Function: Submarine Tenders furnish maintenance and logistic support for nuclear attack submarines.





History: The L.Y. Spear class is designed and fitted to accommodate attack submarines and can service up to four submarines moored alongside simultaneously. The Simon Lake class was configured especially to service ballistic missile submarines, the last of this class was decommissioned June 25, 1999.





Description: Submarine tenders are the largest of the active auxiliaries. Their crews are made up mostly technicians and repair personnel.





General Characteristics, L.Y. Spear Class



Builders:

Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Company (AS-39 through AS-41)





Date Deployed:

July 7, 1979 (USS Emory S. Land)





Power Plant:

Two boilers, geared turbines, one shaft, 20,000 shaft horsepower





Length, Overall:

644 feet (196.30 meters)





Beam:

85 feet (25.91 meters)







Displacement:

Approximately 23,493 long tons (23,870.02 metric tons) full load





Speed:

20 knots (23.02 miles, 37.05 km, per hour)





Crew:

97 officers, 1,266 enlisted





Armament:

Two 40mm guns

Four 20mm guns





Aircraft:

None











Ships:

USS Emory S. Land (AS-39), La Maddalena, Italy

USS Frank Cable (AS-40), Guam