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Asubmarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) is acruise missile that is launched from asubmarine (especially a SSG orSSGN). Current versions are typicallystandoff weapons known asland-attack cruise missiles (LACMs), which are used to attack predetermined land targets with conventional or nuclear payloads.Anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) are also used, and some submarine-launched cruise missiles have variants for both functions.
TheU.S. Navy's first land-attack cruise missile submarines (4 SSG and 1 SSGN) deployed with theRegulus missile from 1958 until they were retired in 1964 with the arrival of thePolarisballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) in the Pacific.[1] The US deployed the short-rangeHarpoon anti-ship missile on submarines beginning in 1981. TheSoviet Navy converted 13Whiskey-class submarines (Project 613) for the land-attack cruise missile (LACM) role in the late 1950s (Whiskey Single Cylinder, Whiskey Twin Cylinder, Whiskey Long Bin), armed with theSS-N-3 Shaddock (П-5) missile.
As Soviet SSBNs armed withsubmarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) became available in the late 1960s, the Shaddock LACM was withdrawn and ananti-ship (ASCM) version replaced it. TheEcho- andJuliett-class submarines of the 1960s had a similar armament history, with the Echo I's converted to attack submarines because they could not accommodate an anti-ship guidance radar. The SS-N-3 ASCM was eventually replaced with theSS-N-12 (P-500). Later, theCharlie- andOscar-classes were designed to use long-range ASCMs, theSS-N-9 (P-120) andSS-N-19 (P-700) respectively. Only the Oscar-class remains in service. In 1990, it was reported that the Soviet Navy had deployed between 50 and 300 SLCMs.[2] The currentAkula- andSeverodvinsk-class submarines are armed with theSS-N-21 (S-10) LACM.[3]
Four U.S. NavyOhio-class SSBNs were converted in the mid-2000s to be able to salvo launch up to 144Tomahawk cruise missiles from their modified vertical launch SLBM tubes, as opposed to launching cruise missiles from torpedo tubes as is done fromattack submarines. The advantage that the submarines have overguided-missile destroyers andcruisers is the ability to remain undetected and launch while submerged. Tomahawk was deployed on US Navy attack submarines beginning in 1983, originally in LACM and ASCM versions, but the ASCM version was withdrawn in the 1990s.
The USSR′sS-10 Granat subsonic cruise missiles designed by theNPO Novator may still be in service in Russia, albeit not deployed.[4] In October 2015, Russia launched long-rangeKalibr (Klub) cruise missiles from its small ships in the Caspian Sea on targets in Syria; in December, several 3M14K cruise missiles from Kalibr-PL system were fired from theimproved Kilo-class submarine B-237Rostov-on-Don in the Mediterranean.[5] The deployment of Kalibr missiles, long-range, low-flying, capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads, available in land-attack, anti-ship and anti-submarine variants, was said to have altered the military balance in Europe and potentially compromised theNATO missile defence system under construction in Europe.[6]
Jane's Defence Weekly reports that theDolphin-class submarines are believed to benuclear armed, offering Israel a sea-based,second strike capability. In adherence toMissile Technology Control Regime rules the US Clinton administration refused an Israeli request in 2000 to purchaseTomahawk long range SLCMs. TheFederation of American Scientists and GlobalSecurity.org report that the four larger torpedo tubes are capable of launching Israeli built nuclear-armedPopeye Turbo cruise missiles[7]
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