The Hunley-class was a class of two submarine tenders in service with the United States Navy from 1962 to 1996.
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Hunley-class submarine tender |
Operators | United States Navy |
Preceded by | USS Proteus (AS-19) |
Succeeded by | Simon Lake class |
Built | 1960 - 1963 |
In commission | 1962 - 1996 |
Completed | 2 |
Scrapped | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Submarine tender |
Displacement | 19,000 tons |
Length | 599 ft (183 m) |
Beam | 83 ft (25 m) |
Draft | 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m) |
Propulsion | Diesel–electric, 15.000 SHP |
Speed | 18 kn (33 km/h) |
Complement | 58 Officers, 1.023 Enlisted |
Armament | 4 × 3 inch/50 caliber guns |
History
editThe 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
editName | Number | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status | DANFS | NVR |
Hunley | AS-31 | Newport News Shipbuilding | 28 September 1961 | 16 June 1962 | 30 September 1994 | Sold for scrap 5 January 2007 | [1] | [2] |
Holland | AS-32 | Ingalls Shipbuilding | 19 January 1963 | 7 September 1963 | 30 September 1996 | Sold for scrap 18 July 2013 | [3] | [4] |
References
edit- ^ Stefan Terzibatschitsch: Seemacht USA, Volume 2, Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany), 1997, pp. 665-667. ISBN 3-86047-576-2
- ^ Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd., London (UK), 1986, p. 145. ISBN 0-7110-1598-8