America's submarine fleet. The harsh life on American submarines during World War II. EU submarines
The five best submarines built in the 20th century were chosen by experts from the American military analysis (NI). To compile its rating, the publication asked experts the following questions: whether this or that submarine was the best for its time in terms of efficiency-cost criteria and how innovative the design was.
German predators in the Atlantic
NI puts German submarines of the U-31 type from the First World War in first place. The construction of these boats was carried out at the Germania shipyard in Kiel (11 units in total). The submarines were laid down in 1912-1913 and launched in 1914.
Boats of this type actively participated in hostilities. During service, of the 11 boats built, eight were lost. At the same time, the U-31 submarines themselves damaged or sent to the bottom 856 ships with a total tonnage of more than 2 million tons. These boats changed the understanding of the importance of the submarine fleet and became a formidable weapon capable of paralyzing shipping with the mere news that they were setting out on another voyage.
Among this series of submarines, the three best known are U-35, commanded by Lothar von Arnaud de la Perrière, the most successful submariner of all time, U-39 by Walter Forstmann, and U-38 by Max Valentiner.
The undisputed leader is the submarine U-35, which destroyed 224 merchant ships with a total displacement of more than half a million tons.
However, submarines of the U-31 type were more of an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary stage in underwater shipbuilding. They were not fundamentally different from their predecessors and successors. Nevertheless, the U-31 boats brought Britain to the brink of exiting the First World War. Only the entry of the United States into the conflict, coupled with the development of innovative convoy tactics for the United Kingdom Navy, created difficulties in German submarine warfare. The three surviving U-31 class boats were captured by the Allies after the end of the First World War.
Surviving Americans in the Pacific
Experts place American Balao-class submarines in second place among outstanding submarines. These submarines were built in 1942-1947. In total, the US shipyards delivered 122 such submarines to the country's Navy. They fought during World War II in the Pacific against the Japanese Empire.
At the time, Japanese industry was highly dependent on access to the natural resources of Southeast Asia. Stopping the delivery of these materiel to the Japanese islands meant effectively winning the war in the Pacific. And although the US military submarine fleet was relatively small, operated without a clear understanding of the great future of submarines in this theater of war, and was armed with poor torpedoes, ultimately the submarines built during the war destroyed almost the entire Japanese merchant fleet.
The war in the Pacific Ocean required submarines to have a long range and, accordingly, better conditions for crew habitat than in the relatively small North Atlantic. Like their Gato-class predecessors, the Balao submarines were less maneuverable than the German VII series submarines, but they compensated for this disadvantage with hull strength and overall very high quality designs. But most importantly, compared to the German submarine VII series, Balao-class submarines had a greater range, larger caliber artillery, large quantity torpedo tubes and higher surface and underwater speed. On the other hand, Balao boats operated in much more favorable conditions than German submarines. The Japanese anti-submarine defenses were weaker.
Balao's biggest victory in the Pacific Ocean was the sinking of the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano with a displacement of 58 thousand tons by the Archerfish submarine.
Only 11 of the 122 Balao boats were lost during the Pacific War, two as a result of accidents and disasters in the post-war period. After World War II, submarines of this class were transferred to several navies friendly to the United States and continued to serve for many decades. One of them, the former American Tusk, is still partially used by Taiwan under the name Hai Pao.
Advanced submarines of the Third Reich
American experts put German submarines of the XXI series in third place. It was a submarine with a revolutionary design for its time, which had a significant influence on all post-war submarine shipbuilding.
Between 1943 and 1945, 134 submarines of this type were launched at the shipyards of Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, AGWeser in Bremen and F. Schichau in Danzig. Of these, the shipyards delivered 119 to the fleet, and another 15 remained unfinished.
Some of the innovations of this project were revolutionary.
Submarines XXI were the first in the world to receive an electromechanical system for loading torpedo tubes, a sonar system that allows them to attack without visual contact, larger batteries, a rubber hull coating that impedes the operation of enemy sonars, and a bubble curtain device.
For the first time, the frames of these boats were moved outside the durable hull, which made it possible to increase the space inside the boat and simplify all kinds of communications and placement of equipment. For the first time, submarines were designed for scuba diving throughout the entire autonomous voyage.
The ocean-going submarine of the XXI series was the first submarine capable of achieving a higher underwater speed than surface speed. She abandoned the deck gun in exchange for speed and stealth. The XXI series boats developed underwater speeds of up to 17.5 knots - almost twice as fast as conventional submarines. It was planned that they would operate almost exclusively while submerged.
A boat of this type could go at full speed underwater for four hours straight, covering 65-70 miles (instead of 12 miles in 1.5 hours of underwater travel on eight knots of Series IX boats). This was quite enough to attack an enemy convoy and reliably break away from the pursuit of anti-submarine defense ships.
Allies in the anti-Hitler coalition captured the surviving German XXI series boats, using them both as models for their own projects and in order to develop more advanced technologies and methods of anti-submarine warfare.
The German submarine of the XXI series became the basis for the Soviet submarine Project 613.
It also became the basis for a large fleet of Chinese submarines.
Washington's Atomic Arguments
Experts put American submarines of the "" type in fourth place among the outstanding submarines of all times. This is the first project in history of nuclear submarines equipped with ballistic missiles. Five submarines of this type were commissioned by the US Navy from 1959 to 1961.
When creating the George Washington boats, the design of the Skipjack nuclear torpedo boat was taken as a basis. This approach to converting a submarine from one class to another, which also took place in the Soviet submarine fleet, made it possible to reduce construction time and save financial resources. A 40-meter missile compartment was inserted into the submarine's hull behind the wheelhouse, in which 16 missile launch silos were located.
Today it is taken for granted that the most common form of modern nuclear deterrence is a nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles capable of hypothetically destroying a dozen cities on any continent. These SSBNs form the most secure part of the nuclear deterrent triad, as it is very difficult to find and destroy a submarine before it launches its ballistic missiles.
Until 1967, the George Washington submarines and American submarines of the same type were the only ones in their class. “Their lumbering Soviet counterparts carried only three missiles and were forced to surface to fire the missiles,” writes The National Interest.
The general layout of boats of the "George Washington" type with vertical shafts located behind the wheelhouse turned out to be extremely successful and became a classic design for underwater strategic missile carriers.
Based on this scheme, Project 667A was built in the USSR, which, by analogy with the “prototype,” was called “Ivan Washington” in the Soviet Navy.
The lead submarine of Project 667A entered service in 1967. The first British submarine of the same class, Resolution, was delivered to the fleet in 1968, and the French Redoutable in 1971. China eventually followed the lead of other nuclear powers, although the first truly modern missile submarines were only recently introduced into the Chinese fleet. India's first missile submarine Arihant is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next year.
Hollywood Special Operations Boats
In fifth place, experts placed the US Navy multi-purpose nuclear submarine Los Angeles. These nuclear submarines were built in the most massive series. A total of 62 submarines of this type were transferred to the American fleet. The first of its series entered service on November 13, 1976, the last (USS Cheyenne) on September 13, 1996. The ships were built by Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat Division.
There are currently 41 Los Angeles-class submarines in service. They still form the backbone of the US submarine fleet. The Los Angeles boat is immortalized in the novels The Hunt for "" and the film of the same name with Sean Conerry.
Among the list of tasks of these multi-purpose submarines are the fight against enemy submarines and surface ships, strikes, mining, search and rescue operations, reconnaissance and special operations, including the transfer of special forces.
In 1991, during the Gulf War, two Los Angeles-class boats fired a salvo of sea-launched cruise missiles at enemy coastal targets for the first time in history. The submarine, by firing Tomahawk missiles, demonstrated a completely new means of war at the disposal of the United States.
The last of the Los Angeles-class boats are expected to be retired from service in the 2020s, although the date could be delayed. By that time, the new submarines will significantly surpass the Los Angeles class boats in their capabilities. Nevertheless, these nuclear-powered ships formed the basis of the submarine forces of the most powerful navy for almost five decades.
Consolation prizes for the USSR
In addition to the five prizes, American experts decided to establish incentive prizes. The nominees included three Soviet submarines, two American, two British, one Japanese and one German.
First of all, the Soviet nuclear submarine Project 941 “Akula” - a heavy missile submarine - deserved attention. submarine cruiser strategic purpose. These are the largest submarines in the world.
American specialists and Soviet nuclear-powered submarines of projects 705, 705K "Lira" - small high-speed boats with a titanium hull - did not ignore them. These submarines had no analogues in speed and maneuverability and were designed to destroy enemy submarines.
We also remembered the modern Russian diesel-electric submarines of Project 636 Varshavyanka, one of which last year was marked by a salvo of Caliber missiles from the Mediterranean Sea, as well as its predecessors - the Soviet Project 877 Halibut boats.
Among the consolation nominations are the American Ohio-class missile carriers, a series of 18 American third-generation strategic submarines that entered service from 1981 to 1997. Since 2002, this is the only type of missile carrier in service with the US Navy. Each boat is armed with 24 Trident intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with multiple warheads with individual guidance.
At the end of the list are the Japanese Type I-201 submarines, also known as the Sen Taka, a series of fast Japanese diesel-electric submarines from World War II. Designed in 1943-1944, they became one of the fastest submarines of their time. A total of 23 boats were planned to be built in the series, the first of which was laid down in March 1944, but the construction of most of them was cancelled. Construction of only eight ships of this type began, of which three were completed before the end of the war. Due to their late appearance, none of these submarines saw action.
The German Type VII submarines of World War II became the largest production type of submarine in history. Of the 1,050 submarines ordered, 703 boats of seven modifications entered service.
No one ever claimed that life aboard Navy ships was luxurious. Even the most modern warships on the planet can still get crowded. And although the service is much improved today, the sailors who patrolled the oceans during World War II lived very different lives from their modern counterparts.
On the one hand, there were much fewer submarines during World War II. While only about 18 meters shorter than a modern submarine, the U.S. Navy's Gato and Balao class submarines had the displacement of only about one-third of today's Virginia-class submarines.
In this small space, the crew of submariners - from 60 to 80 people - had to accommodate themselves, place their belongings, and also stay for 75 days.
Each crew member had only about 0.03 cubic meters on board the submarine. meters of personal space. The submariners' bunks were scattered throughout many compartments of the boat, including the torpedo rooms. As many as 14 people huddled in the forward torpedo compartment along with 16 torpedoes.
Image: USS Cod Submarine Memorial via We Are The Mighty
A submarine of this size simply could not accommodate everything needed for long-term military patrols in the appropriate spaces. Therefore, the crew had to hide boxes of food and other things in any suitable place - in the showers, the engine compartment and even on the deck, until there was free space inside.
There was one advantage though. Due to the dangerous and grueling nature of submarine service, commanders made every effort to ensure that submariners received the best food the Navy had to offer. There was also a place to install freezer for ice cream as a small luxury for the crew.
Unfortunately, sailors did not have enough time or space to enjoy these foods. In general, people were given about 10 minutes to eat so that all three “shifts” of the boat could pass through the tiny galley in a short period of time.
Meals were often dictated by restrictions on submarine movement. Submarines were strictly ordered not to surface during the day if they were within 500 miles of a Japanese airfield, to avoid aerial surveillance and attack. In the first days of the war, this rule applied throughout almost the entire Pacific Ocean, since the Japanese controlled vast swaths of territory.
This meant that submarines remained underwater during the day and only surfaced at night. Therefore, many crews rescheduled their normal daily routines for the night. The crews called this “going into reverse.”
This was important because running the diesel engines for several hours would cause the boat to heat up quickly. IN engine room the temperature could soar to more than 38 degrees, spreading throughout the submarine. Add to that 80 men working and breathing, and the air inside can quickly become critically hot.
People knew the air was getting bad when they had problems with their cigarettes lighting due to lack of oxygen.
What else was bad was bathing. During long treks, most men showered about once every ten days to conserve water. There was no mention of laundry facilities. Therefore, the inside of the submarines had a unique aroma - a combination of the smells of diesel fuel, sweat, cigarettes, hydraulic fluid, food and sewage.
On the old World War I S-boats, often called pigboats, conditions were even worse. Due to the lack of proper ventilation, the odors were even stronger. This also led to the formation of mold and mildew throughout the boat, as well as an infestation of fairly large cockroaches that the crews were never able to completely eradicate.
Even if the conditions themselves were not very bad, the crews still had to sail into hostile waters, often alone, to attack the enemy.
Submarines often operated against cargo ships, but sometimes encountered enemy warships. Having discovered the submarines, enemy ships began to throw depth charges.
Image: US National Archives Of the 263 American submarines that were operational during World War II, 41 were lost to enemy action and another 11 were lost to accidents or other causes. This was almost every fifth submarine, which made the submariner's service one of the most dangerous.
Another danger facing American submarines was attacks from their own torpedoes. Due to problems with the early Mk. 14 she often circled and returned to hit the submarine that released her. At least one submarine, the USS Tang, was sunk in this manner.
Despite all these dangers, American submarines performed admirably. In the Pacific Ocean they managed to sink almost 1,400 Japanese ships various types with a total displacement of more than 5.5 million tons. They also rescued 504 downed airmen who had fallen into the sea.
In addition, the submarines evacuated important persons from dangerous areas, landed groups of scouts on enemy shores, and in some cases even used their 5-inch deck guns to bombard enemy positions.
From the series of medium submarines of the “O” type, by the beginning of the war, 8 units remained in service (“R-1” - “R-7”, “R-9”), built at the Puget Sound N Yd and Fore River shipyards "and commissioned in 1918. The submarines were used for training purposes. The “O-9” boat was lost in 1941, the rest were decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 521 tons, underwater - 629 tons; length – 52.5 m, width – 5.5 m; draft – 4.2 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants– 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 660/550 hp speed – 13 knots. fuel reserve - 88 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 5.5 thousand miles; crew – 25 people. Armament: 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 4 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 8 torpedoes.
Of the series of medium-sized submarines of the “R” type, 19 units remained in service by the beginning of the war (“O-2” - “O-4”, “O-6” - “R-20”), built at the Union Iron Wks shipyards " and "Fore River" and commissioned in 1918-1919. 3 boats in 1941-1942. were transferred to Great Britain, 1 died in 1943, the rest were decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 569 tons, underwater - 680 tons; length – 56.8 m, width – 5.5 m; draft - 4.4 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 1.2/0.9 thousand hp. speed – 13 knots. fuel reserve - 75 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 4.7 thousand miles; crew - 29 people. Armament: 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 4 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 8 torpedoes.
From the Navy Group of the S series, by the beginning of the war, 7 submarines remained in service (S-11 - S-17), built at the Portsmouth N Yd, Lake shipyards and commissioned in 1920-1923 The boats were decommissioned in 1944-1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 0.9 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 1.1 thousand tons; length – 70.4 m, width – 6.7 m; draft – 4 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 1.4/1.2 thousand hp speed – 15 knots. fuel reserve - 148 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 5 thousand miles; crew - 38 people. Armament: 1x1 – 102 mm gun; 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 5 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 14 torpedoes.
From the Holland Group of the S series, by the beginning of the war, 24 submarines remained in service (S-1, S-18, S-20 - S-41), built at the Fore shipyards River", "Bethlehem", "Union Iron Wks" and commissioned in 1920-1924. During the war, 6 boats were lost, 6 were transferred to Great Britain in 1941-1942, the rest were decommissioned in 1945-1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 0.9 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 1.1 thousand tons; length – 70 m, width – 6.3 m; draft – 4.8 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 1.2/1.5 thousand hp. speed – 14 knots. fuel reserve - 168 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 3.4 thousand miles; crew - 38 people. Armament: 1x1 – 102 mm gun; 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 5 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 torpedoes.
The group of submarines "Second Holland Group" of the "S" series consisted of 6 units ("S-42" - "S-47") built at the Bethlehem shipyard and commissioned in 1924-1925. During the war, 1 boat was lost, the rest were decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 0.9 thousand tons, underwater - 1.1 thousand tons; length – 68.7 m, width – 6.3 m; draft - 4.9 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 1.2/1.2 thousand hp speed – 14 knots. fuel reserve - 168 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 2.5 thousand miles; crew - 38 people. Armament: 1x1 – 102 mm gun; 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 torpedoes.
From the Second Navy Group of the S series, the S-48 submarine, built at the Lake shipyard and commissioned in 1922, remained in service at the beginning of the war. The boat was decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 0.9 thousand tons, underwater - 1.1 thousand tons; length – 73.2 m, width – 6.6 m; draft – 4.1 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 1.8/1.5 thousand hp. speed – 14.5 knots. fuel reserve - 177 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 8 thousand miles; crew - 38 people. Armament: 1x1 – 102 mm gun; 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 5 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 14 torpedoes.
The submarines Barracuda, Bass and Bonita were built at the Portsmouth N Yd shipyard and commissioned in 1924-1926. All boats were decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 2.1 thousand tons, underwater - 2.5 thousand tons; length – 99.1 m, width – 8.4 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines, 2 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power - 6.2/2.4 thousand hp. speed - 18.7 knots; fuel reserve - 364 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 12 thousand miles; crew - 85 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 2x1 – 20-mm anti-aircraft guns; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 torpedoes.
The underwater minelayer Agronaut was built at the Portsmouth N Yd shipyard and commissioned in 1928. In 1940, diesel engines were replaced on the submarine, and from 1942 the boat was converted into a transport. The boat died in 1943. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 2.9 thousand tons, underwater - 4 thousand tons; length – 109.7 m, width – 10.3 m; draft - 4.9 m; immersion depth – 95 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines, 2 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power - 6/2.2 thousand hp. speed - 13.7 knots. fuel reserve - 696 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 18 thousand miles; crew - 86 people. Armament: 1x1 – 152 mm gun; 2x1 – 7.6 mm machine gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 8 torpedoes; 60 min.
The submarines Narwhai and Nautilus were built at the Portsmouth N Yd, Mare Island N Yd shipyards and commissioned in 1930. In 1940, diesel engines were replaced on the submarines. Both boats were decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 3 thousand tons, underwater - 4 thousand tons; length – 108.2 m, width – 10.1 m; draft – 5.2 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines, 2 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power - 6/1.6 thousand hp. speed - 17.4 knots. fuel reserve - 732 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 18 thousand miles; crew - 89 people. Armament: 1x1 – 152 mm gun; 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 6-10 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 - 16 torpedoes.
The submarine was built at the Portsmouth N Yd shipyard and commissioned in 1932. The boat was re-equipped in 1934. Decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 1.7 thousand tons, underwater - 2, 2 thousand tons; length – 97.3 m, width – 8.5 m; draft – 4 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines, 2 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power - 3.5/1.8 thousand hp. speed – 17 knots. fuel reserve - 412 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 6 thousand miles; crew - 63 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 18 torpedoes.
The submarines Cachalot and Cuttlefich were built at the Portsmouth N Yd and Electric Boat shipyards and commissioned in 1933-1934. In 1938, diesel engines were replaced on submarines. The boats were decommissioned in 1945-1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement – 1.1 thousand tons, underwater – 1.7 thousand tons; length – 80.8 m, width – 7.5 m; draft – 4.3 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 3.1/1.6 thousand hp speed – 17 knots. fuel reserve - 333 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 9 thousand miles; crew - 51 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 3x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 16 torpedoes.
The P-class submarines Porpoise and Pike were built at the Portsmouth N Yd shipyard and commissioned in 1935. In 1938, diesel engines were replaced on the submarines. The boats were decommissioned in 1956. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement – 1.3 thousand tons, underwater – 1.9 thousand tons; length – 88.1 m, width – 7.6 m; draft – 4.3 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 4 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power – 4.3/2.1 thousand hp speed – 19 knots. fuel reserve - 347 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range – 10 thousand miles; crew - 54 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 2x1 – 20-mm anti-aircraft guns; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 18 torpedoes.
The Shark and Tarpon P-type submarines were built at the Electric Boat shipyard and commissioned in 1936. The Shark boat was lost in 1942, and the Tarpon was scrapped in 1956 Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 1.3 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 2 thousand tons; length – 88.4 m, width – 7.6 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 4 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power – 4.3/2.1 thousand hp speed - 19.5 knots. fuel reserve - 347 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range – 10 thousand miles; crew - 54 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 2x1 – 20-mm anti-aircraft guns; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 18 torpedoes.
The “P” type submarine series consisted of 6 units (“Perch”, “Pickerel”, “Permit”, “Plunger”, “Pollack”, “Pompano”), built at the Electric Boat and Portsmouth N Yd shipyards. , "Mare Island N Yd" and commissioned in 1936-1937. During the war, 3 boats were lost, the rest were written off in 1946-1947. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement – 1.3 thousand tons, underwater – 2 thousand tons; length – 89.2 m, width – 7.7 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 4 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power – 4.3/2.4 thousand hp. speed - 19.3 knots. fuel reserve - 373 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range – 10 thousand miles; crew - 54 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 2x1 – 20-mm anti-aircraft guns; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 18 torpedoes.
Submarines "Salmon", "Seal", "Skipjack", "Snapper", "Stingray", "Sturgeon" were built at the shipyards "Electric Boat", "Portsmouth N Yd", "Mare Island N Yd" and commissioned in 1937-1938 The boats were decommissioned in 1945-1956. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement – 1.4 thousand tons, underwater – 2.2 thousand tons; length – 91.4 m, width – 8 m; draft – 4.8 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 4 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 5.5/2.7 thousand hp speed – 21 knots. fuel reserve - 384 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range – 11 thousand miles; crew - 59 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm or 102 mm or 127 mm gun; 2x1 – 20-mm anti-aircraft guns; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes or 32 mines.
The submarines “Sargo”, “Saury”, “Spearfish”, “Sculpin”, “Sailfish”, “Swordfish”, “Seadragon”, “Sealion”, “Searaven”, “Seawolf” were built at the Electric Boat shipyards, “Portsmouth N Yd”, “Mare Island N Yd” and commissioned in 1939. During the war, 4 boats were lost, the rest were decommissioned in 1946-1948. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement – 1.4 thousand tons, underwater – 2.2 thousand tons; length – 92.2 m, width – 8.2 m; draft – 5 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 4 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 5.5/2.7 thousand hp speed – 20 knots. fuel reserve - 428 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range – 11 thousand miles; crew - 59 people. Armament: 1x1 – 102 mm or 127 mm gun; 2x1 – 20-mm anti-aircraft guns; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes or 32 mines.
The Tambor-class submarine series consisted of 12 units (Tambor, Tautog, Thresher, Triton, Trout, Tuna, Gar, Grampus, Grayback, Grayling ", "Grenadier", "Gudgeon"), built at the shipyards "Electric Boat", "Portsmouth N Yd", "Mare Island N Yd" and commissioned in 1940-1941. During the war, 7 boats were lost, the rest were written off in 1948-1959. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 1.5 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 2.4 thousand tons; length – 92.2 m, width – 8.3 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 4 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 5.4/2.7 thousand hp. speed – 20 knots. fuel reserve - 385 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range – 11 thousand miles; crew – 60 people. Armament: 1x1 – 102 mm or 127 mm gun; 1x1 - 40mm or 1x1 - 20mm or 2x1 - 20mm anti-aircraft gun; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes or 40 min.
The submarines "Mackerel" and "Marlin" were built at the Electric Boat shipyard, "Portsmouth N Yd" and commissioned in 1941. Both boats were decommissioned in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 0.9 thousand t., underwater – 1.2 thousand t.; length – 73 m, width – 6.7 m; draft – 4.3 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 4 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 3.4/1.5 thousand hp speed – 16 knots: fuel reserve – 116 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range – 7 thousand miles; crew - 42 people. Armament: 1x1 – 127 mm gun; 2x1 – 20-mm anti-aircraft guns; 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 torpedoes.
The Gato-class submarine series consisted of 73 units (SS-212 - SS-284), built at the Electric Boat, Portsmouth N Yd, Mare Island N Yd, and Manitowoc SB shipyards. and commissioned in 1941-1944. During the war, 20 boats were lost, 5 were converted into museums, the rest were decommissioned between 1946 and 1971. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 1.6 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 2.5 thousand tons; length – 95 m, width – 8.3 m; draft – 4.7 m; immersion depth – 90 m; power plants – 4 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 5.4/2.7 thousand hp. speed – 20 knots; fuel reserve - 378 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 11 thousand miles; crew – 80 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm or 102 mm gun; 2x1 - 20 mm anti-aircraft machine gun or 2x1 - 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun; 10 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes.
The Balao-class submarine series consisted of 112 units (“SS-285” - “SS-302”, “SS-304” - “SS-345”, “SS-361” - “SS-377”, “SS -381" - "SS-415"), built at the shipyards "Electric Boat", "Portsmouth N Yd", "Cramp", "Mare Island N Yd", "Manitowoc SB" and commissioned in 1942-1944. During the war, 23 boats were lost, 41 were transferred or sold to 9 allied countries at the end of the war, 7 were converted into museums, the rest were decommissioned in 1960 - 1973. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 1.8 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 2.4 thousand tons; length – 92.2 m, width – 8.3 m; draft – 4.7 m; immersion depth – 120 m; power plants – 4 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power - 5.4/2.7 thousand hp. speed – 20 knots. fuel reserve - 472 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 11 thousand miles; crew – 60 people. Armament: 1x1 - 102 mm or 127 mm gun; 2x1 – 20 mm or 40 mm anti-aircraft gun; 10 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes.
From a series of submarines of the "Tench" type during the war, the construction of 19 units was completed at the Portsmouth N Yd shipyard ("SS-417" - "SS-424", "SS-475" - "SS-486") and accepted commissioned in 1944-1945. The boats were decommissioned, sold or transferred to allied countries in 1963-1973. The SS-423 boat was converted into a museum. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 1.8 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 2.4 thousand tons; length – 92.2 m, width – 8.3 m; draft – 4.7 m; immersion depth – 120 – 135 m; power plants – 4 diesel generators and 2 electric motors; power – 5.4/2.7 thousand hp. speed – 20 knots. fuel reserve - 378 - 472 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 11-12 thousand miles; crew – 60 people. Armament: 1-2x1 - 127 mm guns; 1x1 – 20 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft gun; 10 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 -28 torpedoes or 40 min.
For any country, this is a powerful geopolitical containment mechanism. And the submarine fleet by its very presence influences international relationships and escalation of conflicts. If in the 19th century the border of Britain was determined by the sides of its military frigates, then in the 20th century the leader of the World Ocean became Navy United States of America. And the Americans played an important role in this.
Paramount importance
The submarine fleet is becoming increasingly important for America. Historically, the country's territory was limited by water boundaries, making it difficult for the enemy to attack covertly. With the advent of modern submarines and submarine-to-air missiles in the world, these borders are becoming increasingly elusive for America.
The escalating confrontation between international relations with Muslim countries makes the threat to the lives of American citizens real. Iranian Islamists are not giving up their attempts to acquire submarine-to-air missiles, and this is a threat to all coastal centers of America. And in this case, the destruction will be colossal. Only the same opponent can resist an attack from under water.
The current US President Donald Trump noted in his first interviews that he intends to further increase the US submarine fleet. But under one condition - a reduction in its cost. Corporations that build American nuclear submarines should think about this. There is already a precedent. After Donald Trump said he would approach Boeing for cheaper fighter jets, Lockheed Martin slashed the price of the F-35 fighter jet.
Combat power
Today, US submarines are predominantly nuclear powered. This means that during operations, combat effectiveness will be limited only by the amount of food and water on board. The most numerous class of submarines is the Los Angeles. These are third-generation boats with a displacement of about 7 tons, a diving depth of up to 300 meters and a cost of about $1 million. However, America is now replacing them with fourth-generation Virginia-class boats, which are better equipped and cost $2.7 million. And this price is justified by their combat characteristics.
Combat composition
Today it is the leader in both the quantity and equipment of naval weapons. The US Navy includes 14 strategic nuclear submarines and 58 attack submarines.
The US military's submarine fleet is equipped with two types of submarines:
- Ocean ballistic boats. Deep-sea submarines whose purpose is to deliver weapons to their destination and launch ballistic missiles. In other words, they are called strategic. Defensive weapons are not represented by strong firepower.
- "Boats are hunters." High-speed boats, the goals and objectives of which are diverse: delivery of cruise missiles and peacekeeping forces to conflict zones, lightning attacks and destruction of enemy forces. Such submarines are called multifunctional. their specificity is speed, maneuverability and stealth.
The development of underwater navigation in America began in the middle of the last century. The scope of the article does not imply such an array of information. Let's focus on the atomic arsenal, which developed after the end of World War II. We will conduct a brief overview of the underwater nuclear arsenal of the American Armed Forces, adhering to the chronological principle.
The first experimental atomic
In January 1954, the first American submarine, the USS Nautilus, with a displacement of about 4 thousand tons and a length of 100 meters, was launched at the shipyard in Groton in January 1954. She set out on her maiden voyage a year later. It was the Nautilus that was the first to pass the North Pole underwater in 1958, which almost ended in tragedy - the breakdown of the periscope due to a failure of the navigation systems. It was an experimental and only multi-purpose torpedo boat with a sonar installation in the bow and torpedoes in the rear. The submarine "Barracuda" (1949-1950) showed this arrangement to be the most successful.
American nuclear submarines owe their appearance to a naval engineer, Rear Admiral Hyman George Rickover (1900-1986).
The next experimental project was the USS Seawolf (SSN-575), also released in a single copy in 1957. It had a reactor with 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 - USS Skate. They were part of the US armed forces and were decommissioned in the late 80s of the last century.
Series of six boats - "Skipjack" (1959). Until 1964, this was the largest series. The boats had an “Albacore” hull shape and highest speed before the Los Angeles episode.
At the same time (1959-1961) a specialized series was launched nuclear boats in the amount of five - “George Washington”. These are boats of the first ballistic project. Each boat carried 16 missile silos for Polaris A-1 missiles. Firing accuracy was increased by a hygroscopic pitch damper, which reduced the amplitude by five times at a depth of 50 meters.
This was followed by projects of nuclear submarines, one experimental copy of the Triton, Halibut, Tullibe series. American designers experimented and improved navigation systems and energy systems.
The large series of multi-role boats that replaced Skipjack consists of 14 Treaher nuclear submarines. The last one was decommissioned in 1996.
The Benjamin Franklin series are submarines of the Lafayette class. At first they were armed with ballistic missiles. In the 70s, they were rearmed with Poseidon and then Trident-1 missiles. Twelve boats of the Benjamin Franklin series became part of the fleet of strategic missile carriers in the 1960s, called “41 Guarding Freedom.” All ships in this fleet were named after figures of American history.
The largest series - USS Sturgeon - of multifunctional nuclear submarines includes 37 submarines created between 1871 and 1987. Distinctive feature- reduced noise level and sensors for ice swimming.
Boats serving 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 were produced, this is the largest series of multi-purpose submarines. Torpedo and vertical weapons launchers missiles of the Tomahawk type with homing systems. Nine Los Angeles-class boats participated in the 26 MW GE PWR S6G reactors developed by General Electric. It is with this series that the tradition of naming boats after American cities begins. Today, the US Navy has 40 boats of this class in combat service.
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 individually targeted intercontinental ballistic missiles. For protection they are armed with 4 torpedo tubes. The Ohio is a submarine that forms the backbone of the US Navy's offensive forces and is at sea 60% of the time.
The latest project of the third generation multi-purpose nuclear submarines “Seawolf” (1998-1999). This is the most secret project of the US Navy. It was called the “improved Los Angeles” for its special noiselessness. He appeared and disappeared unnoticed by radar. The reason is a special soundproofing coating, the abandonment of the propeller in favor of a water jet engine and the widespread introduction of noise sensors. Its tactical speed of 20 knots makes it as noisy as the Los Angeles docked. There are three boats in this series: Seawolf, Connecticut and Jimmy Carter. The latter was commissioned in 2005, and it is this boat that the terminator controls 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 submarines for its size (the boat is 30 meters longer than its fellows). And according to its characteristics, this submarine can already be considered an underwater ship.
latest generation
The future of submarine shipbuilding began in 2000 with the new class of boats, the USS Virginia class. The first boat of this class, SSN-744, was launched and put into operation in 2003.
The U.S. Navy's submarine class has been called a weapons depot due to its powerful arsenal, and a "perfect observer" due to the most sophisticated and sensitive sensor systems ever installed on a submarine.
Movement even in relatively shallow water is ensured by 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 a system of isolated chambers and a modern design of the energy unit with a “silencing” coating.
Are common performance characteristics boats of the USS Virginia class, of which thirteen have been commissioned to date:
- speed up to 34 knots (64 km/h);
- diving depth 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;
- atomic power point type GE S9G.
In total, the series provides for the production of 28 Virginia nuclear submarines with the gradual replacement of the Navy's arsenal with fourth-generation boats.
Michelle Obama's boat
Last August, the 13th USS Virginia-class submarine with hull number SSN -786 and the name “Illinois” was commissioned at the naval shipyard in Groton (Connecticut). It was named after the home state of then-First Lady Michelle Obama, who took part in its launch in October 2015. The initials of the first lady, according to tradition, are stamped on one of the parts of the submarine.
The nuclear submarine Illinois, 115 meters long and with 130 crew on board, is equipped with an unmanned underwater mine detection vehicle, a diver's airlock and other additional equipment. The purpose of this submarine is to conduct coastal and deep-sea operations.
Instead of a traditional periscope, the boat has a telescopic system with a television camera, and an infrared laser sensor is installed.
The firepower of the boat: 2 revolver-type installations of 6 missiles each 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.
Outlook for military undersea capabilities
The top ranks of the US Navy insist on the gradual replacement of diesel-fuel submarines with boats that have virtually no restrictions in conducting combat operations - with nuclear propulsion systems. The fourth generation of the Virginia nuclear submarine provides for the production of 28 submarines of this class. Gradual replacement of the arsenal naval forces to fourth-generation boats will increase the rating and combat effectiveness of the American army.
But design bureaus continue to work and offer their projects to the army.
American amphibious submarines
The secret landing of troops on enemy territory is the goal of all landing operations. After World War II, America had such a technological opportunity. The Bureau of Ships has received an order for an amphibious submarine. Projects appeared, but the airborne troops did not have financial security, but the fleet was not interested in the idea.
Of the projects being seriously considered, we can mention the project of the Seaforth Group, which appeared in 1988. The landing submarine S-60 designed by them involves launching into the water at a distance of 50 kilometers from the coast, diving to a depth of 5 meters. At a speed of 5 knots, the submarine reaches the coastline and disembarks 60 paratroopers along retractable bridges at a distance of up to 100 meters from the shore. So far no one has bought the project.
Time-tested reliability
The oldest submarine in the world that is still in service today is the Balao SS 791 Hai Shih (Sea Lion) submarine, part of the Taiwanese Navy. An American World War II submarine built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, it joined the US military submarine fleet in 1945. She had one combat campaign in August 1945 in the Pacific Ocean. After several upgrades, she was transferred to Taiwan in 1973 and became China's first operational submarine.
In January 2017, information appeared in the press that during 18 months of planned repairs at the shipyards shipbuilding corporation Taiwan International Shipbuilding Corporation will carry out general repairs and replacement of navigation equipment to the Sea Lion. These works will extend the service life of the submarine until 2026.
A veteran of American-made submarines, the only one of its kind, plans to celebrate its 80th anniversary in combat service.
Extremely tragic facts
There are no open and public statistics on losses and accidents in the US submarine fleet. 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 cruise ended with the death of the American submarine Thrasher. The official cause of the disaster is water entering under the boat's hull. The shutdown reactor immobilized the submarine, and it sank into the depths, taking the lives of 112 crew members and 17 civilian specialists. The wreckage of the submarine is located at a depth of 2,560 meters. This is the first technological accident of a nuclear submarine.
In 1968, the multi-purpose nuclear submarine USS Scorpion disappeared without a trace in the Atlantic Ocean. The official version of the death is the detonation of ammunition. However, even today the mystery of the death of this ship remains a mystery. In 2015, US Navy veterans once again appealed to the government demanding the creation of a commission to investigate this incident, clarify the number of victims and determine their status.
In 1969, the submarine USS Guitarro with tail number 665 curiously sank. It happened near the quay wall and at a depth of 10 meters. Lack of coordination and negligence of instrument calibration specialists led to the flooding. Raising and restoring the boat cost the American taxpayer about $20 million.
The Los Angeles class boat, which took part in the filming of the film “The Hunt for Red October,” caught a cable connecting a tug and a barge on May 14, 1989, off the coast of California. The boat dived, pulling a tow behind it. Relatives of one tug crew member who died that day received $1.4 million in compensation from the Navy.
