The Ethan Allen class submarines marked a critical turning point in U.S. Navy history, representing the first American submarines designed from the keel up specifically as ballistic missile platforms. Commissioned in the early 1960s, USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) and her sisters were built to carry the Polaris missile system, establishing the sea-based leg of the United States’ nuclear triad during the Cold War. Unlike earlier conversions of attack submarines, the Ethan Allen class featured a dedicated missile compartment and hull form optimized for strategic deterrence patrols.
USS Ethan Allen achieved a historic milestone in 1960 when she successfully launched a live Polaris missile with a nuclear warhead during Operation Frigate Bird, the only full-scale underwater launch of a nuclear-armed ballistic missile ever conducted by the United States. This event validated the concept of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and cemented the role of SSBNs as a cornerstone of Cold War deterrence strategy.
This 1/350 scale model was finished using acrylic paints with oil-based weathering and mounted on a hand-cut hardwood base consistent with the rest of the submarine series. The display base includes the national flag of origin, a 1/350 scale human figure for size comparison, and a QR code linking to additional historical information about the vessel. Subtle weathering was applied to reflect a well-maintained but operational Cold War submarine, emphasizing clean lines and restrained surface variation appropriate to early U.S. SSBNs.
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