What is the maximum number of missiles that a 'Polaris' submarine could carry?
UGM-27 Polaris by the Special Project Office's Missile Branch under Rear Admiral Roderick Osgood Middleton, and is still under the Special Project Office. Admiral Burke later was instrumental in determining the size of the Polaris submarine force, suggesting that 40-45 submarines with 16 missiles each would be sufficient. Eventually, the number of Polaris submarines was fixed at 41. The was the first submarine that was capable of deploying a submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) the US developed. The responsibility of the development of SLBMs was given to the Navy and the Army. The Air Force was charged with developing a land-based intermediate range
UGM-27 Polaris of preparing a launch in rough weather was another major drawback for these designs, but rough sea conditions did not unduly affect Polaris' submerged launches. It quickly became apparent that solid-fueled ballistic missiles had advantages over cruise missiles in range and accuracy, and could be launched from a submerged submarine, improving submarine survivability. The prime contractor for all three versions of Polaris was Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, now Lockheed Martin. The Polaris program started development in 1956. , the first US missile submarine, successfully launched the first Polaris missile from a submerged submarine on July 20, 1960. The A-2