Nuclear Deterrence. American Cold War policy relied heavily on nuclear deterrence: preventing attack by threatening the attacker with nuclear annihilation in retaliation. Nuclear Submarines at Work: Submarine Missions


Nuclear power and other technical advances allowed submarines to undertake three especially important new missions during the Cold War: nuclear deterrence, anti-submarine warfare, and special operations.

To deter nuclear war, fleet ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) deep under the oceans remained largely undetectable and ever ready to retaliate with long-range nuclear missiles against any would-be aggressor.

America's fast attack submarines (SSNs) stalked enemy missile submarines, ready—upon authorization—to destroy them at the first sign of missile launching. They also provided screens for American aircraft carrier task groups. In crisis situations, fast attacks could be quickly deployed, or "surged," to monitor Soviet activities.

The third new Cold War mission required SSNs, sometimes specifically modified, to support such special operations as reconnaissance or the observation and recording of foreign missile tests, ship movements, and other military activities.

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Anti-Submarine Warfare. Anti-submarine warfare includes a wide range of activities from placing and monitoring passive sensors on the sea floor to actively hunting and, if necessary, destroying enemy submarines.
Special Operations. Submarines have carried out a variety of covert missions related to intelligence gathering and reconnaissance.


Nuclear power and other technical advances allowed submarines to undertake three especially important new missions during the Cold War: nuclear deterrence, anti-submarine warfare, and special operations.

To deter nuclear war, fleet ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) deep under the oceans remained largely undetectable and ever ready to retaliate with long-range nuclear missiles against any would-be aggressor.

America's fast attack submarines (SSNs) stalked enemy missile submarines, ready—upon authorization—to destroy them at the first sign of missile launching. They also provided screens for American aircraft carrier task groups. In crisis situations, fast attacks could be quickly deployed, or "surged," to monitor Soviet activities.

The third new Cold War mission required SSNs, sometimes specifically modified, to support such special operations as reconnaissance or the observation and recording of foreign missile tests, ship movements, and other military activities.


The third new Cold War mission required SSNs, sometimes specifically modified, to support such special operations as reconnaissance or the observation and recording of foreign missile tests, ship movements, and other military activities.