You might find this interesting.
The primary objective behind the Virginia class (NSSN) was to produce a submarine that offered an approximation of Seawolf performance at
significantly reduced cost.
The primary sacrifices were a reduction in warload (from 52 weapons on Seawolf to 22+12 on Virginia) and being more suited to clandestant and coastal
operations instead of the blue water concept of the more potent and expensive Seawolf's.
Tthe first of class will be named SSN 774 Virginia and the second SSN 775 Texas.
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These boats form the backbone of the U. S. Navy's nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet. Their primary missions are to hunt enemy submarines and
surface ships, launch cruise-missile strikes on land-based targets and gather intelligence.
The final 23 submarines of the 62-ship class are known as improved 688s. These are equipped with BSY-1 combat systems, as well as retractable bow
planes and hardened sails to break through ice during Arctic operations.
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Only a single boat of this class was built before it was decided to go with the larger Los Angeles class. The turbine-electric drive installed in this
boat for testing purposes, limits speed to less then 30 knots submerged. This boat has now been decommissioned and scrapped.
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The single boat in this class was built to test the new S5G nuclear reactor, which uses convection currents to circulate cooling water through the
reactor to the heat exchange.
She still is serving with the Atlantic Fleet as a research vessel.
She will decommission in January of 1999.
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Originally named Thresher class, this was changed after the first of the class Thresher was lost while doing test deep dives in Apr./63. These boats
had an improved tear drop shape and established the basic design for all later submarines.
Designed from the start with a mission that leaned heavily towards anti-submarine warfare,this was later changed when Harpoon missiles were fitted
into these boats.
They have all been discarded.
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This submarine was the only one of its kind in 1961. The Halibut had the distinction, for the U.S.N., of being the only nuclear powered submarine that
was a launch platform of Regulus I and II missiles. This missile system later proved to be unsatisfactory due to improvements in ballistic missile
technology.
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Triton was originally conceived as a radar picket submarine able to operate on the surface at high speed, but well ahead of a task force, to provide
information concerning enemy air attack, electronic surveillance and to control fighter interception. Triton could then submerge to avoid attack and
operate as a fully operational submarine.
To be able to achieve this high speed, Triton was designed with a two reactor propulsion plant (the only United States nuclear submarine ever to have
been thus built), a very sharp knife-like bow and given a high reserve buoyancy.
When originally designed, Triton's reactors' output was rated at 34,000 horse power, however she achieved 45,000 horse power on sea trials, and
attained a speed of over 30 knots on the surface.
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The first series production nuclear attack submarines in the US Navy. These utilized some of the technologies forged in the Nautilus and Seawolf.
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The second nuclear powered submarine in the US Navy. The Seawolf used a different reactor then the Nautilus, but this was changed to a style morelike
today's submarines in the late 1950's. The Seawolf set many records for nuclear powered submarines that still stand today.
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These submarines are the first new top-to-bottom attack submarine design since the early 1960s and will be the fastest, quietest, most heavily armed
undersea vessels in the world. This class performs a wide spectrum of crucial military assignments - from underneath the Arctic icepack to littoral
regions anywhere in the world.
Their missions include surveillance, intelligence collection, special warfare, cruise missile strike, mine warfare, and anti-submarine and
anti-surface ship warfare.
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A very successful design that every other submarine design has been compared to. They have now been succeeded by the Los Angeles class and all will be
gone by 2001, except Parche which is in use as a research vessel.
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The Tullibee was a submarine with many firsts, she was was the first turbo-electric
nuclear sub, a technology that made Tullibee far and away
the quietest SSN in the world until the Lipscomb was launched many years
later. First SSN to have a bow sonar, first to have the torpedo tubes moved back to accomodate the bow sonar. She was designed for a very small crew,
with lots of automation. The Thresher/Scorpion disasters forced the crew count up towards 100 making it very cramped. Her small size did make her the
stealthiest boat in the world.
The design was an experimental design that really became the basis for future subs.
The "Shark fin" is in reality the PUFFS sonar that she was fitted with for tests
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The first series-produced subs with the now familiar tear drop shape. These boats utilized some of the technologies forged in the Nautilus and
Seawolf.
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This submarine was the United States Navy's first operational nuclear submarine and was used as a test bed for later submarines. Many of the design
features of this boat are still featured on today's high tech underseas platforms.
She has been preserved as a museum.
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A completely new design of SSBN sharing very little with the previous classes, these are the famed Trident Ballastic Missile Submarines, the largest
submarines ever built for the U.S. Navy. These vessels pack more firepower then many countries.
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The first Lafayette class boats were deployed in 1963. Essentially a larger and improved version of the previous Ethan Allen class.
The James Madison class are identical except for being fitted with the longer range Polaris A-3 ballistic missile when built.
The Benjamin Franklin's were James Madison's also until the early 1980's when it was decided to upgrade these boats with a quieter propulsion
system and longer range more powerful Trident C-4 missiles.
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These are in fact James Madison class SSBN's that have been modernized to carry the Trident C-4 ballistic missile and have had a quieter propulsion
plant installed.
All have been removed from service, except two that were converted for special operations. These two will be decommissioned in 1999.
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Designed from the outset as missile submarines, these were well designed with very deep diving abilities and were quite quiet for their day.
Under the SALT I treaty some of these boats had their missile tubes removed and were redesignated attack submarines (SSN)
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Identical in every way to the Lafayette's and originally to be part of that class, these boats were originally fitted with the slightly longer range
Polaris A-3 over the A-2 installed in the first 9 boats.
The Benjamin Franklin's were originally of this class but when they were refitted with new propulsion plants and more potent Trident C-4 missiles,
their class designation was changed.
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George Washington was the US's first submarine to be armed with ballistic missiles. The navy ordered the just-begun attack submarine Scorpion (SSN
589) to be completed as a missile submarine on December 31,1957. This hull was actually cut apart to install the missile compartment. The hull was
redesignated SSGN 598 and completed as George Washington.
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George Washington was the US's first submarine to be armed with ballistic missiles. The navy ordered the just-begun attack submarine Scorpion (SSN
589) to be completed as a missile submarine on December 31,1957. This hull was actually cut apart to install the missile compartment. The hull was
redesignated SSGN 598 and completed as George Washington.
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[Edited on 9-5-2003 by barba007]
