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SSN-637 Sturgeon class

STURGEON class submarines were built for anti-submarine warfare in the late 1960s and 1970s. Using the same propulsion system as their smaller predecessors of the SSN-585 Skipjack and SSN-594 Permit classes, the larger Sturgeons sacrificed speed for greater combat capabilities.

They are equipped to carry the HARPOON missile, the TOMAHAWK cruise missile,and the MK-48 and ADCAP torpedoes. Torpedo tubes are located amidships to accomodate the bow-mounted sonar. The sail-mounted dive planes rotate to a vertical position for breaking through the ice when surfacing in Arctic regions.

Beginning with SSN-678 Archerfish units of this class had a 10-foot longer hull, giving them more living and working space than previous submarines of the Sturgeon Class.

A total of six Sturgeon-class boats were modified to carry the SEAL Dry Deck Shelter [DDS], one in 1982 and five between 1988 and 1991. The are SSN 678-680, 682, 684, 686 are listed as "DDS Capable" -- either permanently fitted with the DDS or trained with them. In this configuration they are primarily tasked with the covert insertion of special forces troops from an attached Dry Deck Shelter (DDS). The Dry Deck Shelter is a submersible launch hanger with a hyperbaric chamber that attaches to the ship's Weapon Shipping Hatch. The DDS provides the most tactically practical means of SEAL delivery due to its size, capabilities, and location on the ship.

Rapidly being phased out in favor of the LOS ANGELES and SEAWOLF Classes of attack submarines, this venerable and flexible workhorse of the submarine attack fleet continues to operate in the forward areas of the world to this day. Attracting little publicity during its heyday, this class of ship was the platform of choice for many of the Cold War missions for which submarines are now famous. After a 5-year study was completed on the SSN-637 class submarine, the design life was extended from 20 years to 30 years, with a possible extension to 33 years on a case-by-case basis. However, many boats of this class were retired prior to this limit in order to avoid expensive reactor refueling operations.

Specifications

Displacement 4,250 tons standard, except SSN 678-687 4,460 tons
4,780 tons submerged, except SSN 678-687 4,960 tons
Length 292 feet
302 feet SSN 678-687
Beam 32 feet
Draft28.8 feet
SpeedOfficial: 20-plus knots
Actual: 25 knots
Operating Depth official: "greater than 400 feet"
Actual: 1300 feet [400 meters] test depth
Actual: 1900 feet [600 meters] collapse depth
Power Plant One S5W nuclear reactor,
two steam turbines, 15,000 shp, one shaft
Armament MK 48 Torpedoes, four torpedo tubes
UUM-44A SUBROC
UGM-84A/C Harpoon
MK 57 deep water mines
MK 60 CAPTOR mines
Radars BPS-14/15 surface search
Sonars BQQ-5 multi-function bow mounted
BQR-7 passive in submarines with BQQ-2
BQR-26 in SSN 666
BQS-6 active in submarines with BQQ-2
BQS-12 active on SSN 637-664
BQS-13 active on SSN 665-687
TB-16 or TB-23 towed array
EW Systems WLQ-4(V)
WLR-4(V)
WLR-9
Unit Cost $320 million [1990 prices]
Unit Operating Cost
Annual Average 		$11,000,000 [source: [FY1996 VAMOSC]
Builder SSNs 637, 650, 667, 669, 673-676, 678, 679, 681, 684, General Dynamics' Electric Boat Division; 638, 649, General Dynamics' Quincy Shipbuilding Division; 639, 647, 648, 652, 680, 682, 683, Ingalls Shipbuilding; 646, 660, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; 662, 665, 666, 672, 677, San Francisco Naval Shipyard; 651, 653, 661, 663, 664, 668, 670, 686, 687, Newport News Shipbuilding

Ships

Name Number Builder Homeport Ordered Commissioned Decommissioned
SHORT HULL
Sturgeon SSN-637Electric Boat Charleston 30 Nov 196103 Mar 196701 Aug 1994
Whale SSN-638Quincy Groton30 Nov 196112 Oct 196825 Jun 1996
Tautog SSN-639Ingalls Pearl Harbor30 Nov 196117 Aug 196831 Mar 1997
Grayling SSN-646Portsmouth NSY Charleston 05 Sep 196211 Oct 196918 Jul 1997
Pogy SSN 647Ingalls San Diego 23 Mar 196315 May 1971 04 Jan 1999
Aspro SSN-648Ingalls Pearl Harbor26 Mar 1963 20 Feb 196931 Mar 1995
Sunfish SSN-649Quincy Charleston 26 Mar 196315 Mar 1969 31 Mar 1997
Pargo SSN-650Electric Boat Bremerton26 Mar 196305 Jan 196814 Apr 1995
Queenfish SSN-651Newport News Pearl Harbor26 Mar 196306 Dec 196614 Apr 1992
Puffer SSN-652Ingalls Pearl Harbor26 Mar 1963 09 Aug 196912 Jul 1996
Ray SSN-653Newport News Charleston26 Mar 196312 Apr 196716 Mar 1993
Sand Lance SSN 660 Portsmouth NSY Groton 24 Oct 196325 Sep 1971 07 Aug 1998
Lapon SSN-661Newport News Norfolk24 Oct 196314 Dec 196708 Jun 1992
Gurnard SSN-662San Francisco NSY San Diego24 Oct 196306 Dec 196828 Apr 1995
Hammerhead SSN-663Newport News Vallejo28 May 196428 Jun 196805 Apr 1995
Sea Devil SSN-664Newport News Charleston 28 May 196430 Jan 196916 Oct 1991
Guitarro SSN-665Mare Island San Diego18 Dec 196409 Sep 197229 May 1992
Hawkbill SSN 666 Mare Island Pearl Harbor18 Dec 1964 04 Feb 1971 1999
Bergall SSN-667Electric Boat New London09 Mar 196513 Jun 196906 Jun 1996
Spadefish SSN-668Newport News Norfolk09 Mar 196514 Aug 196911 Apr 1997
Seahorse SSN-669Electric Boat Charleston 09 Mar 196519 Sep 196917 Aug 1995
Finback SSN-670Newport News Norfolk09 Mar 196504 Feb 197028 Mar 1997
Pintado SSN-672Mare Island San Diego29 Dec 196511 Sep 197126 Feb 1998
Flying Fish SSN-673Electric Boat Bremerton15 Jul 196629 Apr 197016 May 1996
Trepang SSN 674 Electric Boat Groton 15 Jul 1966 14 Aug 1970 04 Jan 1999
Bluefish SSN-675Electric Boat Norfolk15 Jul 196608 Jan 197131 May 1996
Billfish SSN 676 Electric Boat Groton 15 Jul 1966 12 Mar 1971 04 Jan 1999
Drum SSN-677Mare Island San Diego15 Mar 196715 Apr 197230 Oct 1995
LONG HULL
Archerfish SSN-678Electric Boat Groton25 Jun 196817 Dec 197131 Mar 1998
Silversides SSN-679 Electric Boat Bremerton25 Jun 196805 May 197221 Jul 1994
William H. Bates
[ex-Redfish]		 SSN 680 Ingalls Pearl Harbor25 Jun 196801 May 1973
Batfish SSN 681 Electric Boat Groton 25 Jun 196801 Sep 1972 02 Nov 1998
Tunny SSN-682Ingalls Pearl Harbor25 Jun 196826 Jan 197413 Mar 1998
Parche SSN-683Ingalls San Diego25 Jun 196817 Aug 1974 ? 2003
Cavalla SSN-684Electric Boat Pearl Harbor24 Jul 196809 Feb 197330 Mar 1998
L. Mendel Rivers SSN 686 Newport News Norfolk01 Jul 196901 Feb 1975 2001
Richard B. Russell SSN-687Newport News Vallejo25 Jul 196916 Aug 197524 Jun 1994


credit: Ross Goodwin

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http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/ssn-637.htm
Maintained by Steven Aftergood
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Sunday, November 28, 1999 5:18:07 PM