weapon system, it was brought from range of 1200-mi, it provided the sea forces had to search to locate the ballistic concept to an operational unit in less service with a viable strategic weapon. missile submarines. Therefore, the than 6-yrs. In September 1955, the As the 1200-mi range was short for a Polaris Al was followed by the improved Secretary of Defense ordered the Army strategic weapon, it was wisely decided A2 with a range of 1500-mi. The A2 was and Navy to develop land- and sea-based to deploy the existing missile and still equipped with a single reentry strategic missiles with a minimum range continue research to rectify the range vehicle, a severe limitation. The A3 of 1500-mi. The 1500-mi range was problem. When you consider the version increased the payload to three driven by the need to be able to strike difficulties involved with developing a reentry vehicles. That action tripled the Soviet targets from existing NATO new concept weapon system, Polaris number of targets that one submarine installations. The Army’s contribution was a outstanding success. could attack. The improved missiles were was the liquid-fueled Jupiter. The Navy, By itself, the weapon was useless. It back-fitted into existing FBM rather than use a Navalized version of needed a submarine that could allow submarines, saving both time and money. the Jupiter was to produce the solid- for its proper employment. The answer Improvements in the Soviet defenses fueled Polaris. was in the form of the Skipjack (SSN- required a still-longer-ranged weapon to Even though liquid-fueled missiles 585) class of nuclear-powered fast- further complicate search problems. That have advantages such as low cost, simple attack submarines which were resulted in the development of Poseidon, construction and high thrust, the fuel is currently under construction. with a range of 2500-mi and a payload of difficult and dangerous to handle. They Uncompleted fast-attack boats were ten reentry vehicles. The Poseidon are problems that would be too modified by cutting the hull in half. A submarines were the most-powerful dangerous within the confined space of a 130-ft extension was inserted that weapons system to be deployed by man. submerged submarine’s hull. contained two rows of eight vertical One submarine commanding officer was Recognizing the inherent problems missile tubes, fire control systems, responsible for more with liquid fuel, the Navy developed the inertial navigation systems and

explosive fire power than was Fewer boats translates to fewer function was to replenish the forward- expended by all belligerents during sailors, less shore support, fewer bases, deployed squadrons in , Spain, WWII. The survival of just one and ultimately, reduced cost. As both and . They were configured to submarine could rain ruin upon any the Polaris and Poseidon missiles were transport food, spare parts, torpedoes potential attacker, ensuring a hollow relatively short-ranged weapons, it was and missiles. Space to transport victory. During the 1970s and 1980s, imperative that their effectiveness be missiles and torpedoes was mandatory the deterrent patrols ensured that maximized. The only way was to as both are complex weapons systems nuclear war was not a winning increase the numbers of submarines on that require periodic maintenance and proposition. station at one time. The quickest way to overhauls. While most maintenance Although it is stated that nuclear minimize transit time was the use of can be performed by the tender, power gives a unlimited overseas bases. The result was that three complex, periodic overhauls require a endurance, it is still finite. A nuclear overseas bases for ballistic missile Stateside depot. power plant’s uranium core is capable submarines were established; Apra To reduce costs, each submarine of supplying only so much power Harbor, Guam; Rota, Spain; and Holy had two crews. That practice is still in before it requires replacement. Core Loch, Scotland. effect today with modern boats. Even life is determined by factors such as the One fleet ballistic missile submarine though manpower costs are greater for distance and speed that a ship squadron was assigned to each base. A each individual submarine, with two “steams.” Because of the enormous fourth squadron was established in crews, a boat spends much more time costs associated with nuclear reactor Charleston, South Carolina. That on patrol. More time on patrol refueling, the evolution is planned on a resulted in a total of 41 Fleet Ballistic translates into fewer submarines and, 10-yr cycle. If the range a submarine Missile submarines and five tenders. ultimately, less cost. The two crews are must travel before it is on station and Additionally, two T-AK supply vessels called the Blue Crew and Gold Crew. capable of striking targets is reduced, were procured. Their Each crew is fully independent. While fewer boats are required to provide one crew takes the boat on patrol, the coverage. other is back in home port either in

The tender Proteus (AS-19) training or on leave. was kept well-supplied with a The Holy Loch submarine base was full bill of stateside goods established on March 1961 by the including everything from arrival of the first station tender, USS tasty ham hocks to electronic circuit boards thanks to the Proteus (AS-19). The era of deterrent shuttle service between the patrols from the Holy Loch refit site support squadron at began in the same year by the Charleston, South Carolina, departure of the USS George and Holy Loch provided by Washington (SSBN-598) on a deterrent the supply ship USS Betelgeuse (AK-260). Proteus patrol. Throughout the intervening was the first submarine years, hundreds of strategic patrols tender sent to Holy Loch in departed from, or terminated at the March 1961. Like the Scottish site. Submarine crews were submarines they served, the not homeported in Scotland. Keeping tenders were periodically rotated for overhaul and R&R. the crews there would require too much shore support. The idea was to keep the forward submarine bases as austere as practical. Crews would fly in from Stateside bases, such as Charleston or New London, relieve the returning crew, take the boat through refit, and then back out on patrol. In addition to providing more submarines on patrol at a given time, the extra personnel ensured a higher standard of material readiness on each boat. The Holy Loch is located on the central western coast of Scotland. The body of water was so named because

Originally built as a 10,100-ton Fulton-class submarine tender, USS Proteus (AS- 19) was launched late in 1940 at Mare Island. After extensive wartime service she was lengthened and converted to support Polaris missile submarines in 1959/1960. Later, she received a FRAM II refit to accommodate nuclear submarines. This early 1970s photo show Proteus still armed with her wartime battery of four 5-in/38s in single mounts. Her guns were removed during a 1975 refit. sometime in the Middle Ages, a virtually no transit time before a relatively similar lines. They are rnerchantman carrying a cargo of sand patrol arranged into several different from the Holy Land sank in its cold, dark started. That fact alone, made the departments for management waters. According to local legend, the base invaluable, as it was a force purposes. Operations is responsible sand was to have been used for the multiplier that usually could only for the safe operation of the ship at construction of a local church. The Loch is be dreamed of. This location has sea. Communications and navigation surrounded on three sides by high hills been important for seafaring are its area of expertise. Engineering providing a safe anchorage from the rough powers from the Vikings to the Department is the tender’s mobility. weather that is so prevalent in this area. United States on an almost Main propulsion, steam generation, The tender and submarines were moored continuous basis. Many ruins electrical generation, fresh water, in the center of the Loch for a very good remain from the Viking raids, a sanitation, fire fighting and damage reason —security. By not mooring the story by themselves. The Royal control are some of the areas that it to a pier, it made it far more difficult Navy maintained a submarine controls. It will also provide power for terrorists or enemy agents to attack. tender moored there during WWII and water to any ship that is Access to the open ocean is down the and the early Cold War years. alongside for upkeep. Supply handles River Clyde, to the of Clyde. From The central component of all food service and the storage of repair that point, a submarine could go south to four submarine squadrons is the parts and materials. Weapons the Irish Sea, through St. George’s submarine tender. Auxiliary ships, Department has custody of all self- Channel and to the Atlantic, or north such as submarine and defense weapons systems and through the North Channel and then the tenders provides the US Navy magazines. On submarine tenders, North Atlantic. The and the with unparalleled flexibility and that will include spare torpedoes and restricted waters of the Irish Sea and the endurance. A tender is a floating, missiles for the boats. Admin will channels enabled NATO forces to protect mobile ship repair facility. Within have all administrative duties. The the arriving and departing submarines its hull are all the repair shops, final department is the one that is the from interfering adversary forces. It also supply store rooms and weapons reason for the existence of the ship — provided security as to in which direction magazines required to support a Repair. the submarine was heading, not giving any warship. Space on board a Repair Department performs clues as to the potential patrol area. warship is at a premium. Even an repairs on both the mother ship and The base is so far north that it is light is very crowded. any vessels that come alongside. 18-hrs a day during the summer but only Therefore, space for spare parts, Tenders are classified as either a 6-hrs in the winter. It is so light during the material and repair shops is very destroyer tender, submarine tender, or summer that it is possible to read a limited on any ship. Periodically, . However, they can and do newspaper outside at 2 am. submarines, , provide services to any ship that On many days, instead of true daylight, and amphibious ships require the requests them. Additionally, tenders it is kind of’ a gray, murky, light. The support of a tender or shore-based will provide support to ships of other cold, damp climate necessitates the facility for needed repairs and nations. To accomplish its mission, wearing of winter clothes almost year- replenishment for spares. the department controls round. The weather is much better than All tenders are organized along expected due to the influences of the Gulf Stream. Scotland is on the same latitude as Hudson Bay, Canada. As bad as Scottish weather is, it is far more hospitable than Northern Canada. The weather and day length are insignificant when compared to the strategic location of the base. Poseidon- equipped submarines were within range of their targets as soon as they submerged on the beginning of a deterrent patrol. By basing the units in Scotland, there was

The USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) heels over 5-degrees to surface launch her Polaris missile during tests in 1964. Later in the day, she launched another Polaris underwater, which was the preferred procedure for SSBNs. The deadly ICBMs had a range of over 1500-mi. and could target three cities at once. Largest in displacement was the 20,500-ton submarine tender USS Hunley (AS-31) built at Newport News in 1961 and modified in 1973/1 974 to support the Poseidon missile program. Sistership Holland (AS- 32) was built by Ingalls a year later. This 1962 photo shows Hunley as built with a large gantry crane for missile loading located well aft. Inset photo shows the much-altered Hunley at Holy Loch circa 1990 being pushed into her mooring by the harbor tugs Piqua and Natick.

many complex shops. There are weld Holy Loch was the USS Los Alamos decommissioned in 1992. shops that are capable of repairs (AFDB-7). Other assets included Almost as a footnote, Submarine ranging from the replacement of piping for additional office space and Refit Site One, Holy Loch, Scotland to major hull work. Machine shops and storage. A bantam fleet of small craft was officially closed on 3 March 1992 foundries can refurbish metal parts or and tugs rounded out the site. The by the departure of the USS Simon if need be, make them from scratch. small craft were required to move Lake (AS-33) for Stateside duty. After There are also electrical shops that personnel and supplies to shore. Tug that day, the submarines, tender, provide calibration and repair services. boats were mandatory in the mooring drydock, barges, and small boats, all Any item from replacing a wall switch of ships alongside the tender or departed, leaving an empty, but to a generator overhaul can be drydock. beautiful bay. The silent departure of accomplished. Electronic shops are The USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659), the Simon Lake was far more than a available to service communications, has two “last” distinctions in her career ship and crew heading for home. It. radar, electronic warfare and fire that are of interest to any Naval history was the closing of a historical era. No control systems. In essence, a tender is buff The first is that the Rogers was the longer would Fleet Ballistic Missile a one-stop, mobile service center for last Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Naval vessels that is mobile. of the Benjamin Franklin-class to be Submarine operate from the Holy The tender wasn’t the only repair commissioned. She was launched on Loch. Although the nuclear deterrent asset available at Holy Loch and the 21 July 1966 and commissioned on 1 mission can now be accomplished other refit sites. Submarine repair April 1967. Secondly, in 1991, the from Stateside bases, the loss of the requires the services of a floating USS Will Rogers ended an era for the Holy Loch has taken a great deal of drydock. The drydock enables the US Nay when it began the last adventure from the “New Downsized” submarine’s hull to be repaired and deterrent patrol from Submarine Refit Navy. painted. The presences of a drydock Site One, Holy Loch, Scotland. Sadly, elevates a tender to the capability of due to budget reductions and a reduced a shipyard. The drydock assigned to threat of nuclear war, she was