The development of the Polaris generation of submarines is generally regarded as having had a strong influence on the balance of power between East and West in the 1960s. The US Navy concentrated its production orders on this type, which at that time was the main constituent of the American submarine fleet. The Polaris Class consists of nuclear powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles. Thanks to the nuclear power it is capable of a speed of over 35 knots on the surface and 20 knots submerged and can stay underwater for hundreds of hours. This submarine is equipped with 16 Polaris medium-range guided missiles that can be fired from under water. These missiles are equipped with nuclear warheads and are suitable for surprise attacks. They have a range of over 2,000 km.