Los Angeles class submarine
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | |
| Operators: |
 United States Navy
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| Preceded by: | Sturgeon class |
| Succeeded by: | Seawolf class |
| Cost: | $900 million [1990 prices], $2,100 million inflation adjusted. |
| Built: | 1972–1996 |
| In commission: | 1976–present |
| Completed: | 62 |
| Active: | 36 |
| Retired: | 26 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Nuclear attack submarine |
| Displacement: |
Surfaced: 6,082 tonnes (5,986 long tons) Submerged: 6,927 tonnes (6,818 long tons) |
| Length: | 362 ft (110 m) |
| Beam: | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draft: | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | 1 GE PWR S6G nuclear reactor, 2 turbines 35,000 hp (26,000 kW) , 1 auxiliary motor 325 hp (242 kW), 1 shaft |
| Speed: |
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| Range: | Refueling required after 30 years |
| Endurance: | 90 days |
| Test depth: | 950 ft (290 m) |
| Complement: | 129 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
BQQ-5 Suite which includes Active and Passive systems sonar, BQS-15 detecting and ranging sonar, WLR-8V(2) ESM receiver, WLR-9 acoustic receiver for detection of active search sonar and acoustic homing torpedoes, BRD-7 radio direction finder, BPS-15 radar |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
WLR-10 countermeasures set |
| Armament: | 4× 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 37× Mk 48 torpedo, Tomahawk land attack missile, Harpoon anti–ship missile, Mk 67 mobile, or Mk 60 Captor mines (688i FLTII and FLTIII have a 12-tube VLS) |
Surfaced: 6,082 tonnes (5,986 long tons)
The Los Angeles class (also known as the 688 class) is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. They represent two generations and close to half a century of the U.S. Navy's attack submarine fleet. As of 2016, 36 of the class are still in commission and 26 retired from service. Of the 26 retired boats, 14 of them were laid up half way (approximately 17–18 years) through their projected lifespans due to their midlife reactor refuelings being cancelled. A further four boats were proposed by the Navy, but later cancelled. The class has more operating nuclear submarines than any other in the world. All submarines of this class are named after American towns and cities (e.g., Key West, Florida, and Greeneville, Tennessee), the exception being USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709). This system of naming broke a long-standing tradition in the U.S. Navy of naming attack submarines for creatures of the ocean (e.g., USS Nautilus (SSN-571)).
In 1982 after building 31 boats, the class underwent a minor redesign, the following 8 that made up the second "flight" of subs had 12 new vertical launch tubes that could fire Tomahawk missiles. The last 23 saw a significant upgrade with the 688i improvement program. These boats are quieter, with more advanced electronics, sensors, and noise reduction technology. Externally they can be recognized quickly as the retractable diving planes are placed at the bow rather than on the sail.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the top speed of the submarines of the Los Angeles class is over 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), although the actual maximum is classified. Some published estimates have placed their top speed at 30 to 33 knots (56 to 61 km/h; 35 to 38 mph). In his book Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship, Tom Clancy estimated the top speed of Los Angeles-class submarines at about 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph).
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Wikipedia