Hunley-class submarine tender

Last updated
USS Hunley (AS-31) off Agana Bay, Guam, on 1 August 1980 (6451565).jpg
Class overview
NameHunley-class submarine tender
OperatorsFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Preceded by USS Proteus (AS-19)
Succeeded by Simon Lake class
Built1960 - 1963
In commission1962 - 1996
Completed2
Scrapped2
General characteristics
Type Submarine tender
Displacement19,000 tons
Length599 ft (183 m)
Beam83 ft (25 m)
Draft23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
Propulsion Diesel–electric, 15.000 SHP
Speed18 kn (33 km/h)
Complement58 Officers, 1.023 Enlisted
Armament4 × 3 inch/50 caliber guns

The Hunley-class was a class of two submarine tenders in service with the United States Navy from 1962 to 1996.

Contents

History

The Hunley-class was the first class of submarine tenders in the U.S. Navy being built from the keel up to service ballistic missile submarines (SSBN). The early generations of SSBNs were equipped with the UGM-27 Polaris missile. To handle these missiles, a large 32 ton crane was installed aft that moved in a large circle. In 1973-1975 both ships were converted to handle the newer UGM-73 Poseidon missile. The massive crane was then replaced by two smaller ones. [1] The ships were powered by ten Diesel engines, delivering 15.000 SHP on one shaft. [2] Both tenders were decommissioned following the retirement of the Poseidon-equipped SSBNs. After spending at least a decade in the Reserve Fleet, both ships were scrapped.

Ships

NameNumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedStatusDANFSNVR
Hunley AS-31 Newport News Shipbuilding 28 September 196116 June 196230 September 1994Sold for scrap 5 January 2007
Holland AS-32 Ingalls Shipbuilding 19 January 19637 September 196330 September 1996Sold for scrap 18 July 2013

References

  1. Stefan Terzibatschitsch: Seemacht USA, Volume 2, Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany), 1997, pp. 665-667. ISBN   3-86047-576-2
  2. Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd., London (UK), 1986, p. 145. ISBN   0-7110-1598-8