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Master and Commander
Posts: 1814
Location: Boydton, Virginia | Subject: Classes of Subs in Commission
Please help an old DBFer understand the modern Sub fleet.
Are there any classes of boats now in commission besides these: (pease fill in blanks)
Ohio class SSBN
____ class SSN
Seawolf class SSN
Virginia class SSN
______ class SSGN ( converted from SSBN)
Steamboat sends
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 2673
Location: New Jersey | Subject: RE: Classes of Subs in Commission
JOhn,
There are still some LA class (688) still afloat....
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: Classes of Subs in Commission
Ohio class SSBN
Los Angles class SSN
Seawolf class SSN
Virginia class SSN
Ohio class SSGN ( converted from SSBN)
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1107
Location: Tucson AZ | Subject: Here's the current line-up for US Sub Force
Composition of the current forceAs can be seen, the LA class represents the bulk of the sub fleet. Remember, too, there there are several permutations - or 'Flights' for LA class; Flight I has sail planes & 4 torpedo/missile tubes, Flight II has retractable bow planes and 12 VLS (vertical launch system) tubes for Tomahawk missiles mounted in the forward ballast tanks, + 4 torpedo tubes.
In the Seawolf class, Jimmy Carter is really a one-off design variation for spook work - essentially a replacement for the Parche.
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 602
Location: Visalia, Ca. | Subject: RE: Here's the current line-up for US Sub Force
I rode USS Buffalo SSN-715 from 85-88 - met her in Pearl as she came around after commissioning and shakedown.
She was a Flight II boat, with sail planes and no VLS.
Flight III, the 688i (688 improved) boats had bow planes and VLS.
I think they started about hull number 723, but I'm not certain and can't find my lists right now. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1107
Location: Tucson AZ | Subject: RE: Here's the current line-up for US Sub Force
I KNEW someone would correct any errors I had in my synopsis. Thanks! I had enough problems getting accurate counts of the 4 classes in question; different sites had differing numbers for boats in commission and in each class even Navy sites were off in a couple of cases
I couldn't (quickly) find the details I was looking for, so I took a guess. Just to fill in my blanks of knowledge, what were the significant differences between Flt I and Flt II boats? |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 602
Location: Visalia, Ca. | Subject: RE: Here's the current line-up for US Sub Force
I THINK most of the differences were in the electronics - upgrades to the Fire Control and Sonar systems.
Since I spent most of my time in the back of the bus, I'll defer to those with more first-hand knowledge. |
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Old Salt
Posts: 338
Location: Oak Island, NC | Subject: RE: Classes of Subs in Commission
I can't say much about the differences between Flight I and Flight II, but I can provide some info on which boats were VLS equipped and when bow planes started.
VLS started with USS Providence (SSN 719) and included 719-725, and 750. Bow planes started with USS San Juan (SSN 751). There are other differences, as indicated by Donald, but like him, I pushed. |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 781
Location: Port Orchard WA | Subject: RE: Classes of Subs in Commission
I was a pushing as well but I thought the visible differences were Flight 1 no VLS Flight 2 VLS and Sail planes and Flight 3 (or 688i) were VLS and No sail planes These submarines were built in three successive variants: - SSNs 688-718 - Original Los Angeles class
- SSNs 719-750 - Starting with SSN 719 and beyond the last 31 hulls of the class have 12 vertical launch tubes for the Tomahawk cruise missile, along with an upgraded reactor core.
- SSNs 751-773 - The final 23 hulls [SSN 751 and later] referred to as "688I" (for improved), are quieter, incorporate an advanced BSY-1 sonar suite combat system and the ability to lay mines from their torpedo tubes. They are configured for under-ice operations in that their forward diving planes have been moved from the sail structure to the bow and the sail has been strengthened for breaking through ice.
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/navy/submarines/ssn688_la.html good read here
Edited by Bear 2009-08-12 3:39 PM
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 602
Location: Visalia, Ca. | Subject: RE: Classes of Subs in Commission
"SSNs 688-718 - Original Los Angeles class"
So Buffalo was a Flight I and not II as I had been told.
I stand corrected.
Thanks, Shipmate. |
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Classes of Subs in Commission
