Seawolf class submarine
Encyclopedia
The Seawolf class is a class of nuclear-powered
fast attack submarines (SSN
) in service with the United States Navy
. The class was the intended successor to the , ordered at the end of the Cold War
in 1989. At one time, an intended fleet of 29 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period, later reduced to twelve submarines. The end of the Cold War and budget constraints led to the cancellation in 1995 of any further additions to the fleet, leaving the Seawolf class limited to just three boats. This, in turn, led to the design of the smaller .
s such as the and attack submarines such as the in a deep ocean environment.
Seawolf class hulls are constructed from HY-100 steel
, which is stronger than the HY-80 steel employed in previous classes, in order to withstand water pressure at greater depths. The boats also have extensive equipment to allow for "littoral", or "shallow-water" operations. The exact diving depth of this class of boats remains a debatable subject, and will likely remain so for many years to come, most likely long after their retirement. Most reputable sources vary from 1600-2000 feet as a likely test depth, and from 2400-3200 feet for collapse depth. These figures are consistent with their original design parameters and not unlikely. The boats are able carry up to 50 UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile
s for attacking land and sea surface targets. As in all nuclear submarines, the load out of equipment, weapons and crew affects available excess buoyancy and thus operational parameters.
The projected cost for twelve submarines of this class was $33.6 billion, but after the Cold War, construction was stopped at three boats.
The class uses the more advanced ARCI Modified AN/BSY-2 combat system, which includes a new, larger spherical sonar
array, a wide aperture array (WAA), and a new towed-array sonar. Each boat is powered by a single S6W nuclear reactor
, delivering 52,000 hp (39 MW) to a low-noise pump-jet
.
and Navy SEAL forces. The MMP may also be used as an underwater splicing chamber for tapping of undersea fiber optic cables. This role was formerly filled by the decommissioned . The Jimmy Carter was modified for this role by Electric Boat
at the cost of $887 million.
Jimmy Carter is currently homeported at Naval Base Kitsap
. In 2006, the Navy announced that it would homeport all three of its Seawolf submarines in Bangor
.
Nuclear marine propulsion
Nuclear marine propulsion is propulsion of a ship by a nuclear reactor. Naval nuclear propulsion is propulsion that specifically refers to naval warships...
fast attack submarines (SSN
Hull classification symbol
The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...
) in service with the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. The class was the intended successor to the , ordered at the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
in 1989. At one time, an intended fleet of 29 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period, later reduced to twelve submarines. The end of the Cold War and budget constraints led to the cancellation in 1995 of any further additions to the fleet, leaving the Seawolf class limited to just three boats. This, in turn, led to the design of the smaller .
Design
Compared to previous Los Angeles class submarines, Seawolf submarines are larger, faster, and significantly quieter; they also carry more weapons and have twice as many torpedo tubes, for a total of 8. As a result of their advanced design, however, Seawolf submarines were much more expensive. They were intended to combat the then-threat of large numbers of advanced Soviet ballistic missile submarineBallistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
s such as the and attack submarines such as the in a deep ocean environment.
Seawolf class hulls are constructed from HY-100 steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, which is stronger than the HY-80 steel employed in previous classes, in order to withstand water pressure at greater depths. The boats also have extensive equipment to allow for "littoral", or "shallow-water" operations. The exact diving depth of this class of boats remains a debatable subject, and will likely remain so for many years to come, most likely long after their retirement. Most reputable sources vary from 1600-2000 feet as a likely test depth, and from 2400-3200 feet for collapse depth. These figures are consistent with their original design parameters and not unlikely. The boats are able carry up to 50 UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
s for attacking land and sea surface targets. As in all nuclear submarines, the load out of equipment, weapons and crew affects available excess buoyancy and thus operational parameters.
The projected cost for twelve submarines of this class was $33.6 billion, but after the Cold War, construction was stopped at three boats.
The class uses the more advanced ARCI Modified AN/BSY-2 combat system, which includes a new, larger spherical sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
array, a wide aperture array (WAA), and a new towed-array sonar. Each boat is powered by a single S6W nuclear reactor
S6W reactor
The S6W reactor is a naval reactor used by the United States Navy to provide electricity generation and propulsion on warships. The S6W designation stands for:* S = Submarine platform* 6 = Sixth generation core designed by the contractor...
, delivering 52,000 hp (39 MW) to a low-noise pump-jet
Pump-jet
A pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
.
Variants
The is roughly 100 feet (30 m) longer than the other two boats of her class due to the insertion of a section known as the Multi-Mission Platform (MMP), which allows launch and recovery of ROVsRemotely operated vehicle
A remotely operated vehicle is a tethered underwater vehicle. They are common in deepwater industries such as offshore hydrocarbon extraction. An ROV may sometimes be called a remotely operated underwater vehicle to distinguish it from remote control vehicles operating on land or in the air. ROVs...
and Navy SEAL forces. The MMP may also be used as an underwater splicing chamber for tapping of undersea fiber optic cables. This role was formerly filled by the decommissioned . The Jimmy Carter was modified for this role by Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
at the cost of $887 million.
Jimmy Carter is currently homeported at Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
. In 2006, the Navy announced that it would homeport all three of its Seawolf submarines in Bangor
Bangor Trident Base, Washington
Bangor Base is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, within the U.S. Navy's Naval Base Kitsap on the Kitsap Peninsula. Its population was 6,054 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
.
Boats
– commissioned and in service – commissioned and in service – commissioned and in serviceSee also
- Virginia class submarineVirginia class submarineThe Virginia class is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions...
- Los Angeles class submarineLos Angeles class submarineThe Los Angeles class, sometimes called the LA class or the 688 class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that forms the backbone of the United States submarine fleet. With 43 submarines on active duty and 19 retired, the Los Angeles class is the most numerous nuclear powered...
- List of submarine classes of the United States Navy
- Submarines in the United States NavySubmarines in the United States NavyThere are two major types of submarines in the United States Navy: ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. In the U.S. Navy, all combatant submarines are nuclear-powered. Ballistic subs have a single, strategic mission: carrying nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missiles...
- List of submarines of the United States Navy