List of Sturgeon-class submarines

Black-and-white photo of submarine being slid into water during launching. Dozens of people are standing on top of it.
Launching of USS Tunny (SSN-682)

Named after the lead boat, the Sturgeon class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) served with the United States Navy from the late 1960s to the mid-2000s. With a submerged displacement of 4,780 tons, its successors were the 6,920-ton Los Angeles class, the first of which was commissioned in 1976.[1][2] The Sturgeon class was designed with digital combat systems and more quieting features than its predecessor, the Thresher/Permit class.[3] As SSNs, Sturgeon-class submarines were designed to primarily perform anti-submarine warfare operations. Seven different primary contractors constructed the 37 boats of the class, making it the second-most numerous nuclear-powered warship class in the world after the 62-boat Los Angeles class.[1]

USS Pargo (SSN-650) surfaced in Arctic ice.

In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy identified the need to reengineer the Thresher/Permit class, the boats of which were then being constructed. In pursuit of high-speed operations, many design aspects were sacrificed.[4] To address such deficiences, the Sturgeon class was created. This class differed from its predecessor by having an enlarged and relocated sail to accommodate additional external sensors; a second periscope was also added. Additionally, the fairwater planes on the sail could be rotated 90 degrees to allow breaking through relatively thin ice.[4] The hull was lengthened from about 278 ft (85 m) to about 292 ft (89 m); this, coupled with the larger sail, reduced the class's speed by 2 knots (2.3 mph; 3.7 km/h) compared to the Thresher/Permit class.[5] Internally, the class's layout was rearranged to improve habitability and to admit more weapons as compared to its predecessor.[4] The class was further redesigned with SUBSAFE program rules following the loss of Thresher in April 1963.[6] Among the range of armaments used by the class were the Mark 48 torpedo, the Harpoon anti-ship missile, the Tomahawk cruise missile, and the SUBROC nuclear anti-submarine missile.[1][7]

Starting with USS Archerfish (SSN-678), the hull was lengthened by 10 ft (3 m) to allow a larger living and working space compared to previous boats of the class. Nine boats incorporated this extension.[7] Other modifications included the addition of a Dry Deck Shelter (an external lockout chamber capable of accommodating SEAL Delivery Vehicles) to six boats to enable covert insertion and extraction of U.S. Navy SEALs.[7]

  1. ^ a b c Chant 2005, pp. 72–73, 76.
  2. ^ "USS Los Angeles (SSN 688)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  3. ^ Chant 2005, p. 72.
  4. ^ a b c Friedman 1994, p. 145.
  5. ^ Friedman 1994, p. 146.
  6. ^ Friedman 1994, pp. 143–147.
  7. ^ a b c "SSN-637 Sturgeon class". Federation of American Scientists. Fas.org. Archived from the original on 11 December 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.