Ethan Allen-class submarine

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USSEthanAllenSSBN-608.jpg
USS Ethan Allen
Class overview
NameEthan Allen class
Builders
OperatorsFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Preceded by George Washington class
Succeeded by Lafayette class
Built1959–1963
In commission1961–1992 [1]
Completed5 [1]
Retired5 [1]
General characteristics
Type Ballistic missile submarine
DisplacementSurfaced: 6,946 long tons (7,057 t) Submerged: 7,884 long tons (8,011 t) [2]
Length410 ft 4 in (125.07 m)
Beam33.1 ft (10.1 m)
Draft29 ft 10 in (9.09 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 16 knots (30 km/h) surfaced
  • 22 knots (41 km/h) submerged [2]
Test depth1,300 ft (400 m) [2]
Complement12 officers and 128 enlisted (two crews, "Blue" and "Gold")
Armament16 Polaris A2/A3 missiles, 4 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 12 torpedoes [2]

The Ethan Allen class of fleet ballistic missile submarine was an evolutionary development from the George Washington class. The Ethan Allen, together with the George Washington, Lafayette, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin classes comprised the "41 for Freedom" that were the Navy's main contribution to the nuclear deterrent force through the late 1980s.

Contents

Design

Rather than being designed as Skipjack-class attack submarines with a missile compartment added, the Ethan Allens were the first submarines designed "from the keel up" as Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarines carrying the Polaris A-2 missile - the Ethan Allen-class was the first to be designed under project SCB 180, and the George Washington-class was a subsequent design (SCB 180A) made for a quickly implemented mobilization effort. [2] They were functionally similar to the George Washingtons, but longer and more streamlined and with torpedo tubes reduced to four. In the early and mid-1970s, they were upgraded to Polaris A3s. Because their missile tubes could not be modified to carry the larger diameter Poseidon missile, [3] they were not further upgraded.

Conversions

To comply with SALT II treaty limitations as the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines entered service, in the early 1980s the Ethan Allens were refitted and officially designated SSNs (fast attack submarines), but often referred to as a "slow approach". Their missile fire control systems were removed and the missile tubes were filled with concrete. Sam Houston and John Marshall were further converted to carry SEALs or other Special Operations Forces, accommodating 67 troops each with dry deck shelters to accommodate SEAL Delivery Vehicles or other equipment. The Ethan Allen-class submarines were decommissioned between 1983 and 1992. [4] All were disposed of through the nuclear Ship-Submarine Recycling Program 1992–1999.

Boats in class

Submarines of the Ethan Allen class: [1] [4] [5]

Hull numberNameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFate
SSBN-608 Ethan Allen General Dynamics Electric Boat 14 September 195922 November 19608 August 196131 March 1983Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1999
SSBN-609 Sam Houston Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. 28 December 19592 February 19616 March 19626 September 1991Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1992
SSBN-610 Thomas A. Edison General Dynamics Electric Boat 15 March 196015 June 196110 March 19621 December 1983Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1997
SSBN-611 John Marshall Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. 4 April 196015 July 196121 May 196222 July 1992Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1993
SSBN-618 Thomas Jefferson 3 February 196124 February 19624 January 196324 January 1985Disposed of through Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, 1998

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ""SSBN-608 Ethan Allen-Class FBM Submarines" from the FAS". Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. pp. 199–200, 244. ISBN   1-55750-260-9.
  3. ↑ Polmar, Norman (1981), The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet (12th ed.), London: Arms and Armour Press, p. 22, ISBN   0-85368-397-2
  4. 1 2 Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995, Annapolis, USA: Naval Institute Press, p. 612, ISBN   1-55750-132-7
  5. ↑ California Center of Military History (dead link 2015-05-07) Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
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