Function: America's front-line fast attack nuclear submarine during the '60s and '70s.





History: Following in the steps of the Skipjack and Permit class nuclear submarines, the Sturgeon class incorporated a a new hull design and sensor package. Larger than either of the two earlier designs while using the same reactor plant, the Sturgeon sacrificed speed for increased weapons payload and crew efficiency. Beginning with the Archerfish (SSN678) the hull was lengthened an additional 10 feet. In addition to their regular duties as anti submarine platforms, the Sturgeon class submarines were also tasked with coastal reconnaissance and electronic intelligence gathering. Furthermore, between 1982 and 1991 six 637 class boats (SSN 678-680, 682, 684, and 686) were modified to carry the SEAL Dry Deck Shelter (DDS.) The DDS is a submersible air lock and storage area allowing for the transporting, delivery and recovery of SEAL teams and all their associated equipment. The Sturgeon class submarines were slowly phased out of front line service by the faster, more capable Los Angeles class submarines during the 80's and 90's though those still in service continue to perform intelligence gathering and support special operations missions.





General Characteristics, Sturgeon Class



Builders:

General Dynamics Electric Boat Division



General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division



Ingalls Shipbuilding



Portsmouth Naval Shipyard



San Francisco Naval Shipyard



Newport News Shipbuilding





Power Plant:

One S5W nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one shaft, 15,000 shaft horse power





Date Deployed:

March 3, 1967 (USS Sturgeon)





Length, Overall:

292 feet (89 meters)



SSN 678-687 302 feet (91.44 meters)





Beam:

32 feet (9.75 meters)





Draft:

28.8 feet





Displacement:

4,780 tons submerged



SSN 678-687 4,960 tons submerged





Speed:

20+ knots (23.02+ miles per hour, 37.05 +kph)





Crew:

12 Officers, 95 Enlisted



Armament:

Mk 48 ADCAP Torpedoes, launched from four 533mm torpedo tubes.



Harpoon anti-ship missiles (tube launched)



Tomahawk anti-ship/ land attack missiles (tube launched)





Sensors:

BSY-2 combat data system





Radar:

1 AN/BPS-14/15 navigation and fire control radar





Sonar:

1 TB-16 passive towed sonar array



1 TB-23 passive "thin line" towed sonar array



1 AN/BQG-5 wide aperture flank array



1 AN/BQQ-2/5 low frequency spherical bow sonar array



1 AN/BQS-12/13 active sonar array



1 AN/BQR-6 active sonar array (in submarines equipped with the BQQ-2)



1 AN/BQR-7 passive sonar array (in submarines equipped with the BQQ-2)





Optics:

1 Type 2 attack periscope



1 Type 18 search periscope





Countermeasures:

WLR-9 acoustic intercept receiver



WLQ-4 ESM









Ships:

USS Parche (SSN-683), Bangor, WA

USS L. Mendel Rivers (SSN-686), Norfolk, VA