# What's on the USS Michigan's back? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222 "2017-04-25T16:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/1 "2017-04-25T16:21:56Z")
In some photos (of varying ages) there is, pretty clearly, a mini-sub on there. Not so much in this one or others. [![](https://i2.wp.com/media.boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/busan.jpeg?w=780) ](https://i2.wp.com/media.boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/busan.jpeg?w=780) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/2 "2017-04-25T16:31:16Z")
[ASDS,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_SEAL_Delivery_System) it looks like. Those wacky SEALS. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/3 "2017-04-25T16:44:18Z")
From the size and position, I’d say it looks more like a [Seal Delivery Vehicle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAL_Delivery_Vehicle) (SDV) Or to be more accurate, it’s a Dry Deck Shelter, which is capable of holding an SDV. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/4 "2017-04-25T17:09:38Z")
Here’s another picture of a dry deck shelter. [http://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue\_36/SuccessStory.html](http://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue_36/SuccessStory.html) The Advanced SEAL Delivery System mentioned in the first reply was destroyed in a fire. Don’t worry, we only had one, so there’s no further risk to the fleet. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/5 "2017-04-25T19:44:12Z")
> [@](#): > > **What’s on the USS Michigan’s back?** The Upper Peninsula! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/6 "2017-04-25T19:46:04Z")
Could also be a [DSRV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep-submergence_rescue_vehicle) (paging Jack Ryan…) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/7 "2017-04-25T20:16:14Z")
Am I the only one who came here expecting to see an old battleship? I thought battleships were named after states while submarines are named after cities (_Los Angeles_, etc.). As an aside to that, and one reason I remembered the subs=cities thing, there was a controversy when the Navy wanted to name a sub _Corpus Christi_ after the Texas city. As I recall, the controversy wasn’t separation of church and state but the naming of a warship, even indirectly, after a noted pacifist, with undertones that the naming was sacrilegious. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/8 "2017-04-25T20:21:50Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > I thought battleships were named after states while submarines are named after cities (_Los Angeles_, etc.). 1980s-era Los Angeles-class attack submarines are named after cities. The current Virginia-class attack submarines, and the 1980s-era Ohio-class missile submarines (both nuclear missiles and cruise missiles) are named for states, with just a couple exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/9 "2017-04-25T21:11:20Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Am I the only one who came here expecting to see an old battleship? I thought battleships were named after states while submarines are named after cities (_Los Angeles_, etc.). > > … I too thought it would be a … ship ( \* hides from hurled objects for misuse of terms \* ) There’s no Naval designation system for class of warfare like in the Air Force (F=fighter, B=bomber, etc.)? Not saying that USS isn’t fine, but steamship etymology gets stretched for subs. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/10 "2017-04-25T21:37:27Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I too thought it would be a … ship ( \* hides from hurled objects for misuse of terms \* ) > > There’s no Naval designation system for class of warfare like in the Air Force (F=fighter, B=bomber, etc.)? > > Not saying that USS isn’t fine, but steamship etymology gets stretched for subs. There is. We call it a [Hull Classification Symbol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_classification_symbol). For example, the USS Michigan is _SSGN_-727. An SSGN is a guided missile submarine. Interestingly (to me) the Michigan used to be a SSBN (ballistic missile sub) but was converted in 2007. My old ship was the USS Enterprise CVN-65. The CV means it’s a carrier, and the N means nuclear powered. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/11 "2017-04-27T16:01:10Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I too thought it would be a … ship ( \* hides from hurled objects for misuse of terms \* ) > > There’s no Naval designation system for class of warfare like in the Air Force (F=fighter, B=bomber, etc.)? > > Not saying that USS isn’t fine, but steamship etymology gets stretched for subs. My dad served on BB-46, the [USS Maryland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Maryland_(BB-46)). The[USS Enterprise was CVN-65](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CVN-65)), so there must be some organized designation for ships. I see I got whooshed with an answer by 2 days.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/12 "2017-04-27T16:22:11Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Not saying that USS isn’t fine, but steamship etymology gets stretched for subs. I’m confused about ‘steam’ above. I always thought USS stood for **U** nited **S** tates **S** hip, but I guess for a submarine you still get into that whole boat vs ship thing (which I don’t understand in any case). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/13 "2017-04-28T14:08:09Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I’m confused about ‘steam’ above. I always thought USS stood for **U** nited **S** tates **S** hip, but I guess for a submarine you still get into that whole boat vs ship thing (which I don’t understand in any case). I went to re-open this thread just now to correct my own error. I had SS=Steamship in my head as steamship, which was stupid. Then it would’ve been USSS. But ISTR the “the SS Something or other.” No? Why is a sub a boat and not a ship, btw? I think that’s the way it goes. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/14 "2017-04-28T14:17:33Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > 1980s-era Los Angeles-class attack submarines are named after cities. The current Virginia-class attack submarines, and the 1980s-era Ohio-class missile submarines (both nuclear missiles and cruise missiles) are named for states, with just a couple exceptions. Fish don’t vote! (and what is the Seawolf class, chopped liver?) ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/15 "2017-04-28T14:29:20Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I went to re-open this thread just now to correct my own error. > > I has SS=Steamship in my head was steamship, which was stupid. Then it would’ve been USSS. Yes to further clarify, ‘SS’ in USN type designations just stands for ‘submarine’, like DD stands for ‘destroyer’ and BB for ‘battleship’. It was in order to have a two letter designation convention for each type when that system was adopted in 1920. Subsequently three and four letter designations were created, but never just one letter, even if the designation stood for just one word. The standardized prefix USS, United States Ship, before the name of commissioned USN ships of all types dates from 1907. So both those conventions are newer than less formal merchant ship prefix/types like SS for steamship, which is not related to the USN type designations or name prefix. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/16 "2017-04-28T14:40:07Z")
I thought SS stood for Ship, Submersible? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/17 "2017-04-28T15:25:53Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > (and what is the Seawolf class, chopped liver?) One is named for an ugly fish, one is named for a one-term president, and one is named for the state that’s home to professional wrestling. I suppose mild ignominy is the naming convention for those boats. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/18 "2017-04-28T16:21:21Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I thought SS stood for Ship, Submersible? I believe that’s a popular rationalization rather than ever an official concept. There’s no way to make DD or BB stand for two words, and submarines are traditionally referred to as boats rather than ships, which was more appropriate ca. 1920 when the SS designation began. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/19 "2017-04-28T16:33:51Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Why is a sub a boat and not a ship, btw? I think that’s the way it goes. I actually looked this one up - a boat fits on a ship, and early submarines fit that rule. The modern missile/attack subs obviously don’t any more, but the designation stayed. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222/20 "2017-05-02T19:41:04Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > …As an aside to that, and one reason I remembered the subs=cities thing, there was a controversy when the Navy wanted to name a sub _Corpus Christi_ after the Texas city. As I recall, the controversy wasn’t separation of church and state but the naming of a warship, even indirectly, after a noted pacifist, with undertones that the naming was sacrilegious. Sorta kinda. The workaround was to name her the USS _City of Corpus Christi_: [USS City of Corpus Christi - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_City_of_Corpus_Christi_(SSN-705)) > [@August\_West](#): > > …For example, the USS Michigan is _SSGN_-727. An SSGN is a guided missile submarine. Interestingly (to me) the Michigan used to be a SSBN (ballistic missile sub) but was converted… Along with several others: [Cruise-missile submarine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_missile_submarine) > [@Folacin](#): > > I actually looked this one up - a boat fits on a ship… My dear **Folacin** , there’s an exception to every rule: [https://readtiger.com/img/wkp/en/MV\_Blue\_Marlin\_carrying\_USS\_Cole.jpg](https://readtiger.com/img/wkp/en/MV_Blue_Marlin_carrying_USS_Cole.jpg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-on-the-uss-michigans-back/785222.md?page=2)