<P> Given the lack of large scale conventional naval warfare since 1945, with the USN's role being primarily that of power projection, the submarine service did not fire weapons in anger for very many years . The BGM - 109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) was developed to give naval vessels a long range land attack capability other than direct shore bombardment and strikes by aircraft flying off carriers . Submarines fitted with the Tomahawk could hit targets up to 1,000 miles inland . The mainstay of the Tomahawk equipped vessels in the early days of the missile's deployment were the Iowa - class battleships, and the submarine fleet . The Tomahawk was first used in combat on 17 January 1991, on the opening night of Operation Desert Storm . On that day, for the first time since the surrender of Japan in 1945, an American submarine fired in combat, when 12 Tomahawks were launched by U.S. boats in the eastern Mediterranean . Since then, the Tomahawk has become a staple of American campaigns, seeing use in three wars . It has also been exported to the United Kingdom, which has also fitted it to submarines . The use of the Tomahawk has seen a change in the design of attack submarines . The Tomahawk can be fired through 21 - inch torpedo tubes, but the Virginia - class and Los Angeles - class submarines since USS Providence (SSN - 719) have been fitted with vertical launch systems to enable them to carry more of the weapons . </P> <P> In the early 21st century, the USN submarine fleet is made up entirely of nuclear - powered vessels . </P> <Ul> <Li> Ohio class (18 in commission)--14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), 4 guided missile submarines (SSGNs) </Li> <Li> Virginia class (11 in commission, 5 under construction, 2 on order)--fast attack submarines </Li> <Li> Seawolf class (3 in commission)--attack submarines </Li> <Li> Los Angeles class (34 in commission, 2 in reserve)--attack submarines </Li> </Ul> <Li> Ohio class (18 in commission)--14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), 4 guided missile submarines (SSGNs) </Li>

How many submarines are there in the us navy
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