Lafayette-class submarine
 Lafayette-class submarine USSWoodrow Wilson
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lafayetteclass |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  United States Navy |
| Preceded by | Ethan Allenclass |
| Succeeded by | James Madisonclass |
| Built | 1961–1964[1] |
| In commission | 1963–1994[1] |
| Completed | 9 |
| Retired | 9 |
| Preserved | 1 (as training vessel) |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Nuclear-poweredballistic missile submarine |
| Displacement | Surfaced: 7,325long tons(7,443 t) Submerged: 8,251long tons(8,383 t)[2] |
| Length | 425 ft (130 m)[1] |
| Beam | 33 ft (10 m)[1] |
| Draft | 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Test depth | 1,300 feet (400 m)[2] |
| Complement | Two crews of 14 officers and 126 enlisted[2] |
| Armament | 16Polaris A2/A3orPoseidon C3 missiles,4 ×21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes,12torpedoes[2] |
TheLafayetteclassof submarine was an evolutionary development from theEthan Allenclassoffleet ballistic missile submarine,slightly larger and generally improved. This class, together with theGeorge Washington,Ethan Allen,James Madison,andBenjamin Franklinclasses, composed the "41 for Freedom,"the Navy's primary contribution to thenuclear deterrentforce through the late 1980s. TheJames MadisonandBenjamin Franklinclasses are combined with theLafayettes in some references.
Design
[edit]The first eight submarines initially deployed with thePolaris A-2missile, later being refitted with the longer ranged Polaris A-3, withUSSDaniel Websterhaving the A-3 missile from the start.[3]In the mid-1970s all were upgraded to carry thePoseidon C3 missile;their missile tubes were slightly larger than theEthan AllenandGeorge Washingtonclasses and Poseidon was designed to take advantage of this.[2]Unlike twelve of the similarJames MadisonandBenjamin Franklinclasses, none of theLafayette-class submarines were refitted withTrident I (C4)missiles.
TheLafayettes and their successors were equipped with a hovering system to manage trim more effectively when firing missiles; this increased the missile rate of fire from one per minute to four per minute.[2]
Daniel Websterwas originally built withdiving planesmounted on a "mini-sail" near thebow,leading to her nickname "Old Funny Fins". This configuration, unique to US submarines, was an attempt to reduce the effect of porpoising. While successful, the "mini-sail" required to contain the operating mechanism reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her overall speed. During a mid-1970s overhaul these unusual planes were removed and standardfairwater planeswere installed.[4]Here is a rare1964 16mm Silent Filmof USS Daniel Webster testing the unique "Funny Fins" diving planes off Cape Canaveral.
Fate
[edit]TheLafayettes were decommissioned between 1986 and 1992, due to a combination ofSALT IItreaty limitations as theOhioclassSSBNs entered service, age, and thecollapse of the Soviet Union.One (Daniel Webster) remains out of commission but converted to a Moored Training Ship (MTS-626) with the missile compartment removed. She is stationed atNuclear Power Training Unit Charleston,South Carolina,along withUSSLa JollaandUSSSan Francisco.
Boats in class
[edit]Submarines of theLafayetteclass:[5][6]
| Hull number | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSBN-616 | Lafayette | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 17 January 1961 | 8 May 1962 | 23 April 1963 | 12 August 1991 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1992 |
| SSBN-617 | Alexander Hamilton | 26 June 1961 | 18 August 1962 | 27 June 1963 | 23 February 1993 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1994 | |
| SSBN-619 | Andrew Jackson | Mare Island Naval Shipyard | 26 April 1961 | 15 September 1962 | 3 July 1963 | 31 August 1989 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1999 |
| SSBN-620 | John Adams | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard | 19 May 1961 | 12 January 1963 | 12 May 1964 | 24 March 1989 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1996 |
| SSBN-622 | James Monroe | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 31 July 1961 | 4 August 1962 | 7 December 1963 | 25 September 1990 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1995 |
| SSBN-623 | Nathan Hale | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 2 October 1961 | 12 January 1963 | 23 November 1963 | 3 November 1986 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1994 |
| SSBN-624 | Woodrow Wilson | Mare Island Naval Shipyard | 13 September 1961 | 22 February 1963 | 27 December 1963 | 1 September 1994 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1998 |
| SSBN-625 | Henry Clay | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 23 October 1961 | 30 November 1962 | 20 February 1964 | 5 November 1990 | Disposed of throughShip-Submarine Recycling Program,1997 |
| SSBN-626 | Daniel Webster | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 28 December 1961 | 27 April 1963 | 9 April 1964 | 30 August 1990 | Converted to Moored Training Ship (MTS-626) with missile compartment removed. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefghi"SSBN-616 Lafayette-Class FBM Submarines" from the FASArchived2012-10-23 at theWayback Machine
- ^abcdefghFriedman, Norman (1994).U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History.Annapolis, Maryland:United States Naval Institute.pp. 199–203, 244.ISBN1-55750-260-9.
- ^Polmar 1981, p.21.
- ^Daniel Websterat NavSource.org
- ^Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p.612.
- ^"FleetBallisticMissileSubmarines".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-28.Retrieved2012-10-18.California Center for Military History (dead link 2015-05-05)
Bibliography
[edit]
- Gardiner, Robert and Chumbley, Stephen (editors).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995.Annapolis, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995.ISBN1-55750-132-7.
- Polmar, Norman.The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Twelfth Edition.London:Arms and Armour Press, 1981.ISBN0-85368-397-2.
- US Naval Vessel Register - List of SSBN BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE (NUCLEAR-POWERED) Class vessels
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.