Ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs or boomers in American slang) carry submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads for attacking strategic targets such as cities or missile silos anywhere in the world. They are currently universally nuclear-powered to provide the greatest stealth and endurance.(The first Soviet ballistic missile submarines were diesel-powered) They played an important part in Cold War mutual deterrence, as both the United States and the Soviet Union had the credible ability to conduct a retaliatory strike against the other nation in the event of a  first strike. This comprised an important part of the strategy of Mutual Assured Destruction.

        Named for the North Star, is a two-stage ballistic missile, powered by solid fuel rocket motors and guided by a self-contained inertial guidance system independent of external commands or control. The Polaris program started development in 1956. The USS George Washington, the first US missile submarine, successfully launched the first Polaris missile from a submerged submarine on July 20, 1960. The A-2 was essentially an upgraded A-1 and entered service in late 1961; it was fitted on a total of 13 submarines and served until June 1974.(1). Ongoing problems with the W-47 warhead, especially with its mechanical arming and safing equipment, led to large numbers being recalled for modifications, and the U.S. Navy sought a replacement with either a larger yield or equivalent destructive power. The result was the W-58 warhead used as a 'cluster' of three for Polaris A-3, the final model. This replaced the earlier A-1 and A-2 in the US Navy and equipped the British Polaris force. The A-3 had a range extended to 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km) and a new weapon bay housing three Mk 2 re-entry vehicles (ReB or Re-Entry Body in US Navy and British usage); and the new W-58 warhead of 200kT yield. This arrangement was originally described as a 'cluster warhead' but was replaced with the term Multiple Re-Entry Vehicle (MRV). The three warheads were spread about a common target and were not independently targeted. The three warheads were stated to be equivalent in destructive power to a single one megaton warhead. Later A-3 missiles (but not the ReBs) were also given limited hardening to protect the missile electronics against electromagnetic pulse effects while in the boost phase. This was known as the A-3T ("Topsy") and was the final production model. The USN had forward-basing arrangements for its Atlantic-based Polaris fleet with both the United Kingdom and Spain permitting the use of bases at the Holy Loch in Scotland and at Rota in the Bay of Cadiz that were much closer to patrol areas, avoiding the necessity for lengthy transit times from U.S. East Coast bases. This forward-basing arrangement was continued when Poseidon replaced Polaris. Polaris was not accurate enough to destroy hardened targets but would have been effective against dispersed surface targets, such as airfields, radar and SAM sites, as well as military and industrial centers of strategic importance. The military authorities, however, regarded Polaris as but one of a team of players, each with its own function. The task allotted to Polaris of 'taking out' peripheral defenses was well-suited to its characteristics and limitations.

        The Navy's Strategic Systems Program Office directed production of the POSEIDON C3 missile, an improved version of the POLARIS, to maximize the effectiveness of the Navy's FBM weapon system as a deterrent to the outbreak of nuclear war. POSEIDON, which had its roots in POLARIS technology, was a two-stage, solid propellant missile capable of being launched from a submerged FBM submarine. It was only 2 feet longer than the 32-foot POLARIS A3 missile, but had a much larger diameter, 74 versus 54 inches, and was 30,000 pounds heavier. Despite this increase in size, the growth potential of the FBM submarines allowed POSEIDON missiles to fit into the same 16 missile launch tubes that carried POLARIS. POSEIDON was also a 2500 nautical (2880 statute) mile range missile; however, it was outfitted with multiple warheads, each of which could be targeted separately. This capability, known as MIRV, enabled POSEIDON to cover an increasing number of targets. The POSEIDON missile was deployed on 31 of the Navy's 41 FBM submarines. (The first 10 FBM submarines to be built, including the 5 GEORGE WASHINGTON Class and the 5 ETHAN ALLEN Class, were not retrofitted to POSEIDON.) Of the 31 POSEIDON FBM submarines, 12 were backfitted to carry the TRIDENT I (C4) missile. The first launch of a POSEIDON missile from a submerged submarine was successfully conducted on 3 August 1970. The missile was launched from USS JAMES MADISON (SSBN 627) as she cruised submerged off the coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral. The POSEIDON C3 became operational on 31 March 1971, when USS JAMES MADISON (SSBN 627) began her initial operational patrol carrying 16 tactical POSEIDON C3 missiles. With MADISON's deployment, the POSEIDON missile was introduced into the nation's arsenal of operational deterrent weapons and brought to successful fruition the development program that was announced in January 1965 as a successor weapon system to POLARIS. All U.S. POSEIDON SSBNs have terminated their strategic mission. The last POSEIDON SSBN offloaded 16 September 1992

      TRIDENT, the popular name given to the next sea-based strategic weapon system, stems from Roman mythology. Trident II D-5 is the sixth generation member of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program which started in 1956. Systems have included the Polaris (A1), Polaris (A2), Polaris (A3), Poseidon (C3), and Trident I (C4). The first deployment of Trident II was in 1990 on the USS Tenessee (SSBN 734). While Trident I was designed to the same dimensions as the Poseidon missile it replaced, Trident II is a little larger.Using advanced technology in propellants, electronics, and other materials, the TRIDENT I (C4) missiles have a much greater range than POSEIDON, carrying a full payload to a range of 4000 nautical (4600 statute) miles and a reduced payload to even greater ranges. The TRIDENT I (C4) missile is a three-stage, solid propellant, inertially guided, submarine launched missile. It has a range and payload greater than the POSEIDON missile, thus providing a several-fold increase in the operational area of the U.S. submarine fleet. The C4 is deployed in the new TRIDENT submarine. In addition, one of the C4 design requirements was the capability to be backfitted into the then existing POSEIDON submarines. The first tactical patrol of a backfitted POSEIDON submarine was in October 1979, and the first TRIDENT submarine deployed in September 1982 from Bangor, WA. The TRIDENT/OHIO Class SSBNs are quieter, more capable, and more difficult to detect than their predecessors, the POSEIDON Class SSBNs. The TRIDENT II (D5) is a three-stage, solid propellant, inertially guided missile. TRIDENT II (D5) is launched underwater from the OHIO Class of nuclear-propelled TRIDENT submarines, each of which has 24 launch tubes. The TRIDENT II and its predecessor TRIDENT I have ranges of more than 4000 nautical miles (4600 statute miles). TRIDENT II is more sophisticated, with a significantly greater payload capability. The ten Trident submarines in the Atlantic fleet were initially equipped with the D-5 Trident II missile. The eight submarines in the Pacific were initially equipped with the C-4 Trident I missile. In 1996 the Navy started to backfit the eight submarines in the Pacific to carry the D-5 missile.

USS Lafayette (SSBN-616), the lead ship of her class of ballistic missile submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named to honor Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the American Army during the American Revolutionary War. Her keel was laid down on 17 January 1961 by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched 8 May 1962, sponsored by First Lady of the United States Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of the 35th President of the United States, and commissioned 23 April 1963 at Groton, Connecticut, with Commander P. J. Hannifin in command of the Blue Crew and Commander James T. Strong in command of the Gold Crew

USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619), a Lafayette-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the seventh President of the United States. The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 23 July 1960 and her keel was laid down on 26 April 1961. She was launched on 15 September 1962 sponsored by Mrs. Estes Kefauver, and commissioned on 3 July 1963, with Commander Alfred J. Whittle in command of the Blue Crew and Commander James B. Wilson in command of the Gold Crew. Following commissioning, the submarine sailed via the Panama Canal to the East Coast. 1October and 11 October, during shakedown training out of Cape Canaveral, Florida, she successfully launched Polaris A-2 missiles; and, on 26 October, she sent Polaris A-3X missiles into space in the first submerged launching of its type; and she repeated the feat on 11 November. Five days later and six days before his assassination, on 16 November 1963, President John F. Kennedy — embarked in USS Observation Island (EAG-154) — observed Andrew Jackson launch another Polaris A-2 missile from a point off Cape Canaveral and congratulated Comdr. Wilson and his crew for "impressive teamwork."

USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625), a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Henry Clay (1777–1852), the American statesman and orator. She was launched on 30 November 1962 sponsored by Mrs. Green B. Gibson, and commissioned on 20 February 1964, with Commander Thomas A Bryce in command of the Blue Crew and Commander John C. Lewis in command of the Gold Crew. Henry Clay conducted shakedown off the coast of Florida beginning 28 February 1964. She completed her first submerged firing 6 April 1964 and returned to Newport News 29 May 1964. The submarine then sailed to her new home port, Charleston, S.C., and departed for her first deployment 17 August 1964. Joining America's strong and mobile deterrent force beneath the seas, she began her operations in the protection of the free world. By January 1967 she had completed 11 patrols as a ready and powerful deterrent to aggression.

USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626), a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Senator Daniel Webster (1782–1852).Webster was originally built with planes mounted above the hull near the bow, giving way to the submariner's nickname "Old Funny Fins". This unique configuration was an attempt to reduce the effect of porpoising, but they increased water resistance and lowered her overall speed. During her first overhaul, these unusual planes were removed and standard fairwater planes were installed

USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634), a James Madison-class ballistic missile submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for General Thomas J. Jackson, CSA, though the earlier two were known simply as Stonewall. The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif. on 21 July 1961 and her keel was laid down on 4 July 1962. She was launched on 30  November 1963 sponsored by Miss Julia Christian McAfee, and commissioned on 26 August 1964, with Commander John H. Nicholson in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Richard A. Frost in command of the Gold Crew. The fleet ballistic missile submarine (FBM) entered post-shakedown availability on 13 February 1965, then made final preparations at Bangor, Washington, for overseas movement. In April, she began her first strategic deterrent patrol.