USS George Washington (SSBN-598) underway at sea, circa in the 1970s — U.S. Navy · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)

Strategic

A large nuclear-powered submarine that hides in the deep ocean carrying long-range nuclear missiles. Because it is almost impossible to find, it guarantees that a country could still respond even after a surprise attack.
At least one SSBN from each major nuclear power is believed to be on patrol at any moment.

Well-known examples

**Ohio class**PH1 James Preston · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

**Columbia class**U.S. Navy illustration/released · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

**Borei class**Ildus Gilyazutdinov · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

**Vanguard class**CPOA(Phot) Tam McDonald · OGL v1.0 · Wikimedia Commons

**Triomphant class**Marine nationale · Licence Ouverte · Wikimedia Commons

**Type 094 (Jin)**CSR Report RL33153 China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress by Ronald O'Rourke dated February 28, 2014 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Well-known examples — All

Ohio & Columbia class (USA) Borei class (Russia) Vanguard & Dreadnought class (UK) Triomphant class (France) Jin class (China) Arihant class (India)

Countries with the most — Submarines

See all →

1Russian Federation66
2United States66
3China61
4Iran, Islamic Rep.25
5Korea, Dem. People's Rep.24
6Japan23
7Korea, Rep.22
8India18
9Turkiye14
10United Kingdom10