Which type of submarine carries strategic missiles for land-attack?

• A. Carry torpedoes for anti-surface warfare.
• B. Perform reconnaissance and patrols without missiles.
• C. Carry strategic missiles for land-attack.
• D. Provide anti-submarine warfare training.

Answer: (C)

Submarines that carry strategic missiles for land-attack are ballistic missile submarines. Their main purpose is long-range deterrence: they stay hidden in the world’s oceans and can launch long-range ballistic missiles that target land areas, often with nuclear or conventional warheads. This capability defines them as the strategic leg of a nation’s deterrent forces, designed specifically for delivering powerful land strikes from beneath the sea.

This differs from submarines built for anti-surface warfare that rely on torpedoes to attack ships, from those that patrol or reconnoiter without missiles, and from training submarines focused on anti-submarine warfare rather than combat patrols.