In the early 1960s, the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations offered the European NATO partners participation in a Multilateral Force (MLF) of Polaris-armed warships that would include surface ships, including disguised merchant vesels, and submarines. The proposal was inspired by the complaints of NATO countries that the nuclear defense of Europe was beholden to the Americans, who held the bulk of nuclear capability. The result would be a fleet of warships manned and operated by NATO command, instead of an assortment of independent forces ultimately under their own domestic banners. In this way, other NATO powers were theoretically ensured an active role in European defense. Because the US Navy was unwilling to transfer nuclear propulsion technology, the submarines had to be diesel-powered.
According to U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman, US Naval Institute, 1994, concerning the Polaris SSB:
During its reconstruction in 1957-1961, the Italian cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi had installed in it four launchers for Polaris missiles. However, despite successful tests held in 1961-1962, most of the missiles were never shipped to Italy, mostly for political reasons.
Has anyone seen design drawings of the MLF Polaris ships or submarines, with the exception of Giuseppe Garibaldi?
According to U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman, US Naval Institute, 1994, concerning the Polaris SSB:
Their design was relatively straightforward, with one interesting exception. The missiles had to be adjacent to the control room. In previous diesel submarines, intake and exhaust pipes were taken up through the substructure to the sail; if the missiles were aft (as in SSBNs), however, the hot exhaust would have run between the missile tubes, a totally unacceptable arrangement. The solution was to reverse the SSBN configuration and place the missiles forward of the sail. In the end the MLF concept collapsed and no such SSBs were built.
During its reconstruction in 1957-1961, the Italian cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi had installed in it four launchers for Polaris missiles. However, despite successful tests held in 1961-1962, most of the missiles were never shipped to Italy, mostly for political reasons.
Has anyone seen design drawings of the MLF Polaris ships or submarines, with the exception of Giuseppe Garibaldi?