INFORMATION SHEET U.S. SUBMARINES Information Sheet Number 8.

6 INTRODUCTION The United States Navy operates a large fleet of attack and strategic missile submarines. All U.S. submarines are nuclear powered; this gives them the advantage of virtually unlimited endurance. Attack submarines can fulfill a variety of missions. They most frequently operate independently but can support a carrier task group in missions such as USW or over the horizon targeting. Strategic missile submarines operate independently as the nation's sea based nuclear deterrent. REFERENCES (a) Jane's Fighting Ships 1995-96 INFORMATION A. Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs): 1. SSNs are versatile platforms whose primary mission is Undersea Warfare (USW). There are three classes of attack submarines in use today: STURGEON, LOS ANGELES, and SEAWOLF. These highly capable, multi-mission platforms are being reduced in numbers due to the lack of a perceived threat. The STURGEON class subs will all be decommissioned by end of FY99 and select LOS ANGELES class subs will be decommissioned to reduce the number in the fleet. Only 3 SEA WOLF submarines are scheduled to be built and the New SSN (NSSN) project is still in the design phase. All submarine launched harpoons are being removed from SSNs, eliminating their stand-off SUW capability. 2. Secondary missions of SSNs may include: a. Surface warfare (SUW) - employing Mk 48 Torpedo. b. Strike warfare - employing TLAM. c. Intelligence and Warning (I&W) - covert gathering and dissemination of information. d. Mine warfare - minelaying operations. e. Special Warfare/Operations - covert tactical insertion and extraction of SPECOPS forces.

3. SSN-688 LOS ANGELES class: a. Characteristics: - Length: 362 ft 8-6-1I

- Displacement: 7000 tons submerged - Speed: 32 kts submerged - Bow planes for under-ice capability 751+ b. Armament: - MK 48 Torpedoes - Fired from four torpedo tubes - Tomahawk - VLS in 719+ - Mines - Submarine Evasive Devices c. Electronics: - Tactical data links: Link 11 and OTCIXS. - Radar: BPS-15A search and navigation radar. - EW: WLR-8(V)2 ES receiver. - IFF: APX-72 (transponder only). d. Sonar/Fire Control: - BQQ-5 C/D/E active-passive or BSY-1 on 751+ system with spherical bow array. - BQS-15 high-frequency under-ice set. - TB-16B or TB-23 towed array (subsystem of BQQ-5). - WLR-12 acoustic intercept set. - CCS MK1 Combat System.

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4. SSN-21 SEA WOLF class: a. Characteristics: - Length: - Displacement: - Speed: b. Armament: - MK 48 Torpedoes - Fired from eight torpedo tubes - Tomahawk - Mines - Submarine Evasive Devices 353 ft 9100 tons submerged 35 kts submerged

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- Double internal weapons load of LA class c. Electronics: - Tactical data links: Link 11 and OTCIXS. - Radar: BPS-16 search and navigation radar. - EW: WLQ-4(V)1 ES receiver. d. Sonar/Fire Control: - BSY-2 active-passive system with hemi-spherical bow array and wide aperture array. - TB-16B or TB-23 towed array. - Central Combat System (CCS) MK2.

B. Nuclear Strategic Missile Submarines (SSBNs): 1. Deterrence is one of the four pillars of the National Military Strategy and one of the areas of employment for the Navy. The Navy's SSBN force is the sea-based and largest leg of the national "triad" of nuclear deterrence and continues to carry out this vital mission. 2. SSBNs have "blue" and "gold" crews which alternate on three month patrols to minimize inport time and maximize SSBN on-station time without causing undue stress and fatigue to the crews. 3. Some SSBNs have been converted to SSNs because of treaty limitations and are used

chiefly for training or Special Warfare missions. 4. SSBN 726 OHIO class: a. Characteristics: - Displacement: 18,750 tons submerged - Speed: 20 + kts submerged b. Armament: - 24 Trident I (C-4) or Trident II (D-5) missiles - 4 21" torpedo tubes for MK48 torpedoes c. Electronics: - Radar: BPS-15A I-Band search and navigation radar. - EW: WLR-8(V) radar receiver. d. Sonar and Fire Control Systems: - BQQ-6 passive-only spherical bow and conformal sonar arrays. - BQS-15 high-frequency short range under-ice sonar set. - TB-16B or TB-23 passive towed array. - BQR-19 active short range navigation set. - MK 98 Digital Missile Fire Control System (FCS) for Trident missiles. - MK 118 Torpedo FCS.

C. Future Developments: a. Russian submarine advances have reached a point where improved AKULA SSN submarines are quieter than SSN 688I (improved) submarines at tactical speeds. The Russian determination to close the U.S. advantage in submarine quieting is evident as their new SSN SEVERODVINSK is brought on-line. In order for the U.S. to maintain a tactical advantage, the SSN 21 SEA WOLF and the follow-on submarine, N-SSN, will be constructed so that the Navy maintains a SSN force of about 45-55 by the next decade. Currently the Navy has about 80 attack submarines. b. The N-SSN is the next generation of attack submarine for the navy. It will equal the SEA WOLF in quieting but cost considerably less due to its modular construction. First construction is scheduled to start in 1998.