PROKNOW Submarine Week

Mission of the Submarine Community

The mission of the US Submarine force is to execute the mission of the US Navy in and from the undersea domain. In addition to lending added capacity to the Naval Forces, the Submarine force in particular is expected to leverage those special advantages that come with undersea concealment to permit operational, deterrent, and combat effects that the Navy and the Nation could not otherwise achieve. These effects may be delivered within the undersea domain or across domain boundaries; they may be delivered from submarines far-forward or in broad ocean areas.; they may be the result of carefully coordinated operations with other forces or achieved by independent operations; and they may be accomplished in peacetime, a time of tension, or during conflict.

Submarine Birthday Ball

April 11th annually, remember those who have died

Officer Qualified Sub Insignia

"Dolphins/Fish" approved in March 1924.

Bow view of a sub on the surface, bow planes rigged for diving, dolphin fish flanking bow/conning tower

Gold

Enlisted Qualified Sub Insignia

"Dolphins/Fish" approved in March 1924.

Bow view of a sub on the surface, bow planes rigged for diving, dolphin fish flanking bow/conning tower

Silver

SSBN Deterrence Patrol Pin

Worn by officers/enlisted who've completed successful patrols in an SSBN.

Lafayette Class Sub with Polaris Missile and electron rings

Gold Star=1 Successful Patrol
Silver Star=5 Successful Patrols
Gold Pin= 20 Successful Patrols

Submarine Combat Patrol Pin

Officers/Enlisted who've completed patrols in DECLARED wars (last was WWII).

Broadside of Gato-Class Diesel Sub

Gold Star=1 Successful Patrol
Silver Star=5 Successful Patrols

American Revolution

The Turtle (1775)

First sub to be independently propelled, first to be propellor-powered

Civil War

H.L. Hunley (Confederate)

Confederate submersible sank the USS Housatonic with a spar torpedo.

Pre-World War Era

USS Holland (SS-1)

Launched in 1897, acquired by the Navy in 11 April 1900. LT H.H. Caldwell commanded.

Birthday of the Submarine Force

11 April 1900

World War I

German U-Boats highly effective, US primarily used subs for defense in American coastal waters.
American subs got some missions to Europe--submarine force became more offensive rather than defensive.

World War II

US released Gato, Balao, and Tench class subs.

55% of all enemy ships sunk by 6% of naval force (submarines). 1,314 enemy ships of total 5.3 million tons sunk (8 carriers 200 warships)

Sub force became the most lethal weapon in the Navy.

29-Point Cribbage Hand

LCDR Morton deals LT O'Kane a perfect 29 in cribbage on the USS Wahoo (SS-238), a good omen. They sank two Japanese freighters, and later sank 3 more freighters after dealing a 28-point hand as well.

Cold War

USS Nautilus: First nuclear submarine
ADM Hyman Rickover (USNA '22): "Father of the Nuclear Navy"

- Tear-Dropped Hull Shape: Higher submerged speeds, propulsion efficiency
- Nuclear Powered Propulsion: Shattered previous sub distance, speed, and endurance records--limitless operational endurance if it weren't for food supply

Submarine Force divided into SSBNs and SSNs.
Ballistic Missile Sub (SSBN): Nuclear deterrence (nuclear triad: subs, land silos, airdrops)
Fast-Attack Subs: Protect SSBNs, offensive detection and monitoring of foreign ballistic missile subs

Sail

The vertical section on the submarine where the bridge is located

Fairwater Plane

The "horizontal wings" located on the sail of the submarine

Bow Plane

The "horizontal wings" located on the bow of the submarine

Fast Attack Subs (SSN) Mission

- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
- Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW)
- Strike Warfare (STRIKE) with precision tomahawk missiles
- Deliver/Support special operation forces (SOF)
- Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR)
- Support Carrier Groups
- Mine Warfare

*Virginia class allows for littoral operations

SSN Home Ports

West Coast: Pearl Harbor, HI; San Diego, CA; Bremerton, WA; Guam

East Coast: Groton, CT; Norfolk, VA

SSN Classes/Crew

Los Angeles Class
Seawolf Class
Virginia Class

15 Officers, 120 Enlisted

SSN-688 and 688I Los Angeles Class Attack Submarines (SSN 688 -- SSN 773) NOTES

USS Los Angeles commissioned in 1976
Decommissioned at 2/yr, replaced by new Virginia Class SSN

Notable Seawolf Class Attack Submarine + NOTES

USS Seawolf (SSN 21), USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23)

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) commissioned in 1997.
USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) has 100 ft. hull extension called "Multi-mission Platform"

SSN-774 Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 774 -- SSN 821, beyond) ENHANCED CAPABILITIES

(1) Fly-by-wire control system for better shallow-water handling
(2) Better special op forces support systems
(3) Torpedo room is customizable, can torpedoes and Tomhawks, also SOF
(4) Large lock in/lock out chamber for diving
(5) 2 Photonics masts with HD color black/white and infrared cameras
(6) Modular construction, open architecture, commercial off-the-shelf components

Ballistic Missile Subs (SSBN) Mission

Strategic Deterrence, most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability

After February 2018, the Strategic Arms Treaty (START) makes SSBN forces responsible fopr 70% of US strategic weapons inventory

SSBN Classes

Ohio Class

Nicknamed "Boomers"

SSBN Home Ports

West Coast: Bangor, WA
East Coast: King's Bay, GA

SSBN Crew Rotation

Blue and Gold groups, alternate on patrol.

Notable Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine

USS Maine (SSBN 741)

Guided Missile Subs (SSGN) Mission

Fisrt four Ohio class subs were converted to SSGNs. The provide precision strikes and special ops with secrecy and stealth. One SSGN can carry an entire Carrier Group worth of missiles.

SSGNs carry Dry Deck Vehicle/SEAL delivery vehicles (DDS/SDV) and can deploy UAVs.

SSGN Crew Rotation

Use two crews like the SSBNs.

SSGN Home Ports

West Coast: Bangor, WA, swap in Guam
East Coast: King's Bay, GA, swap in Diego Garcia

Columbia Class Submarine

Planned for future replacement of Ohio Class submarine, getting decommissioned 1/yr starting 2027. Plans to take over the US strategic nuclear force.

X-Shaped stern control surfaces (hydroplanes), sail mounted dive-planes, and electric drive

MK-48 and MK-48/ADCAP (ADvanced CAPability) Torpedoes

Principal Anti-sub and Anti-ship heavyweight torpedo. Acoustic-homing, uses SONAR to search and destroy. ADCAP improves speed and accuracy, more sophisticated SONAR, increased range.

1 MK-48 can sink most of the world's warships.

Designed to detonate below a ship, creating steam void to break the ship's keel (keel cracks because of lack of water beneath). Sinks ship VERY quickly.

Pre-programmed search routine or guided by a guidance wire from the submarine.

Target may be unaware of ADCAP until moments before it detonates.

Tomahawk Cruise Missile (TLAM)

Tomahawk Land Attack Missile

All-weather, long range, subsonic missile for LAND ATTACKS

Launched via: VLS or Torpedo Tube

Typically a 1,000 lb. warhead, but can be configured to release combined effect bomblets (anti-airfield).

Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)

Trident II (D5) Missiles are in Ohio Class SSBNs, each up to 24.
4,000 NM Range
Solid-Propellant

Each carries multiple nuclear warheads inside Multiple independent Re-Entry Vehicles (MIRVs) which launch from the main missile.

SONAR

Used to locate contacts, ocean floor, and targeting.

ACTIVE SONAR: Sub emits sound pulse and gets a direction+distance to the contact.

PASSIVE SONAR: Listens to noise of a surface ship or submarine

Subs know their location by looking at known features on the ocean floor.

SONAR Sensors

Spherical Array (bow)

Hull Array (along hull)

Towed Array (out the stern)

High Frequency Array (in the sail)

Periscope

Lenses and mirrors to see over the surface used for safety/targeting.

Photonics

Cameras to transmit photos/images. Detect ships/aircraft, ranging, infrared/low level light detection, comms, and EM spectrum monitoring.

SSN-688 and 688I Los Angeles Class Attack Subs (SSN 688 -- 773) WEAPONS

4 Torpedo Tubes
- MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes
- UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

SSN-688 and 688I Los Angeles Class Attack Subs (SSN 688 -- 773) CAPABILITIES

Test Depth: 800+ Feet
Speed: 20+ Knots Submerged, 14+ Knots Surfaced

SSN-688 and 688I Los Angeles Class Attack Subs (SSN 688 -- 773) VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

Length: 362 ft.
Beam: 33 ft.
Draft: 31 ft.

Flight I - Fairwater planes
Flight II - Fairwater planes & 12 VLS tubes in bow
Flight III - Bow planes & 12 VLS tubes in bow

Sails unfaired at leading edge.

SSN-21 Seawolf Class Attack Submarine (SSN 21 -- SSN 23) VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

Beam > LA Class
Length < LA Class

Sails faired at leading edge

Fitted with bow planes

SSN-21 Seawolf Class Attack Submarine (SSN 21 -- SSN 23) WEAPONS

8 Torpedo Tubes
- MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes
- UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

SSN-74 Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 774 -- SSN 821 Beyond) VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

Length > LA Class

Sails faired at leading edge, fitted with bow planes/VLS

SSN-74 Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 774 -- SSN 821 Beyond) WEAPONS

4 Torpedo Tubes
- MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes
- UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

SSN-74 Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 774 -- SSN 821 Beyond) CAPABILITIES

Test Depth: 800+ ft.
Speed: 25+ knots submerged

SSBN-726 Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN 726 -- 743) VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

Length: 560 ft.
Beam: 42 ft.
Draft: 35 ft.

Fairwater Planes

Large "turtleback" hull design

SSBN-726 Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN 726 -- 743) WEAPONS

24x Trident II D5 SLBM Tubes
4x Torpedo Tubes
- MK 48 Torpedoes

SSBN-726 Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN 726 -- 743) CAPABILITIES

Test Depth: 800+ ft.
Speed: 20+ knots Submerged

SSBN-726 Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

Fairwater planes/sail planes
Large "turtleback" hull design
Deck stays dry when at surface

SSBN-726 Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine WEAPONS

4 Torpedo Tubes
- MK 48 Torpedoes

22 of 24 Missile Tubes
- x7 UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise missiles per tube -- MAX 154

SSBN-726 Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine ENHANCED CAPABILITIES

Berth for 66 SOF personnel, MAX 90 DAYS

Can Carry Dry Deck Shelter/SEAL Delivery Vehicle (DDS/SDV)

Launch Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV)

Notable Virginia Class Attack Submarine

USS Virginia (SSN-774), USS North Dakota (SSN 784)