Regulus missile submarines
USS Grayback, one of the five submarines that operated Regulus missiles | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Operators | United States Navy |
| Succeeded by |
|
| Built | 6 March 1953 to 4 January 1960 |
| Planned | 16 |
| Completed | 5 |
| Active | 0 |
| Lost | 0 |
| Retired | 5 |
| Preserved | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 311–350 ft (95–107 m) (depending on class) |
| Beam | 27–29 feet (8.2–8.8 m) |
| Draft | 17–28 feet (5.2–8.5 m) |
| Complement | 5-9 officers, 54-88 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
The Regulus missile submarines were a group of submarines operated by the United States Navy (US Navy) capable of carrying the Regulus cruise missile. Between 1959 and 1964, a total of five boats were used to undertake the first submarine-based nuclear deterrent patrols by the United States. Regulus submarines were used for this task until 1964, when sufficient ballistic missile submarines carrying the Polaris ballistic missile became available.