Skipjack-class submarine
 USS Skipjack
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | |
| Operators: | United States Navy |
| Preceded by: | Skate-class submarine |
| Succeeded by: | Thresher-class submarine |
| Built: | 1956–1961 |
| In commission: | 1959–1990 |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| Retired: | 5 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Nuclear-powered fast attack submarine |
| Displacement: |
Surfaced: 3075 tons (3124 t) Submerged: 3513 tons (3600 t) |
| Length: | 251.7 ft (77 m) |
| Beam: | 31.5 ft (9.65 m) |
| Propulsion: |
1 S5W reactor, geared steam turbines (15,000 shp (11,000 kW)), 1 shaft |
| Speed: |
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| Range: | unlimited except by food. |
| Test depth: | 700 ft (210 m) |
| Complement: | 93 |
| Armament: |
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Surfaced: 3075 tons (3124 t)
1 S5W reactor, geared steam turbines (15,000 shp (11,000 kW)),
The Skipjack class was a class of United States Navy nuclear submarines (SSNs) that entered service in 1959-61. This class was named after its lead boat, USS Skipjack. The new class introduced the teardrop hull and the S5W reactor to U.S. nuclear submarines. The Skipjacks were the fastest U.S. nuclear submarines until the Los Angeles-class submarines, the first of which entered service in 1974.
The Skipjacks' design was based on the USS Albacore's high-speed hull design. The hull and innovative internal arrangement were similar to the diesel-powered Barbel class that were built concurrently. The design of the Skipjacks was very different from the Skate-class submarines that preceded the Skipjacks. Unlike the Skates, this new design was maximized for underwater speed by fully streamlining the hull like a blimp. This required a single screw aft of the rudders and stern planes. Adoption of a single screw was a matter of considerable debate and analysis within the Navy, as two shafts offered redundancy and improved maneuverability. The so-called "body-of-revolution hull" reduced her surface sea-keeping, but was essential for underwater performance. Also like Albacore, the Skipjacks used HY-80 high-strength steel, with a yield strength of 80,000 psi (550 MPa), although this was not initially used to increase the diving depth relative to other US submarines. HY-80 remained the standard submarine steel through the Los Angeles class.
Another Barbel-like innovation was the combination of the conning tower, control room, and attack center in one space. This was continued in all subsequent US nuclear submarines. Combining the functions in one space was facilitated by the adoption of "push-button" ballast control, another feature of Albacore. Previous designs had routed the trim system piping through the control room, where the valves were manually operated. The "push-button" system used hydraulic operators on each valve, remotely electrically operated (actually via toggle switches) from the control room. This greatly conserved control room space and reduced the time required to conduct trim operations. The overall layout made coordination of the weapons and ship control systems easier during combat operations.
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