From 1960 to 1966 the U.S. Navy launched a total of 41 boomers, called the "41 for Freedom." Every SSBN had two full crews, Blue and Gold, rotating at approximately 100-day intervals so that the ship might remain more continuously on patrol.
Each SSBN carried 16 Polaris nuclear missiles. Conversion to more accurate Poseidon missiles, starting in 1969, required only modification of the existing SSBNs. And even more advanced Trident I missiles, from 1979 onward, could be accommodated on the last 12 of the original 41 SSBNs.
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