A Cold War Legacy and 21st Century Vanguard: USS Michigan

This episode takes us beneath the surface, into the hidden world of one of the Navy’s most formidable submarines. USS Michigan was commissioned on September 11, 1982, as part of the Ohio class, carrying the weight of America’s nuclear deterrent during the darkest days of the Cold War. Later, she was transformed into a guided missile submarine, bristling with Tomahawks and carrying special operations forces into the 21st century.

But this story is not just about steel and missiles. It is about the sailors who called her home, the long patrols, the close calls, and the friendships forged under the sea. I was there, and I can tell you firsthand that the sea does not give up its lessons easily. In this episode, we honor both the history and the human element that made Michigan more than a machine.