A more logical Naval Vessel

[Mr. B]

Take SSBN sub. Remove missles. Convert space to holding commando units. (ie SEALS D. Force rangers ETC)

Use old missle hatches to instead release the troops at shallow waters for infiltration into enemy territory. Also to release small boats(inflatable ones,small motors) through tubes.


well?

PLus it has no 16" guns.

[Sea Skimmer]

I think this is conversion would give a level of capacity that’s not useful. Inserting a SEAL team or Delta group does not need this much space, while a larger operation is almost certainly going to need air and naval support.

The Special Ops Sea Wolf pretty much has SEAL's covered, and an SSN can also do that fairly well. For larger scale operations, you're going to need the assets of a MEU. US Army Special forces would also be better served staging through a MEU.

If you really want a dedicated Special ops platform, you need a surface ship. I'd suggest using the hull of a Bob Hope Sea lift ship as a base. Or one of the Redundant Wasp's the USN doesn’t want and the Marines don’t need. Congress seems to be adding another to the budget every year.

Those abandon liners building a Ingalls might also work..

[Howedar]

Already planned for the SSGN Ohios. Not every former missile tube will be filled with Tomahawks: I think they're leaving four or so for SEAL room.

[Wicked Pilot]

We already have submarines that can do what you're proposing. Refitting SSBN for strickly SEAL insertion missions would be a waste of time, money and manpower. Besides subs, you can insert special forces very effectively via other means such as surface ships and aircraft.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

At least it isn't 2 miles long and equipped with weapons that would destroy the ship from recoil.

[phongn]

The first four Ohios are being converted into that configuration, IIRC. There are also two old converted SSBNs that perform that mission and SSN-23 Jimmy Carter will do that as well.