Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Submarine Group NINE

TRIDENT is the Navy's third generation fleet ballistic missile program. Each TRIDENT submarine operates with two distinct crews, the "BLUE" and "GOLD" crews. By having two separate crews, with two commanding officers, the submarine is able to stay on alert for the majority of each year. A typical cycle has one crew on "patrol" while the other trains ashore. This is followed by a combined-crew refit period in port where the boat is prepared for sea. Prior to the boat leaving for another patrol and upon completion of refit, the crews "switch" places, and the cycle begins again. In 1973, the Navy announced the selection of Bangor as the home port for the first squadron on TRIDENT submarines. The base was officially activated as a submarine base on February 1, 1977.