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ETHAN ALLEN
CLASS
SUBMARINE
The Ethan Allan class submarines had just
one mission: to launch the Polaris A-2 ballistic
missiles against the Soviet Union or any nations that
threatened the United States.
Polaris was a revolutionary weapon system.
Once launched from
a moving underwater platform, the two-stage,
solid-fueled, nuclear-armed weapon was essentially
invulnerable to counterattack.
The A-2 was first launched from the Ethan Allen
submarine
in October 1961.
The United States has had an operational
SLBM force since November 1960, when the USS George
Washington was put out to sea on patrol. A total of five submarines were fitted with
the 1200 nautical-mile-range A-1 Polaris missiles. To
improve the capability, the 1500 nautical-mile-range A-2 Polaris was
developed.
The
7,800-ton Ethan
Allen submarine class was larger than
the George Washington and has a test depth of 1,300
feet. These submarines were functionally similar to the George Washington, but
longer and more streamlined and with torpedo tubes
reduced to four. In the early and mid-1970s, they were
upgraded to Polaris A3.
The Ethan Allen submarine
fired the only nuclear-armed Polaris
missile ever launched on 6 May 1962. The Polaris
missile was launched while the Ethan Allen was submerged
in the Pacific, and its nuclear warhead was detonated
over the South Pacific. To date,
because of the ban on atmospheric testing, this is the
only complete proof test of a U.S. strategic missile.
A Ethan Allen submarine
was powered by steam turbines that get their energy
from water-cooled nuclear reactors. If it
were not for the needs and endurance of the human crew,
these submarines could stay on station almost
indefinitely. Each submarine carried a crew of 12 to 14
officers and about 130 enlisted.
To comply with SALT II
treaty limitations as the Ohio-class ballistic missile
submarines entered service in the early 1980s, the Ethan
Allens were refitted and officially designated SSNs
(fast attack submarines.) Their missile tubes were
filled with concrete. Sam Houston and John Marshall were
further converted to carry SEALs or other Special
Operations Forces, accommodating 67 troops each with dry
deck shelters to accommodate SEAL Delivery Vehicles or
other equipment. The Ethan Allen-class submarines were
decommissioned between 1983 and 1992.
Ethan Allen and her sister SSBNs were the product of the Cold
War arms race, a 46-year competition between the United
States and Soviet Union to design and build increasingly
sophisticated nuclear weapons. The Ethan Allen submarines, together
with the George Washington, Lafayette, James Madison,
and Benjamin Franklin classes comprised the "41 for
Freedom" that were the Navy's main contribution to the
nuclear deterrent force through the late 1980s.
We build this primarily wood Ethan Allen submarine
model in three popular scales:
25"long
x 7.5" tall x 3.5" wide (1/200 scale)
$1,850 
Shipping and insurance in the US included.
Other places: $200 flat rate.
This model
is in stock and can be shipped within five business
days.
35" long
(1/144 scale)
$2,790 Shipping and insurance in the US included.
Other
places: $300 flat rate.
50"long
(1/100 scale)
$4,190 Shipping and insurance in the US included.
Other places: $400 flat rate.
Learn more about the
Ethan Allen
class submarine here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Allen-class_submarine
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