American submarines: list. Projects of nuclear submarines

The navy for any country is a powerful geopolitical deterrent. And the submarine fleet, by its very presence, influences international relations and the escalation of conflicts. If in the XIX century the British border was determined by the side of its military frigates, in the 20th century the navy of the United States of America became the leader of the World Ocean. And American submarines played a role in this.

Primary importance

Underwater fleet is becoming increasingly important for America. Historically, the country's territory was limited by water borders, making it difficult to covertly attack the enemy. With the advent of modern submarine submarines and "submarine-air missiles" in the world, these borders become increasingly illusory for America.

The aggravated opposition of international relations with Muslim countries makes a real threat to the lives of American citizens. Iranian Islamists do not give up attempts to acquire a submarine-air missile, and this is a threat to all the coastal centers of America. And in this case, the destruction will be enormous. Only the same opponent can resist the attack already from under the water.

The current US President, Donald Trump, in his first interview, noted that he intends to further increase the US submarine fleet. But under one condition - a decrease in its value. This is worth thinking about the corporations that are building nuclear-powered American submarines. There is already a precedent. After Donald Trump said that he would turn to Boeing for the offer of cheaper fighters, Lockheed Martin reduced the cost of the F-35 fighter.

Battle power

Today US submarines mostly have nuclear power sources. And this means that when carrying out operations, restrictions in combat capability will only be in the amount of food and water on board. The most numerous class of submarines is "Los Angeles". This is a third generation boat with a displacement of about 7 tons, a depth of immersion up to 300 meters and costing about $ 1 million. However, at present, America replaces them with the fourth-generation Virginia-class boats, more equipped and worth 2.7 million dollars. And this price is justified by their combat characteristics.

Combat composition

Today, the US Navy is in the lead both in quantity and in equipping naval weapons. The US Navy includes 14 strategic nuclear submarines and 58 multi-purpose submarines.

The submarine fleet of the US military is equipped with two types of submarines:

• Oceanic ballistic boats. Deep-sea submarines, the purpose of which is the delivery of weapons to the point of designation and production of ballistic missiles. In other words, they are called strategic. Defense weapons are not represented by strong firepower.
• "Boats are hunters." High-speed boats, whose goals and tasks are versatile: delivering cruise missiles and peacekeeping forces to conflict zones, lightning attack and destruction of enemy forces. Such submarines are called multifunctional. Their specificity - speed, maneuverability and secrecy.

The beginning of the development of underwater navigation in America begins with the middle of last century. The volume of the article does not assume such an array of information. We will focus on the atomic arsenal, which was developed after the end of World War II. A brief review of the underwater atomic arsenal of the Armed Forces of America will be carried out, adhering to the chronological principle.

The first experimental atomic

In Connecticut, at the Groton shipyard in January 1954, the first US submarine Nautilus (USS Nautilus) with a displacement of about 4,000 tons and a length of 100 meters was launched. She went on the first voyage in a year. It was the Nautilus in 1958 that first went under the water North Pole, which almost ended in tragedy - the breakdown of the periscope due to the failure of navigation systems. It was an experimental and only multipurpose torpedo boat with a sonar installation in the bow, and torpedoes in the rear. The submarine "Barracuda" (1949-1950) showed this location the most successful.

Atomic American submarines are due to the naval engineer, Rear Admiral Heiman George Rickover (1900-1986).

The next pilot project was the USS Seawolf (SSN-575), also released in a single copy in 1957. It had a reactor with a liquid metal as a coolant in the primary circuit of the reactor.

The first serial atomic

A series of four submarines, built in 1956-1957 - "Skate" (USS Skate). They were part of the US armed forces and were written off in the late 1980s.

A series of six boats - "Skipjack" (1959). Until 1964 this is the largest series. The boats had the "albacore" form of the hull and the highest speed before the Los Angeles series.

At the same time (1959-1961) a specialized series of nuclear-powered boats was launched in the number of five - George Washington. This boat is the first ballistic project. On each boat there were 16 missile silos for the Polaris A-1 missiles. The accuracy of the shooting was increased by the hygroscopic roll stabilizer, which reduces the amplitude to a depth of 50 meters five times.

Subsequently, nuclear submarine projects were followed by one experimental copy of the Triton, Halibut, Tullibe series. American designers experimented and improved navigation systems and energy systems.

A large series of multifunctional boats, replacing Skipjack, consists of 14 atomic submarines Treaher. The last was decommissioned in 1996.

The Benjamin Franklin series are submarines of the Lafayette missile carrier type. At first they were armed with ballistic missiles. In the 1970s they were rearmed with Poseidon missiles and then Trident 1. Twelve boats of the Benjamin Franklin series in 1960 were included in the fleet of strategic missile carriers, named "41 on guard of Freedom." All ships of this fleet were named after figures of American history.

The largest series - USS Sturgeon - of multi-functional nuclear submarines includes 37 submarines created between 1871 and 1987. A distinctive feature is a reduced noise level and sensors for ice navigation.

Boats that serve in the US Navy

From 1976 to 1996, the Navy was equipped with multi-purpose boats of the Los Angeles type. A total of 62 boats of this series are produced, this is the most numerous series of multipurpose submarines. Armament torpedo and vertical missile launchers of Tomahawk type with homing systems. Nine boats of the Los Angeles class participated in the war in the Persian Gulf. GE PWR S6G 26 MW reactors are designed by General Electric. It is with this series that the tradition begins to call boats named after the cities of America. Today, in the US Navy, 40 boats of this class are on combat duty.

A series of strategic nuclear submarines, produced from 1881 to 1997, consists of 18 submarines with ballistic missiles on board - the Ohio series. The submarine of this series is armed with 24 intercontinental ballistic missiles with individual guidance. For protection they are armed with 4 torpedo tubes. "Ohio" is a submarine that forms the basis of the offensive forces of the US Navy, 60% of the time it is at sea.

The last project of nuclear submarines of the third-generation multi-purpose submarine "Sivulf" (1998-1999). This is the most secret project of the US Navy. He was called "refined Los Angeles" for a special quiet. He appeared and disappeared without being noticed by radar. The reason is a special soundproof coating, the failure of the screw in favor of an engine of the water jet type and the wide introduction of noise sensors. Tactical speed of 20 knots makes it as noisy as "Los Angeles", standing on the dock. In total there are three boats of this series: "Сивулф", "Connecticut" and "Jimmy Carter". The latter was put into operation in 2005, and it is this boat that is controlled by the terminator in the second season of the television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. This once again confirms the fantastic nature of these boats, both externally and in content. "Jimmy Carter" is also called the "white elephant" among the submarines for its dimensions (the boat is longer than its counterparts for 30 meters). And according to its characteristics this submarine can already be considered a submarine.

Submarines of the latest generation

The future of the US Navy in underwater shipbuilding began in the year 2000 and is associated with a new class of USS Virginia class boats. The first boat of this class SSN-744 was launched and put into operation in 2003.

US Navy submarines of this type are called a weapons warehouse due to the equipping with a powerful arsenal, and an "ideal observer", because of the most complex and sensitive sensor systems ever installed on submarines.

Movement even over relatively shallow water provides an atomic engine with a nuclear reactor, the plan of which is classified. It is known that the reactor is designed for a service life of up to 30 years. The noise level is reduced due to the system of isolated chambers and the modern design of the power unit with a "muffling" coating.

General characteristics of USS Virginia class boats, which have already been commissioned for thirteen today:

• Speed up to 34 knots (64 km / h);
• Depth of immersion is up to 448 meters;
• From 100 to 120 crew members;
• Surface displacement - 7,8 tons;
• Length up to 200 meters, and width about 10 meters;
• Nuclear power plant type GE S9G.

In total, the series provides for the release of 28 "Virginia" submarines with a gradual replacement of the Navy's arsenal for fourth generation boats.

Michelle Obama's Boat

In August last year, at the military shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, 13 USS Virginia submarines with the SSN-786 number and the name Illinois were commissioned. It was named in honor of the native staff of the then first lady Michelle Obama, who took part in its launching in October 2015. The initials of the First Lady, according to tradition, are stamped out on one of the details of the submarine.

The Illinois nuclear submarine is 115 meters long and with 130 crew members on board is equipped with an unmanned underwater mine detection device, divers lock and other additional equipment. The purpose of this submarine is to conduct coastal and deep-sea operations.

Instead of a traditional periscope, a telescopic system with a camera operates on the boat, a laser infrared sensor is installed.

Fire power of the boat: 2 turret-type installations for 6 missiles and 12 vertical cruise missiles of the Tomahawk class, as well as 4 torpedo tubes and 26 torpedoes.

The total cost of the submarine is 2.7 billion dollars.

Perspective of military underwater potential

The higher ranks of the US Navy insist on the gradual replacement of diesel-fueled submarines with boats that have practically no restrictions in conducting combat operations - with atomic propulsion systems. The fourth generation of the Virginia submarine provides for the release of 28 submarines of this class. The gradual replacement of the arsenal of naval forces with fourth-generation boats will raise the rating and combat capability of the US Army.

But design bureaus continue to work and offer their army projects.

Amphibious American submarines

The hidden landing of troops on the territory of the enemy is the goal of all amphibious operations. After the Second World War, such a technological opportunity for America appeared. The Bureau of Shipbuilding (Bureau of Ships) received an order for the landing submarine. Projects appeared, but the landing troops did not have financial security, and the fleet was not interested in the idea.

Of the seriously considered projects, we can mention the project of the company Seaforth Group, which appeared in 1988. The S-60 submarine designed by them assumes a descent into the water at a distance of 50 kilometers from the shore, diving to a depth of 5 meters. At a speed of 5 knots, an underwater boat reaches the shoreline and land 60 paratroopers along the retractable bridges at a distance of up to 100 meters from the shore. While the project no one bought.

Reliability, time-tested

The oldest submarine in the world, which until now is in service, is the Balao SS 791 Hai Shih submarine (Sea Lion), part of the Taiwan Navy. The American submarine of World War II, built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, in 1945, was expanded by the US military submarine fleet. On her account one combat campaign in August 1945 in the Pacific Ocean. After several upgrades, in 1973 it was transferred to Taiwan and became the first operating boat in China.

In January 2017, the press reported that during 18 months of planned repair at the shipyards of the shipbuilding corporation Taiwan International Shipbuilding Corporation "Sea Lion" will carry out general repair and replacement of navigation equipment. These works will extend the life of the submarine until 2026.

A veteran American-made submarine, the only one of its kind, plans to celebrate its eightieth anniversary in combat.

Extremely tragic facts

Open and public statistics on losses and accidents in the US submarine fleet are not. However, the same can be said about Russia. Those facts that have become public, will be presented in this chapter.

In 1963, a two-day test campaign ended with the death of the American submarine "Tresher". The official cause of the disaster - the flow of water under the hull of the boat. The muffled reactor immobilized the submarine, and it went to depth, taking the lives of 112 crew members and 17 civilian specialists. The wreckage of the submarine is at a depth of 2,560 meters. This is the first technological accident of an atomic submarine.

In 1968, the multi-purpose nuclear submarine "Scorpion" (USS Scorpion) disappeared without a trace in the Atlantic Ocean. The official version of the death is the detonation of the ammunition. However, today the mystery of the death of this vessel remains a mystery. In 2015, veterans of the US Navy once again appealed to the government to create a commission to investigate the incident, clarify the number of victims and determine their status.

In 1969, a submarine USS Guitarro with the number 665 was sinking curiously. It happened at the quay wall and at a depth of 10 meters. Inconsistency of actions and negligence of specialists in calibration instruments led to flooding. Raising and rebuilding the boat cost the US taxpayer about $ 20 million.

The Los Angeles class boat, which took part in the filming of the film "Hunting for the Red October", on May 14, 1989 in the area of the coast of California, hooked a cable connecting the tug and the barge. The boat dived, dragging the tug behind it. Relatives of one crew member of the tug that died that day received compensation from the Navy in the amount of $ 1.4 million.