List of Sturgeon-class submarines

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.

Launching of USS Tunny (SSN-682)

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 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]

Boats
USS William H. Bates (SSN-680) carrying a Dry Deck Shelter

In October 1961, General Dynamics Electric Boat was awarded the contract to construct the lead boat of the class, USS Sturgeon (SSN-637). Laid down in August 1963, the boat was launched in February 1966 before being commissioned in March 1966.[8] Electric Boat would be the largest builder of the class, responsible for twelve boats in total. It was followed by Newport News Shipbuilding (with nine boats), Ingalls Shipbuilding (seven boats), San Francisco Naval Shipyard/Mare Island Naval Shipyard (five boats), General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (two boats each).[7] The final boat of the class, USS Richard B. Russell (SSN-687), was commissioned in August 1975.[9]

USS Narwhal (SSN-671) and USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-685) were modifications of the Sturgeon design for experimental propulsion systems, but are one-ship classes.

Originally designed for 20-year operational lives, boats of the Sturgeon class had this lengthened to 30 years, with a further planned three-year extension. However, many boats were retired prior to the limit to avoid costly nuclear refueling.[7] The first to be decommissioned, in October 1991, was USS Sea Devil; the last, USS Parche (SSN-683), was decommissioned in July 2005.[10] By then, the Los Angeles-, Seawolf-, and Virginia-class SSNs had entered service.

Keys
LengthBoatHull numberOrderedLaid downLaunchedDeliveredCommissionedDecommissionedPeriod of serviceFateRef.
292 ft (89 m)Sturgeon SSN-63730 November 196110 August 196326 February 19663 March 19673 March 19671 August 199427.4Disposed of by recycling; sail transferred to museum[8]
Whale SSN-63830 November 196127 May 196414 October 196626 October 196812 October 196825 June 199627.7Disposed of by recycling[11]
Tautog SSN-63930 November 196127 January 196415 April 196730 August 196817 August 196831 March 199728.6Disposed of by recycling[12]
Grayling SSN-6465 September 196212 May 196422 June 196710 December 196911 October 196918 July 199727.8Disposed of by recycling[13]
Pogy SSN-64723 March 19635 May 19643 June 196715 May 197115 May 197111 June 199928.1Disposed of by recycling[14]
Aspro SSN-64826 March 196323 November 196429 November 196720 February 196920 February 196931 March 199526.1Disposed of by recycling[15]
Sunfish SSN-64926 March 196315 January 196514 October 196615 March 196915 March 196931 March 199728.0Disposed of by recycling[16]
Pargo SSN-65026 March 19633 June 196417 September 196623 December 19675 January 196814 April 199527.3Disposed of by recycling[17]
Queenfish #SSN-65126 March 196311 May 196425 February 19666 December 19666 December 196614 April 199225.4Disposed of by recycling[18]
Puffer SSN-65226 March 19638 February 196530 March 196831 July 19699 August 196912 July 199626.9Disposed of by recycling[19]
Ray #SSN-65326 March 19634 January 196521 June 196619 April 196712 April 196716 March 199325.9Disposed of by recycling[20]
Sand Lance SSN-66024 October 196315 January 196511 November 19691 October 197125 September 19717 August 199826.9Disposed of by recycling[21]
Lapon #SSN-66124 October 196326 July 196516 December 196614 December 196714 December 19678 August 199224.7Disposed of by recycling[22]
Gurnard SSN-66224 October 196322 December 196420 May 19678 December 19686 December 196828 April 199526.4Disposed of by recycling[23]
Hammerhead #SSN-66328 May 196429 November 196514 April 196728 June 196828 June 19685 April 199526.8Disposed of by recycling[24]
Sea Devil #SSN-66428 May 196412 April 19665 October 1967—30 January 196916 October 199122.7Disposed of by recycling[25]
Guitarro SSN-66518 December 19649 December 196527 July 1968—9 September 197229 May 199219.7Disposed of by recycling[26]
HawkbillSSN-66618 December 196412 September 196612 April 19691 March 19714 February 197115 March 200029.1Disposed of by recycling[27]
Bergall SSN-6679 March 196516 April 196617 February 19689 June 196913 June 19696 June 199627.0Disposed of by recycling[28]
Spadefish #SSN-6689 March 196521 December 196615 May 196814 August 196914 August 196911 April 199727.7Disposed of by recycling[29]
Seahorse SSN-6699 March 196513 August 196615 June 196824 September 196919 September 196917 August 199525.9Disposed of by recycling[30]
Finback #SSN-6709 March 196526 June 19677 December 19681 February 19704 February 197028 March 199727.1Disposed of by recycling[31]
Pintado SSN-67229 December 196527 October 196716 August 19691 September 197111 September 197126 February 199826.5Disposed of by recycling[32]
Flying Fish SSN-67315 July 196630 June 196717 May 19691 April 197029 April 197016 May 199626.0Disposed of by recycling[33]
Trepang SSN-67415 July 196628 October 196727 September 19691 August 197014 August 19701 June 199928.8Disposed of by recycling[34]
Bluefish SSN-67515 July 196613 March 196810 January 19701 January 19718 January 197131 May 199625.4Disposed of by recycling[35]
Billfish SSN-67615 July 196620 September 19681 May 19701 March 197112 March 19711 July 199928.3Disposed of by recycling[36]
Drum SSN-67715 March 196720 August 196823 May 19701 April 197215 April 197230 October 199523.5Disposed of by recycling[37]
302 ft (92 m)Archerfish SSN-67825 June 196819 June 196916 January 19711 December 197117 December 197131 March 199826.3Disposed of by recycling[38]
Silversides SSN-67925 June 196813 October 19694 June 1971—5 May 197221 July 199422.2Disposed of by recycling[39]
William H. Bates (ex Redfish) SSN-68025 June 19684 August 196911 December 19711 May 19735 May 197311 February 200026.8Disposed of by recycling[40]
Batfish SSN-68125 June 19689 February 19709 October 19711 September 19721 September 197217 March 199926.5Disposed of by recycling[41]
Tunny SSN-68225 June 196822 May 197010 June 19721 January 197426 January 197413 March 199824.1Disposed of by recycling[42]
Parche SSN-68325 June 196810 December 197013 January 19731 August 197417 August 197418 July 200530.9Disposed of by recycling[10]
Cavalla SSN-68424 July 19684 June 197019 February 19721 April 19739 February 197330 March 199825.1Disposed of by recycling[43]
L. Mendel Rivers #SSN-6861 July 196926 June 19712 June 19731 December 19741 February 197510 May 200126.3Disposed of by recycling[44]
Richard B. Russell #SSN-68725 July 196919 October 197112 January 197412 August 197516 August 197524 June 199418.9Disposed of by recycling[9]

References
  1. 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. Friedman 1994, p. 145.
  5. Friedman 1994, p. 146.
  6. Friedman 1994, pp. 143-147.
  7. "SSN-637 Sturgeon class". Federation of American Scientists. Fas.org. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  8. "USS Sturgeon (SSN 637)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  9. "USS Richard B. Russell (SSN 687)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  10. "USS Parche (SSN 683)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  11. "USS Whale (SSN 638)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 16 March 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  12. "USS Tautog (SSN 639)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  13. "USS Grayling (SSN 646)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 3 April 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  14. "USS Pogy (SSN 647)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  15. "USS Aspro (SSN 648)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 30 August 2001. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  16. "USS Sunfish (SSN 649)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 13 November 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  17. "USS Pargo (SSN 650)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  18. "USS Queenfish (SSN 651)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  19. "USS Puffer (SSN 652)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  20. "USS Ray (SSN 653)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  21. "USS Sand Lance (SSN 660)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  22. "USS Lapon (SSN 661)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  23. "USS Gurnard (SSN 662)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  24. "USS Hammerhead (SSN 663)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 11 August 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  25. "USS Sea Devil (SSN 664)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 17 September 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  26. "USS Guitarro (SSN 665)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  27. "USS Hawkbill (SSN 666)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  28. "USS Bergall (SSN 667)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 7 April 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  29. "USS Spadefish (SSN 668)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 29 October 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  30. "USS Seahorse (SSN 669)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  31. "USS Finback (SSN 670)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 6 November 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  32. "USS Pintado (SSN 672)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 9 November 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  33. "USS Flying Fish (SSN 673)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  34. "USS Trepang (SSN 674)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  35. "USS Bluefish (SSN 675)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  36. "USS Billfish (SSN 676)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  37. "USS Drum (SSN 677)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 1 March 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  38. "USS Archerfish (SSN 678)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 16 November 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  39. "USS Silversides (SSN 679)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 6 November 2001. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  40. "USS William H. Bates (SSN 680)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  41. "USS Batfish (SSN 681)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 3 January 2003. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  42. "USS Tunny (SSN 682)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 7 August 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  43. "USS Cavalla (SSN 684)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 21 September 2001. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  44. "USS L. Mendel Rivers (SSN 686)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2012.

Bibliography
  • Chant, Chris (2005). Submarine Warfare Today. Leicester, United Kingdom: Silverdale Books. ISBN 1-84509-158-2. OCLC 156749009.
  • Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. submarines since 1945: an illustrated design history. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-260-9. OCLC 29477981.
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