SSN Thread (older operational, but not PLAN)

[Jeff Head]

This thread is for news, pictures, comments, etc. about older classes of SSNs that are still operational but not US Navy or PLAN.

We have threads for the newer class subs, but not for the older ones that are still operational.

These will include the:

Los Angeles Class
Sea Wolf Class
Trafalgar Class
Rubis Class
Akula Class
Sierra Class
Victor Class

Post any news or views, pictures, videos, discussions, etc. for these here in this thread.

To start, here is a well know video of an LA Class performing an emergency surface:

[video=youtube;Ha4X-lQlwNA]

 

[FORBIN]

US SN/SSGN
View attachment 10569

Los Angeles class/688 class are the most numerous, on 62 build 41 remains in service : 11 LA Fl I ( 31 build ) + 8 LA Fl II with VLS + 22 ( 23 build ) Improved 688 (688i) more quiet, new sonar and VLS.

In few weeks La Jolla decommissioned and in 2015 Norfolk finaly Dallas announced would be retired in 2014 remain in service for further 3 years.

 

[Jeff Head]

US SN/SSGN
View attachment 10569

Los Angeles class/688 class are the most numerous, on 62 build 41 remains in service : 11 LA Fl I ( 31 build ) + 8 LA Fl II with VLS + 22 ( 23 build ) Improved 688 (688i) more quiet, new sonar and VLS.

In few weeks La Jolla decommissioned and in 2015 Norfolk finaly Dallas announced would be retired in 2014 remain in service for further 3 years.

Yes, the LA class are the most numerous SSNs, not only in the US, but in the world. And that will not change for quite a few years.

By 2020 there will be 20 Virginia class boats and the LA Class boats will be down to maybe 32 or so. It will be the mid-20s before the Virginia Class boats become the most numerous. Even then, right now the ADCAP LA Class boats are still among the most capable and dangerous SSNs out there.

 

[Bernard]

How long is Sea Wolf class going to be in service? Will they replace them?

 

[Bernard]

I googled news results for SeaWolf class

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A DRS Technologies and Laurel Technologies joint venture will develop, integrate and manufacture technology insertion hardware for the combat control and sonar systems of U.S. Navy submarines under a new $171.1 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.

The Defense Department said Monday that DRS Laurel Technologies‘ TIH will be installed on new Virginia-class submarines and upgrade the current systems on SSN 688i, SSBN, SSGN, Seawolf, Ohio Replacement and existing Virginia-class submarines.

DoD noted that the contract, received through the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport division, is potentially worth $384.3 million if the option to include a foreign military sale to Australia is exercised.

Contract work will be performed at sites in Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Virginia through September 2019.

DRS Laurel received an obligated amount of $350,000 at the time of award.

 

[FORBIN]

How long is Sea Wolf class going to be in service? Will they replace them?

Have a shelf life of 40 years.

 

[Jeff Head]

How long is Sea Wolf class going to be in service? Will they replace them?

Well, here's when they were commissioned:

USS Sea Wolf, SSN-21 was commissione din 1997
USS Connecticut was commissioned in 1998
USS Jimmy Carter was commissioned in 2005 (Adfter a huge refit while under construction)

They all use a S6W rector, which is a 6th generation Westinghouse US Nuclear reactor for submarines. I believe they have a 15 year core life and will probably undergo two refuels. I expect that the Sea Wolf subs would start decommissioning after 45 years from 2042 through 2050 respectively,

They may decide to save money by not going throuhg the second refuel, in which case they would start decomissioning after 30 years from 2027 through 2035. It will depend on what the SSN numbers look like at that date.

The Virginia Class subs, interstingly enough, have S9G reactors, which are 9th generation General Electric nuclear reactors for submarines designed to be "life of boat," reactors with no need for refueling. Their cores will last 33-35 years.

The Sea Wolf replacements will most likely be flight V or later Virginia class submarines.

 

[Brumby]

Yes, the LA class are the most numerous SSNs, not only in the US, but in the world. And that will not change for quite a few years.

Jeff,

In the late 90's, a number of the LA class boats were decommissioned after only approx. 18 year of service. Presumably that is only about half of their planned service life. Do you know the reason for this premature retirement?

 

[Jeff Head]

Jeff,

In the late 90's, a number of the LA class boats were decommissioned after only approx. 18 year of service. Presumably that is only about half of their planned service life. Do you know the reason for this premature retirement?

My guess is that they were inital run boats, and the government wanted to get some "peace dividend," with the demise of the Soviet Union.

Or...save money and apply that money to other systems.

The same thing happened to virtually the entire Spruance class DDGs. Many of those were decomissioned real early, even after going through a costly VLS refit for a number of them. They were very quiet ships and good ASW platforms as well as very good in the anti-surface warfare role.

Nonetheless, they were decomissioned and many of them usnk in SINKEX exercises. They paved the way for the huge Arleigh Burke build that is still going.

 

[FORBIN]

Well, here's when they were commissioned:

They all use a S6W rector, which is a 6th generation Westinghouse US Nuclear reactor for submarines. I believe they have a 15 year core life and will probably undergo two refuels. I expect that the Sea Wolf subs would start decommissioning after 45 years from 2042 through 2050 respectively,

They may decide to save money by not going throuhg the second refuel, in which case they would start decomissioning after 30 years from 2027 through 2035. It will depend on what the SSN numbers look like at that date.

Really Jeff i think impossible USN don' t use this outstanding SSN until the end of their life service for their performance but mainly for Force-Level Goal of 48 SSN

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48 SSN for have about 10 on area permanently and about 30+ in surge.

According Table 2. Projected SSN Shortfall all SSN will be needed for reach this number because some years up to 5 ! LA
have were built, 688i 3 max and ofc old and will be removed at the same time.

For the moment about 1 LA decomm. by year but after go to 2.

But with SSBN-X to finance... and therefore you see on the table Virginia construction down to 1,5 by year from 2021 and that would be great to get there, because SSBN-X want minimum 5,5 Billions $ x 12 and we will have to find solutions to the USN budget constructions, actually 18 Bn/year, some rumors for a special budget maybe possible because this for nuclear deterrence.

Others solution a new RCOH for some 688i for get a service life up to 40 years maybe.