Function: Nuclear powered Fast Attack submarine.





History: The Los Angeles class SSN design proved to be so effective that as time progressed and technological improvements were made to the submarine's systems, rather than build a completely new class of boat it was decided to reuse the Los Angeles design, but fitted with newer, more advanced systems. Based on research and development studies, performed in part by USS Memphis (SSN691) which had been specifically modified during refit to serve as a technology test bed, several major improvements were made to the basic Los Angeles design. In addition to internal upgrades to improve the submarine's sensors and to make it quieter, the hull was also modified to increase submerged speed. Furthermore, by strengthening the sail and moving the forward dive planes from the sail to the bow, the San Juan boats have a true "under ice" capability. The Improved Los Angeles (or San Juan class) submarines currently fill the role of America's front line fast attack submarine, surpassing the Los Angeles class in all respects, and will continue to serve until replaced by either the Seawolf class (SSN21) or the Virginia class (SSN774).





General Characteristics, San Juan Class



Cost:

About $900 million each





Builders:

General Dynamics Electric Boat Division





Power Plant:

One S6G nuclear reactor, one shaft, 35,000 shaft horse power





Length, Overall:

360 feet (109.73 meters)





Beam:

33 feet (10.06 meters)





Draft:

35 feet (10.67 meters)





Displacement:

6,927 tons (7,010.73 metric tons) submerged





Speed:

32 knots submerged





Crew:

13 Officers; 121 Enlisted





Armament:

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



Harpoon anti-ship missiles (tube launched)



Tomahawk anti-ship/ land attack missiles, launched from a 12 tube vertical launch system (VLS)







Sensors:

BSY-1 combat data system





Radar:

1 AN/BPS-5 surface search radar



1 AN/BPS-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-5 low frequency spherical bow sonar array



1 AN/BQS-15 close range active sonar (ice detection)



Mine and Ice Detection and Avoidance System (MIDAS)



SADS-TG active detection sonar)





Optics:

1 Type 2 attack periscope



1 Type 18 search periscope





Countermeasures:

WLR-9 acoustic intercept receiver



WLQ-4 ESM



WLY-1 torpedo decoy









Ships:

USS San Juan (SSN 751), Groton, CT

USS Pasadena (SSN-752), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Albany (SSN-753), Norfolk, VA

USS Topeka (SSN-754), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Miami (SSN-755), Groton, CT

USS Scranton (SSN-756), Norfolk, VA

USS Alexandria (SSN-757), Groton, CT

USS Asheville (SSN-758), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Jefferson City (SSN-759), San Diego, CA

USS Annapolis (SSN-760), Groton, CT

USS Springfield (SSN-761), Groton, CT

USS Columbus (SSN-762), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Santa Fe (SSN-763), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Boise (SSN-764), Norfolk, VA

USS Montpelier (SSN-765), Norfolk, VA

USS Charlotte (SSN-766), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Hampton (SSN-767), Norfolk, VA

USS Hartford (SSN-768), Groton, CT

USS Toledo (SSN-769), Groton, CT

USS Tucson (SSN-770), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Columbia (SSN-771), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Greeneville (SSN-772), Pearl Harbor, HI

USS Cheyenne (SSN-773), Pearl Harbor, HI