Trident 1 (C-4)
NMUSN-5325: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being lowered. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
Trident 1 (C4) is a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) used aboard Benjamin Franklin and Ohio-class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines (FBM). Initially deployed in October 1979 on USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657), Trident I succeeded the Polaris and Poseidon missiles as the Navy’s primary nuclear deterrent. Trident 1 doubled Poseidon’s range and increased payload capacity. It consisted of three stages (solid propellant motors) and used a stellar-aided inertial guidance system. The Trident I was retired from service in 2004, replaced by the Trident deployed on Ohio-class FBMs. The number of Trident I missiles was limited under the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). The ballistic missile was on display at the Cold War Gallery from 2009 to 2023. It will be stored at the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia.
Specifications
Length: 34 ft.
Diameter: 74 in.
Displacement: 73,000 lbs
Range: 4000 – nm
Armament: Nuclear MIRV
NMUSN-5326: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being lowered. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
NMUSN-5327: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being lowered. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
NMUSN-5328: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being lowered. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
NMUSN-5329: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being lowered. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
NMUSN-5330: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being separated for transportation. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
NMUSN-5331: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being separated for transportation. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
NMUSN-5332: Trident I (C-4), October 2023. Trident is being removed from the Cold War Gallery, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The fleet ballistic missile is being separated for transportation. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph Collection.
090909-N-9671T-006: Trident 1, C-4, 2009. International Historians discuss the fleet ballistic missile at the Cold War Gallery. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.
L55-19-06-02: Trident 1, C-4. The missile breaks the surface while being launched. Official U.S. Navy Photograph. NHHC Photograph Collection.
330-CFD-DN-SC-82-04096: A U.S. Navy Trident I (C-4) fleet ballistic missile (FBM) is launched from the submerged nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine USS Ohio (SSBN-726) during a demonstration and shakedown operation (DASO) off the coast of Florida. This launch, from the first Trident-class submarine, will be the ninth DASO launch of a Trident Missile. After the Ohio's crew successfully completes a series of DASO's , the ship will certified for deployment, 1/17/1982. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
