Submarines of the United States Navy are built in classes, using a single design for a number of boats. Minor variations occur as improvements are incorporated into the design, so later boats of a class may be more capable than earlier. Also, boats are modified, sometimes extensively, while in service, creating departures from the class standard. However, in general, all boats of a class are noticeably similar.
Experimental use: an example is USS Albacore (AGSS-569), which used an unprecedented hull design. In this list such single boat "classes" are marked with "(unique)".
Pre–World War I[]
| Class name | No. | Laid down | Last comm. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alligator[1] | 1 | 1861 | 1862 | First submarine in the U.S. Navy. Purpose was to protect wooden ships against ironclads. |
| Holland[2][3] | 1 | 1896 | 1900 | 5 others were made; only Holland (SS-1) entered the U.S. Navy as it was the first officially commissioned submarine purchased on 11 April 1900. |
| Plunger[4] | 7 | 1900 | 1903 | Later renamed A class in November 1911, when Navy stopped naming submarines. Essentially enlarged, more powerful Holland. |
| B[5][6][7][8] | 3 | 1905 | 1907 | Last in series of Holland-like submarines. Originally known as Viper class. |
| C[9] | 5 | 1905 | 1910 | Designed by Lawrence York Spear. Originally known as the Octopus class. |
| D[10] | 3 | 1908 | 1910 | Originally known as the Narwhal class. Designed to survive flooding in one compartment. |
| E[11] | 2 | 1909 | 1912 | First diesel-powered submarine. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. |
| F[12] | 4 | 1909 | 1913 | In 1920, the class was designated SS-20–SS-23. |
| G[13][14][15][16] | 4 | 1909 | 1914 | Used gasoline engine. G-1 (SS-19½) set the submerged depth record in 1915, 256 feet (78 m). G-1 (SS-19½) was given the number 19½ because SS- numbers were given after her decommissioning; she was between SS-19 & SS-20. |
| H[17][18] | 9 | 1911 | 1918 | Three originally ordered by U.S. Navy. 18 ordered by the Imperial Russian Navy, 12 delivered. Other 6 bought by U.S. Navy. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. |
| K[19][20] | 8 | 1912 | 1912 | Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. K-1 (SS-32), K-2 (SS-33), K-5 (SS-36), K-6 (SS-37) were the first U.S. submarines to see action in World War I. |
| L[21] | 11 | 1914 | 1918 | Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. Designed for coastal defense. |
| M-1[22] | 1 | 1914 | 1918 | Double-hull design. Twenty percent larger than the K class. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. Considered failure by the submarine community. |
| N[23] | 7 | 1915 | 1918 | Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. Used for coastal patrol. |
| O[24][25] | 16 | 1916 | 1918 | Each cost $550,000. First submarines with reliable diesel engines. Every man had his own berth and locker. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. O-11 through O-16 also known as the "modified O-class". Modified boats proved to be disappointing. |
| AA-1[26] | 3 | 1916 | 1922 | Later renamed T class. Designed for 5,540 miles (8,920 km) at 14 knots (7.2 m/s), but performed 3,000 miles (4,800 km) at 11 knots (5.7 m/s). Prototype "fleet submarines"—submarines fast enough (21 knots (11 m/s)) to travel with battleships. Twice the size of any concurrent or past U.S. submarine. |
World War I[]
| Class name | No. | Laid down | Last comm. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R[27][28] | 20 | 1917 | 1918 | Known as a "pig boat", or "boat", due to foul living conditions and unusual hull shape. Designed by Simon Lake. Larger conning tower to serve as commanding officer's battle station. Fired Mk10 torpedoes and traveled 5,000 miles (8,000 km) at 10 knots (5.1 m/s). |
| R-21[29] | 7 | 1917 | 1919 | Similar to R-class. Known as a "pig boat", or "boat", due to foul living conditions and unusual hull shape. |
| S | 51 | 1917 | 1922 | The S class is subdivided into four groups of different designs. |
Between the world wars[]
| Class name | No. | First ship laid down | Last ship commissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barracuda | 3 | USS Barracuda (SS-163) and USS Bass (SS-164) 20 October 1921 |
USS Bonita (SS-165) 22 May 1926 |
|
| Argonaut | 1 | 1 May 1925 | 2 April 1928 | Unique submarine |
| Narwhal | 2 | USS Narwhal (SS-167) 10 May 1927 |
USS Nautilus (SS-168) 1 July 1930 |
|
| Dolphin | 1 | 14 June 1930 | 1 June 1932 | Unique submarine |
| Cachalot | 2 | USS Cuttlefish (SS-171) 7 October 1931 |
USS Cuttlefish (SS-171) 8 June 1934 |
|
| Porpoise | 10 | USS Shark (SS-174) 24 October 1933 |
USS Pompano (SS-181) 12 June 1937 |
|
| Salmon | 6 | USS Salmon (SS-182) 15 April 1936 |
USS Skipjack (SS-184) 30 June 1938 |
|
| Sargo | 10 | USS Sargo (SS-188) 12 May 1937 |
USS Seawolf (SS-197) 1 December 1939 |
|
| Tambor | 12 | USS Tambor (SS-198) 16 January 1939 |
USS Grayback (SS-208) 30 June 1941 |
|
| Mackerel | 2 | USS Mackerel (SS-204) 6 October 1939 |
USS Marlin (SS-205) 1 August 1941 |
|
| Gato | 77 | USS Drum (SS-228) 11 September 1940 |
USS Croaker (SS-246) 21 April 1944 |
World War II[]
| Class name | No. | First ship laid down | Last ship commissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balao | 128 | USS Devilfish (SS-292) 31 March 1942 |
USS Tiru (SS-416) 1 September 1948 |
|
| Tench | 29 | USS Amberjack (SS-522), USS Grampus (SS-523), USS Pickerel (SS-524), and USS Grenadier (SS-525) 8 February 1944 |
USS Grenadier (SS-525) 10 February 1951 |
Cold War[]
| Class name | No. | First ship laid down | Last ship commissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barracuda | 3 | USS Barracuda (SSK-1) 1 July 1949 |
USS Bonita (SSK-3) 11 January 1952 |
|
| Tang | 6 | USS Tang (SS-563) 18 April 1949 |
USS Gudgeon (SS-567) 21 November 1952 |
|
| Albacore | 1 | 15 March 1952 | 6 December 1953 | Unique submarine |
| T-1 | 2 | USS T-1, later USS Mackerel (SST-1) 1 April 1952 |
USS T-2, later USS Marlin (SST-2) 20 November 1953 |
Training and experimental submarines |
| Nautilus | 1 | 14 June 1952 | 30 September 1954 | First U.S. Navy nuclear submarine; Hull based on fleet boat |
| Sailfish | 2 | USS Sailfish (SSR-572) 8 December 1953 |
USS Salmon (SSR-573) 25 August 1956 |
Radar picket |
| Grayback | 2 | USS Grayback (SSG-574) 1 July 1954 |
USS Growler (SSG-577) 30 August 1958 |
|
| Seawolf | 1 | 7 December 1953 | 30 March 1957 | Unique submarine |
| Darter | 1 | 10 November 1954 | 20 October 1956 | Unique submarine |
| Skate | 4 | USS Skate (SSN-578) 21 July 1955 |
USS Seadragon (SSN-584) 5 December 1959 |
|
| Barbel | 3 | USS Barbel (SS-580) 18 May 1956 |
USS Blueback (SS-581) 15 October 1959 |
U.S. Navy's last conventionally powered submarines |
| Skipjack | 6 | USS Skipjack (SSN-585) 29 May 1956 |
USS Snook (SSN-592) 24 October 1961 |
USS Scorpion lost at sea |
| Triton | 1 | 29 May 1956 | 10 November 1959 | Unique submarine; Radar picket |
| Halibut | 1 | 11 April 1957 | 4 January 1960 | Unique submarine; cruise missile submarine |
| Thresher/Permit | 14 | USS Thresher (SSN-593) 28 May 1958 |
USS Gato (SSN-615) 25 January 1968 |
Known as Thresher class until the loss of the USS Thresher |
| Tullibee | 1 | 26 May 1958 | 9 November 1960 | Unique submarine |
| George Washington | 5 | USS George Washington (SSBN-598) 1 November 1957 |
USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) 11 March 1961 |
|
| Ethan Allen | 5 | USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) 14 September 1959 |
USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) 4 January 1963 |
|
| Lafayette | 9 | USS Lafayette (SSBN-616) 17 January 1961 |
USS John Adams (SSBN-620) 12 May 1964 |
|
| James Madison | 10 | USS Daniel Boone (SSBN-629) 6 February 1962 |
USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN-636) 19 December 1964 |
|
| Dolphin | 1 | 9 November 1962 | 17 August 1968 | Unique submarine |
| Sturgeon | 37 | USS Sturgeon (SSN-637) 10 August 1963 |
USS Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) 16 August 1975 |
|
| Benjamin Franklin | 12 | USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN-640) 25 May 1963 |
USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659) 1 April 1967 |
|
| Narwhal | 1 | 17 January 1966 | 12 July 1969 | Unique submarine |
| Glenard P. Lipscomb | 1 | 5 June 1971 | 21 December 1974 | Unique submarine |
| Los Angeles | 62 | USS Los Angeles (SSN-688) 8 January 1972 |
USS Cheyenne (SSN-773) 13 September 1996 |
|
| Ohio | 18 | USS Ohio (SSBN-726) 10 April 1976 |
USS Louisiana (SSBN-743) 6 September 1997 |
|
| Seawolf | 3 | USS Seawolf (SSN-21) 25 October 1989 |
USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) 19 February 2005 |
Post–Cold War[]
| Class name | Number of ships | First ship laid down | Last ship commissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 30 (planned) | USS Virginia (SSN-774) 2 September 2000 |
References[]
- ↑ "Alligator". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a7/alligator-iv.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
- ↑ "USS Holland (Submarine # 1) -- Construction". USN Ships. Department of the Navy. 2004-06-10. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/ss1-v.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ "Holland". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h7/holland-i.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-2 A-1 Plunger". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-2.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ "B class - Navy Ships". Military Factory. 2008-08-03. http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=B-Class. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ "B-1". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/b-1.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ "B-3". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/b-3.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ Pike, John (205-04-27). "SS-10 B-1 Viper". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-10.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-9 C-1 Octopus". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-9.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-17 D-1 Narwhal". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-17.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-24 E-1 Skipjack". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-24.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-20 F-1 Carp". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-20.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-19(1/2) G-1 Seal". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-19.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ "G-1". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g1/g-1.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ "G-4". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g1/g-4.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ "California Naval History: The City of Los Angeles . . . An Inland City with the First Submarine Base on the Pacific Coast". militarymuseum.org. 2002. http://www.militarymuseum.org/LA%20Sub%20Base.html. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-28 H-1 Seawolf". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-28.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ "H-9". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h1/h-9.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-32 K-1 Haddock". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-32.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ "USS K-1 (Submarine # 32)". USN Ships. Department of the Navy. 2004-06-17. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-k/ss32.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-40 L-1". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-40.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-47 M-1". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-47.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-53 N-1". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-53.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-06-08). "SS-62 O-1". http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-62.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-72 O-11". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-72.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-52 T-1 Schley". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-52.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-78 R-1". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-78.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ "R-20". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r1/r-20.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ Pike, John (2005-04-27). "SS-98 R-21". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-98.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
General references[]
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
External links[]
- "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- Pike, John (2008-07-23). "Submarine Warfare". globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/submarine.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
The original article can be found at List of submarine classes of the United States Navy and the edit history here.