The Navy ordered a class of nuclear - powered submarines armed with long - range strategic missiles on 31 December 1957 .
The Navy tasked Electric Boat with converting two existing attack submarine hulls to ballistic missile - carrying boats to quickly create the deterrent force .
The Navy ordered a class of nuclear - powered submarines armed with long - range strategic missiles on 31 December 1957 , and tasked Electric Boat with converting two existing attack submarine hulls to ballistic missile - carrying boats to quickly create the deterrent force .