Cold War Command: The Dramatic Story of a Nuclear Submariner

Glossary

Whiskey — diesel-powered, 1,100 tons surface displacement, torpedo-armed patrol submarines built in large numbers between 1951 and 1957. Total in the class: 236. Later some hulls were converted to carry cruise missiles. Went out of service in the late 1980s.

Foxtrot — diesel-powered, torpedo-armed patrol submarines which succeeded the Whiskey class. Total of fifty-eight were built between 1958 and 1983. Went out of service in 2000.

November — first type of Soviet nuclear attack submarine (SSN). Torpedo-armed, a total of fourteen were completed between 1958 and 1963. Went out of service in 1991.

Hotel — a first-generation, nuclear-powered, ballistic missile submarine — SSBN. A total of eight were completed between 1960 and 1962. Was armed with three medium-range ballistic missiles but initially needed to be surfaced to launch them. This was rectified in later modernisations of the class. Went out of service in 1991.

Echo — nuclear, anti-ship cruise-missile armed submarines (SSGNs), the prime role of which was to attack NATO strike carrier forces. There were two variants Echo I and Echo II and a total of thirty-four were built between 1960 and 1967. Fitted with eight missile launchers but required to be surfaced to launch missiles. Went out of service in early 1990s.

Juliett — a large diesel submarine of 3,200 tons surface displacement, armed with four anti-ship cruise missiles (SSG). Required to be surfaced to launch missiles. A total of sixteen were built between 1963 and 1968. Went out of service in early 1990s.

Yankee — a second-generation SSBN of 7,500 tons surface displacement which carried a total of sixteen intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Built in response to the American Polaris submarine threat. Thirty-four were completed between 1967 and 1974. Went out of service in the early 1990s.

Victor — second-generation SSN. Three types — Victor I, Victor II and Victor III. A total of forty-eight were built between 1967 and 1991. The Victor III was much quieter than its predecessors and was capable of launching anti-ship cruise missiles. Four Victor IIIs remain in service(2014).

Charlie — second-generation SSGNs which could launch their cruise missiles whilst dived. Two variants, Charlie I and II — a total of seventeen were built between 1968 and 1980. Went out of service in the 1990s.

Delta — third-generation SSBN of four variants — Delta I to Delta IV — which could carry between twelve and sixteen ICBMs. A total of forty-three vessels were commissioned between 1972 and 1990. As of 2014, approximately ten remain in service.

Alfa — torpedo-armed nuclear attack submarines. Very fast — 42 knots — deep-diving, and highly automated, a total of seven built between 1977 and 1981. Very difficult to maintain, went out of service in 1996.

Typhoon — a third-generation class of SSBNs. At 26,000 tons displacement, by far the world’s largest submarines; six were built between 1981 and 1989. They carried a total of twenty intercontinental ballistic missiles. The last of this class went out of service in 2012.

Mike — prototype SSN completed in 1983 — the Komsomolets — which sank in 1989.

Akula — third-generation class of SSN capable of firing anti-ship missiles. Very quiet acoustic signature on a par with USN Los Angeles class. Fifteen completed between 1984 and 2009. Eight still in service (2014).

‘S’ class — a class of sixty-three submarines of 750 tons surface displacement built in the late 1930s and during the Second World War. Had a maximum underwater speed of 10 knots. Post-war a few were streamlined for the ASW role and fitted with snort (snorkel) masts. All were paid off by the early 1960s.

‘T’ class — a class of fifty-three submarines constructed in the late 1930s and during the Second World War. Post-war many were streamlined and converted to the ASW role and fitted with snort masts. Eight had their hulls extended in length and greater battery capacity fitted, giving them burst speeds of 15 knots dived. All were paid off by the late 1960s.

‘A’ class — a class of sixteen submarines built for the Pacific campaign, but all were completed post-war, a total of sixteen being built. Most were streamlined for the ASW role, but with a maximum dived speed of 8 knots they had limited capability and often were used as training targets. All were paid off by the early 1970s.

‘P’ and ‘O’ classes — virtually identical classes, these very quiet submarines were designed specifically for the ASW role and were completed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, twenty-one being built for the Royal Navy. Had a top underwater burst speed of 17 knots. Torpedo-armed for both for anti-ship and ASW tasks, could be fitted with the anti-ship cruise missile Sub-Harpoon. All were paid off by the early 1990s.

Upholder class — first Royal Navy diesel submarines to be completed of the ‘albacore’ teardrop hull shape. Of 2,400 tons surface displacement and designed for the ASW role, they could also embark Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Four were built and the class had a top underwater speed of 18 knots. Soon after completion of the first, HMS Upholder in 1988, as a cost-savings measure the decision was made to dispose of all the hulls once they were completed. All were sold to the Royal Canadian Navy in the late 1990s.

Explorer and Excalibur — two 800 tons surface displacement experimental unarmed submarines completed in the late 1950s and propelled by steam turbines fuelled by High Test Peroxide (HTP). Reached 26 knots dived but HTP proved very volatile and this type of propulsion was eclipsed by the advent of nuclear power at sea in submarines. Both were disposed of in the early 1960s.

HMS Dreadnought — prototype completed in 1963 of 3,500 tons surface displacement and capable of 30 knots dived. Design based upon the USN Skipjack class and was powered by a Westinghouse reactor and machinery. Noisy and not a very capable ASW platform, it was withdrawn from service in 1980.

Valiant class — all-British design but nuclear reactor was based upon the US S5W plant. Had significant noise reduction features and prime role was ASW with secondary role of anti-ship. Maximum speed 26 knots dived. Class of five built between 1966 and 1971. Latterly armed with the Sub-Harpoon missile and Tigerfish dual role torpedo. All withdrawn from service by 1992.

Swiftsure class — second-generation attack submarines; quieter, faster and deeper diving than Valiant class. Prime role was ASW but Tigerfish/Spearfish dual-role torpedoes and Sub-Harpoon missiles gave them a good anti-ship capability. Six were built between 1973 and 1981 and all withdrawn from service by 2010.

Trafalgar class — improved Swiftsure class with slightly bigger hull and similar performance. Fitted with improved sonar systems. Seven were completed between 1982 and 1991. Armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles; in the late 1990s the latter were replaced with Tomahawk missiles which provide a thousand-mile-plus range land-attack capability

Astute class — class of seven planned to replace the Trafalgar class, first HMS Astute commissioned in 2010. At 7,500 tons surface displacement, this class of SSN is significantly larger than previous classes and has much greater weapon capacity, carrying the Spearfish torpedo and Tomahawk missile.

Resolution class — armed with sixteen Polaris intercontinental ballistic missiles, four of this class were completed between 1967 and 1970 and constituted the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent between 1969 and the mid 1990s.

Vanguard class — armed with up to sixteen Trident D5 intercontinental ballistic missiles, the four vessels of this class were completed between 1993 and 2001. Of 14,500 tons surface displacement, the first deployed on patrol in 1994.

Fleet boats — large numbers built in the Second World War (300-plus hulls), many of which were streamlined and converted to the ASW role post-war. Considerable numbers were modernised under the Greater Underwater Propulsion Programme (GUPPY) which gave them much greater underwater endurance and burst speeds of 15 knots dived. Many were sold to overseas navies, but this class had been disposed of in the USN by the early 1970s.

Barbel class — the last diesel submarines built for the USN, a class of three completed in 1959/60. Of ‘teardrop’ hull construction, these submarines had a dived burst speed exceeding 20 knots.

Nautilus — the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, commissioned in 1955. Of 3,500 tons surface displacement, had a maximum dived speed of 25 knots. Both ASW and anti-ship capable. Decommissioned from active service in 1980.

Skipjack class — completed between 1959 and 1960, six of a class. First nuclear submarines of ‘albacore’ hull form and single propeller. Fitted with the S5W reactor. Capable of 30 knots dived. Last of class paid off in 1986. Primarily had an ASW role and were armed with Mark 37 and Mark 48 torpedoes.

Thresher class — fourteen submarines completed between 1960 and 1967, of 3,700 tons surface displacement. Prime role was ASW and in addition to being armed with Mark 37 and Mark 48 torpedoes, embarked the Sub-Roc stand-off missile fitted with a nuclear depth-bomb.

Tullibee — one of a type, small ASW SSN of 2,200 tons surface displacement but limited to a maximum dived speed of 16 knots.

Sturgeon class (‘637’ class) — the workhorse of the US Submarine Fleet in the 1970s and 1980s, thirty-seven of this class were completed between 1967 and 1975. They had a prime role of ASW. Similar in size, performance and armament to the Thresher class; for the anti-ship role, in addition to the Mark 48 torpedo they embarked either Sub-Harpoon or Tomahawk ship-attack missiles. Possessed an excellent under-ice capability.

Los Angeles class (‘688’ class) — designed to achieve a speed well in excess of 30 knots dived, these are large — 6,500-ton surface displacement — SSNs fitted with the powerful S6G reactor. Sixty-two of these vessels were completed between 1976 and 1996. Prime role is ASW but later versions were armed with vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk land-attack missiles. Armed with the dual-role Mark 48 Adcap torpedo. Earlier vessels of the class started decommissioning in the 1990s.

George Washington class — five of this class were completed between 1959 and 1961 using the basic Skipjack-class hull configuration and S5W power plant. Of 6,000 tons surface displacement. Fitted with sixteen intercontinental ballistic missile tubes and the Polaris missile system. Class phased out in the 1980s.

Ethan Allen and Lafayette class — thirty-six of this all-SSBN designed class were built between 1961 and 1967. Similar to George Washington class, were fitted with sixteen missile tubes and in the 1980s were outfitted with the Trident C4 weapon system which replaced Polaris. Were all decommissioned by the 1990s.

Ohio class — eighteen of these 18,500-ton submarines were completed between 1981 and 1997. Armed with up to twenty-four Trident D5 missiles, four of these vessels have been decommissioned as SSBNs and converted to undertake a land-attack missile (Tomahawk) role.