Today, submarines are an important part of the U.S. Navy. Changes in world politics and further adaptations of sea, land, and space technologies are creating new challenges for submarines in the 21st century. In the future, some submarines may contain no crew at all, but merely computer technology that talks to satellites and transfers information to distant military bases for analysis.
The first American submarine was designed before the Revolutionary War by David Bushnell. He designed and built a one-man submersible vessel that he called “Turtle”. Bushnell’s Turtle featured a hand-cranked screw-like oar that moved the boat forward and back underwater, air pipes that brought fresh air into the boat, ballast tanks that took on water to dive and emptied to ascend, and a primitive torpedo to attack enemy ships. Between the American Revolution and the Civil War many individuals experimented with submarine technology, including American Robert Fulton, an innovator and promoter of the steam engine. In 1800, Fulton completed his version of a submarine, “Nautilus”. Fulton’s design introduced elements that may be found in modern submarines, such as adjustable diving planes for easy vertical maneuvering underwater, a dual system of propulsion, and a compressed air system that allowed the crew about four hours of underwater travel.
After the Civil War the U.S. Navy recognized the potential for submarines in its fleet and held a design competition for a new underwater vessel. John Holland, a submarine designer won the competition and began building the submarine “Pluger” and later an improved version the “Holland VI”. Holland intruduced a new method of propulsion using a gasoline engine. Holland designed a gasoline engine that turned a propeller while the boat cruised on the surface. The engine ran a generator, a machine that produces electricity, to charge batteries necessary to run an electric motor during underwater operations. The vessel proved succesful and was added to the fleet as USS Holland (SS-1). After 1909, The gasoline-powered engines were replaced by diesel powered-engines.
Despite the success of diesel-powered submarines, the quest for a single power source continued. The concept of nuclear power was discovered by German scientists in the 1930’s. U.S. Navy Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.Rickover managed a research team that converted the concepts of nuclear power into working submarines. Those small nuclear power plants on submarines could supply the necessary power for these boats to travel up to 500,000 miles and to stay underwater almost indefinitely without refueling. On January 17, 1955, the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN-571) went to sea. On her first voyage, Nautilus traveled completely submerged in the Atlantic for more than 1,300 miles. In 1958, she traveled under the polar ice cap and reached the North Pole.
List of U.S. Navy submarines by class
Submarines of the United States Navy are built in classes, using a single design for a number of boats. Minor variations occur as improvements are incorporated into the design, so later boats of a class may be more capable than earlier. Also, boats are modified, sometimes extensively, while in service, creating departures from the class standard. However, in general, all boats of a class are noticeably similar.
Pre World-War I
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Alligator | 1 | 1862 | First submarine in the U.S. Navy. Purpose was to protect wooden ships against ironclads. |
Holland | 1 | 1900 | 5 others were made; only Holland (SS-1) entered the U.S. Navy as it was the first officially commissioned submarine purchased on 11-04-1900. |
Plunger | 7 | 1903 | Later renamed A class in November 1911, when Navy stopped naming submarines. More powerful Holland. |
B | 3 | 1907 | Last in series of Holland-like submarines. Originally known as Viper class. |
C | 5 | 1910 | Designed by Lawrence York Spear. Originally known as the Octopus class. |
D | 3 | 1910 | Originally known as the Narwhal class. Designed to survive flooding in one compartment. |
E | 2 | 1912 | First US Navy diesel-powered submarine. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. |
F | 4 | 1913 | In 1920, the class was designated SS-20–SS-23. |
G | 4 | 1914 | Used gasoline engine. G-1 set the submerged depth record in 1915, 256 feet (78 m). |
H | 9 | 1918 | 3 originally ordered by U.S. Navy. 17 ordered by the Russian Navy. Other 6 bought by U.S. Navy. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to hull shape. |
K | 8 | 1912 | Also known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. K-1, K-2, K-5 and K-6 were the first to see action in World War I. |
L | 11 | 1918 | The first US submarines with a deck gun also known as "pig boats", or "boats". Designed for coastal defense. |
M | 1 | 1918 | Double-hull design. Twenty percent larger than the K class. Considered failure by the submarine community. |
N | 7 | 1918 | Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. Used for coastal patrol. |
O | 16 | 1918 | First submarines with reliable diesel engines. Every man had his own berth and locker. |
AA-1 | 3 | 1922 | Later renamed T class. Prototype "fleet submarines", submarines fast enough (21 knots (11 m/s) to travel with battleships. |
Alligator class (1):
1. USS Alligator
Holland class (1):
1. USS Holland
Alligator class (7):
1. A-1 USS Plunger (SS-2)
2. A-2 USS Adder
3. A-3 USS Grampus
4. A-4 USS Mocasin
5. A-5 USS Pike
6. A-6 USS Porpoise
7. A-7 USS Shark
B class (3):1. B-1 USS Viper (SS-10)2. B-2 USS Cattlefish (SS-11)
3. B-3 USS Tarantula (SS-12)
C class (5):
1. C-1 USS Octopus (SS-9)
2. C-2 USS Stingray (SS-13)
3. C-3 USS Tarpon (SS-14)
4. C-4 USS Bonita (SS-15)
5. C-5 USS Snapper (SS-16)
D class (3):
1. D-1 USS Narwal (SS-17)
2. D-2 USS Grayling (SS-18)
3. D-3 USS Salmon (SS-19)
E class (2):
1. E-1 USS Skipjack (SS-24)
2. E-2 USS Sturgeon (SS-25)
F class (4):
1. F-1 USS Carp
2. F-2 USS Barracuda
3. F-3 USS Pickerel
4. F-4 USS Skate
G class (4):
1. G-1 USS Seal
2. G-2 USS Tuna
3. G-3 USS Turbot
4. G-4 USS Thrasher
H class (9):
1. H-1 USS Seawolf (SS-18)
2. H-2 USS Nautilus (SS-29)
3. H-3 USS Garfish (SS-30)
4. H-4 USS H-4 (SS-147)
5. H-5 USS H-5 (SS-148)
6. H-6 USS H-6 (SS-149)
7. H-7 USS H-7 (SS-150)
8. H-8 USS H-8 (SS-151)
9. H-9 USS H-9 (SS-152)
K class (8):
1. K-1 USS Haddock (SS-32)
2. K-2 USS Cachalot (SS-33)
3. K-3 USS Orca (SS-34)
4. K-4 USS Walrus (SS-35)
5. K-5 USS K-5 (SS-36)
6. K-6 USS K-6 (SS-37)
7. K-7 USS K-7 (SS-38)
8. K-8 USS K-8 (SS-39)
L class (11):
1. L-1 USS L-1 (SS-40)
2. L-2 USS L-2 (SS-41)
3. L-3 USS L-3 (SS-42)
4. L-4 USS L-4 (SS-43)
5. L-5 USS L-5 (SS-44)
6. L-6 USS L-6 (SS-45)
7. L-7 USS L-7 (SS-46)
8. L-8 USS L-8 (SS-48)
9. L-9 USS L-9 (SS-49)
10. L-10 USS L-10 (SS-50)
11. L-11 USS L-11 (SS-51)
M-1 class (1):
1. M-1 USS M-1
N class (7):
1. N-1 USS N-1 (SS-53)
2. N-2 USS N-2 (SS-54)
3. N-3 USS N-3 (SS-55)
4. N-4 USS N-4 (SS-56)
5. N-5 USS N-5 (SS-57)
6. N-6 USS N-6 (SS-58)
7. N-7 USS N-7 (SS-59)
O class (16):
1. O-1 USS O-1 (SS-62)
::
16. O-16 USS O-16 (SS-77)
AA-1 class (3):
1. AA-1 USS Schley (T1, SS-52)
2. AA-2 USS AA-2 (T2, SS-60)
3. AA-3 USS AA-3 (T3, SS-61)
.
World War I
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
R | 20 | 1918 | Larger conning tower to serve as commanding officer's battle station. |
R-21 | 7 | 1919 | Generally similar to R class, but smaller. |
S | 51 | 1922 | The S class is subdivided into four groups of different designs. I. S-1 class, "Holland type" II. S-4 class, "Navy Yard type" III. S-42 class, " 2nd Holland type" IV. S-48 class, "2nd Navy Yard type" |
R class (20):
1. R-1 USS R-1 (SS-78)
::
220. R-20 USS R-21 (SS-97)
R-21 class (7):
1. R-21 USS R-21 (SS-98)
::
2. R-27 USS R-27 (SS-104)
S class (51):
1. S-1 USS S-1 (SS-105)
::
4. S-4 USS S-4 (SS-107)
5. S-5 USS S-5 (SS-109)
::
41. S-41 USS S-41 (SS-146)
42. S-42 USS S-42 (SS-153)
::
51. S-51 USS S-51 (SS-162)
.
Interwar
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Barracuda | 3 | 1926 | -- |
Argonout | 1 | 1928 | Unique submarine; mine-laying submarine |
Narwhal | 2 | 1930 | -- |
Dolphin | 1 | 1932 | Unique submarine; mine-laying submarine |
Cachalot | 2 | 1934 | -- |
Porpoise | 10 | 1937 | -- |
Salmon | 6 | 1938 | -- |
Sargo | 10 | 1939 | -- |
Tambor | 12 | 1941 | -- |
Mackerel | 2 | 1941 | -- |
Gato | 77 | 1944 | USS Drum was only boat actually commissioned before US Entry to WWII |
Barracuda class (3):
1. V-1 USS Barracuda (SS-163, SF-4)
2. V-2 USS Bass (SS-164, SF-5)
3. V-3 USS Bonita (SS-165, SF-6)
Argonaut class (1):
1. V-4 USS Argonaut (SS-166, SF-7, SM-1)
Narwhal class (2):
1. V-5 USS Narwhal (SS-167, SF-8, SC-1)
4. V-6 USS Nautilus (SS-168, SF-9, SC-2)
Dolphin class (1):
1. V-7 USS Dolphin (SS-169, SF-10, SC-3)
Barracuda class (3):
1. V-8 USS Cachalot (SS-170, SC-4)
2. V-9 USS Cattlefish (SS-171, SC-5)
Porpoise class (10):
1. SS-172 USS Porpoise
2. SS-173 USS Pike
3. SS-174 USS Shark
4. SS-175 USS Tarpon
5. SS-176 USS Perch
6. SS-177 USS Pickerel
7. SS-178 USS Permit
8. SS-179 USS Plunger
9. SS-180 USS Pollack
10. SS-181 USS Pompano
Salmon class (6):
1. SS-182 USS Salmon
2. SS-183 USS Seal
3. SS-184 USS Skipjack
4. SS-185 USS Snapper
5. SS-186 USS Stingray
6. SS-187 USS Sturgeon
Sargo class (10):
1. SS-188 USS Sargo
2. SS-189 USS Saury
3. SS-190 USS Spearfish
4. SS-191 USS Sculpin
5. SS-192 USS Squalus
6. SS-193 USS Swordfish
7. SS-194 USS Seadragon
8. SS-195 USS Sealion
9. SS-196 USS Searaven
10. SS-197 USS Seawolf
Tambor class (12):
1. SS-198 USS Tambor
2. SS-199 USS Tautog
3. SS-200 USS Thresher
4. SS-201 USS Triton
5. SS-202 USS Trout
6. SS-203 USS Tuna
7. SS-206 USS Gar
8. SS-207 USS Grampus
9. SS-208 USS Grayback
10. SS-209 USS Grayling
11. SS-210 USS Grenadier
12. SS-211 USS Gudgeon
Mackerel class (2):
1. SS-204 USS Mackerel
2. SS-205 USS Marlin
Gato class
The Gato class of submarines were built for the United States Navy and launched in 1941–1943. Named after the lead ship of the class, USS Gato, they were the first mass-production U.S. submarine class of World War II. Gato‘s name comes from a species of small catshark. Like most other U.S. Navy submarines of the period, ships of the Gato class were given the names of aquatic creatures.
Gato class (77):
1. SS-198 USS Gato
2. SS-199 USS Greenling
3. SS-200 USS Grouper
4. SS-201 USS Growler
5. SS-202 USS Grunion
6. SS-203 USS Guardfish
7. SS-206 USS Albacore
8. SS-207 USS Amberjack
9. SS-208 USS Barb
10. SS-209 USS Blackfish
11. SS-210 USS Bluefish
12. SS-211 USS Bonefish
13. SS-198 USS Cod
14. SS-198 USS Cero
15. SS-198 USS Cosvina
16. SS-198 USS Darter
17. SS-198 USS Drum
18. SS-198 USS Flying fish
19. SS-198 USS Finback
20. SS-198 USS Haddock
21. SS-198 USS Halibut
22. SS-198 USS Herring
23. SS-198 USS Kingfish
24. SS-198 USS Shad
25. SS-198 USS Silversides
26. SS-198 USS Trigger
27. SS-198 USS Wahoo
28. SS-198 USS Whale
29. SS-198 USS Angler
30. SS-198 USS Bashaw
31. SS-198 USS Bluegill
32. SS-198 USS Bream
33. SS-198 USS Cavalla
34. SS-198 USS Cobia
35. SS-198 USS Croaker
36. SS-198 USS Dace
37. SS-198 USS Dorado
38. SS-198 USS Flasher
39. SS-198 USS Flier
40. SS-198 USS Flounder
41. SS-198 USS Gabilan
42. SS-198 USS Gunnel
43. SS-198 USS Gurnard
44. SS-198 USS Haddo
45. SS-198 USS Hake
46. SS-198 USS Harder
47. SS-198 USS Hoe
48. SS-198 USS Jack
49. SS-198 USS Lapon
50. SS-198 USS Mingo
51. SS-198 USS Muskallunge
52. SS-198 USS Paddle
53. SS-198 USS Pargo
54. SS-198 USS Peto
55. SS-198 USS Pogy
56. SS-198 USS Pompon
57. SS-198 USS Puffer
58. SS-198 USS Rasher
59. SS-198 USS Raton
60. SS-198 USS Ray
61. SS-198 USS Redfin
62. SS-198 USS Robalo
63. SS-198 USS Rock
64. SS-198 USS Runner
65. SS-198 USS Sawfish
66. SS-198 USS Scamp
67. SS-198 USS Scorpion
68. SS-198 USS Snook
69. SS-198 USS Steelhead
70. SS-198 USS Surfish
71. SS-198 USS Tunny
72. SS-198 USS Tinosa
73. SS-198 USS Tallibee
74. SS-198 USS Golet
75. SS-198 USS Guavina
76. SS-198 USS Gurtarro
77. SS-198 USS Hammerhead
World War II
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Balao | 120 | 1948 | 120 submarines completed, 62 canceled |
Tench | 29 | 1951 | 29 submarines completed, 51 canceled |
Balao class (120):
1. SS-285 USS Balao
2. SS-286 USS Billfish
3. SS-287 USS Bowfin
4. SS-288 USS Cabrilla
5. SS-289 USS Capelin
6. SS-290 USS Cisco
7. SS-291 USS Crevalle
8. SS-292 USS Devilfish
9. SS-293 USS Dragonet
10. SS-294 USS Escolar
11. SS-295 USS Hackleback
12. SS-296 USS Lancetfish
13. SS-297 USS Ling
14. SS-298 USS Lionfish
15. SS-299 USS Manta
16. SS-300 USS Moray
17. SS-301 USS Roncador
18. SS-302 USS Sabalo
19. SS-303 USS Sablefish
20. SS-304 USS Seahorse
21. SS-305 USS Skate
22. SS-306 USS Tang
23. SS-307 USS Tilefish
24. SS-308 USS Apogon
25. SS-309 USS Aspro
26. SS-310 USS Batfish
27. SS-311 USS Archerfish
28. SS-312 USS Burrfish
29. SS-313 USS Perch
30. SS-314 USS Shark
31. SS-315 USS Sealion
32. SS-316 USS Barbel
33. SS-317 USS Barbero
34. SS-318 USS Baya
35. SS-319 USS Becuna
36. SS-320 USS Bergall
37. SS-321 USS Besugo
38. SS-322 USS Blackfin
39. SS-323 USS Caiman
40. SS-324 USS Blenny
41. SS-325 USS Blower
42. SS-326 USS Blueback
43. SS-327 USS Boarfish
44. SS-328 USS Charr
45. SS-329 USS Chub
46. SS-330 USS Brill
47. SS-331 USS Bugara
48. SS-332 USS Bullhead
49. SS-333 USS Bumper
50. SS-334 USS Cabezon
51. SS-335 USS Dentuda
52. SS-336 USS Capitaine
53. SS-337 USS Carbonero
54. SS-338 USS Carp
55. SS-339 USS Catfish
56. SS-340 USS Entemedor
57. SS-341 USS Chivo
58. SS-342 USS Chopper
59. SS-343 USS Clamagore
60. SS-344 USS Cobbler
61. SS-345 USS Cochino
62. SS-346 USS Corporal
63. SS-347 USS Cubera
64. SS-348 USS Cusk
65. SS-349 USS Diodon
66. SS-350 USS Dogfish
67. SS-351 USS Greenfish
68. SS-352 USS Halfbeak
69. SS-365 Hardhead
70. SS-366 Hawkbill
71. SS-367 Icefish
72. SS-368 Jallao
73. SS-369 Kete
74. SS-370 Kraken
75. SS-371 Lagarto
76. SS-372 Lamprey
77. SS-373 Lizardfish
78. SS-374 Loggerhead
79. SS-375 Macabi
80. SS-376 Mapiro
81. SS-377 Menhaden
82. SS-378 Mero
83. SS-381 USS SandLance
84. SS-382 USS Picuda
85. SS-383 USS Pampanito
86. SS-384 USS Parche
87. SS-385 USS Bang
88. SS-386 USS Pilotfish
89. SS-387 USS Pintado
90. SS-388 USS Pipefish
91. SS-389 USS Piranha
92. SS-390 USS Plaice
93. SS-391 USS Pomfret
94. SS-392 USS Sterlet
95. SS-393 USS Quenfish
96. SS-394 USS Razorback
97. SS-395 USS Redfish
98. SS-396 USS Ronquil
99. SS-397 USS Scabbardfish
100. SS-398 USS Segundo
101. SS-399 USS Sea Cat
102. SS-400 USS Sea Devil
103. SS-401 USS Sea Dog
104. SS-402 USS Sea Fox
105. SS-403 USS Atule
106. SS-404 USS Spikefish
107. SS-405 USS Sea Owl
108. SS-406 USS Sea Poacher
109. SS-407 USS Sea Robin
110. SS-408 USS Sennet
111. SS-409 USS Piper
112. SS-410 USS Threadfin
113. SS-411 USS Spadefish
114. SS-412 USS Trepang
115. SS-413 USS Spot
116. SS-414 USS Springer
117. SS-415 USS Stickleback
118. SS-416 USS Tiru
119. SS-425 USS Trumpetfish
120. SS-426 USS Tusk
Cold War
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Barracuda | 3 | 1952 | The Barracuda-class submarines (originally the K-1-class submarines) |
Tang | 6 | 1952 | Tang-class submarines were the first built by the USNavy after World War II. |
Grayback | 2 | 1958 | Regulus missile submarines |
Darter | 1 | 1956 | Unique submarine |
Barbel | 3 | 1959 | First submarines with teardrop hull, last conventionally-powered submarines |
Barracuda class (3):
1. K-1 USS Barracuda (SSK-1)
2. K-2 USS Bass (SSK-2)
3. K-3 USS Bonita (SSK-3)
Tang class (6):
1. SS-563 USS Tang
2. SS-564 USS Trigger
3. SS-565 USS Wahoo
4. SS-566 USS Trout
5. SS-567 USS Gudgeon
6. SS-568 USS Harder
Grayback class (2):
1. SSG-574 USS Grayback
2. SSG-575 USS Growler
Darter class (1):
1. SS-576 USS Darter
Barbel class (3):
1. SS-580 USS Barbel
2. SS-581 USS Blueback
3. SS-582 USS Bonefish
Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSN)
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Nautilus | 1 | 1954 | First nuclear submarine; hull design enlarged from fleet boat |
Seawolf | 1 | 1957 | Unique submarine; liquid metal cooled (sodium) S2G reactor |
Skate | 4 | 1959 | The Skate-class were the US Navy's first production run of nuclear-subs. |
Skipjack | 6 | 1961 | First nuclear submarine class with teardrop hull form. |
Thresher/Permit | 14 | 1968 | First class with bow sonar sphere. Thresher class until loss of USS Thresher |
Tullibee | 1 | 1960 | Unique submarine; turbo-electric transmission |
Sturgeon | 37 | 1975 | Redesign of Thresher/Permit class, lessons learned from loss of Thresher. |
Narwhal | 1 | 1969 | Unique submarine; natural circulation S5G reactor |
Glenard P. Lipscomb | 1 | 1974 | Unique submarine; turbo-electric transmission |
Los Angeles | 62 | 1996 | Also known as the 688 class |
Seawolf | 3 | 2005 | Planned successor of Los Angeles class. High costs caused three to be built. |
Nautilus class (1):
1. SSN-571 USS Nautilus
Seawolf class (1):
1. SSN-575 USS Seawolf
Skate class (4)
1. SSN-578 USS Skate
2. SSN-579 USS Swordfish
3. SSN-583 USS Sargo
4. SSN-584 USS Seadragon
Skipjack class (6):
1. SSN-585 USS Skipjack
2. SSN-588 USS Scamp
3. SSN-589 USS Scorpion
4. SSN-590 USS Sculpin
5. SSN-591 USS Shark
6. SSN-592 USS Snook
Thresher/Permit class (14):
1. SSN-593 USS Thresher
2. SSN-594 USS Permit
3. SSN-595 USS Plunger
4. SSN-596 USS Barb
5. SSN-603 USS Pollack
6. SSN-604 USS Haddo
7. SSN-605 USS Jack
8. SSN-606 USS Tinosa
9. SSN-607 USS Dace
10. SSN-612 USS Guardfish
11. SSN-613 USS Flasher
12. SSN-614 USS Greenling
13. SSN-615 USS Gato
14. SSN-621 USS Haddock
1. SSN-597 USS Tullibee
Sturgeon class (28): L-Hull
1. SSN-637 USS Sturgeon
2. SSN-638 USS Whale
3. SSN-639 USS Tautog
4. SSN-646 USS Garyling
5. SSN-647 USS Pogy
6. SSN-648 USS Aspo
7. SSN-649 USS Sunfish
8. SSN-650 USS Pargo
9. SSN-651 USS Queenfish
10. SSN-652 USS Puffer
11. SSN-653 USS Ray
12. SSN-660 USS Sandlance
13. SSN-661 USS Lapon
14. SSN-662 USS Gurnard
15. SSN-663 USS Hammerhead
16. SSN-664 USS Sea Devil
17. SSN-665 USS Guitarro
18. SSN-666 USS Hawkbill
19. SSN-667 USS Bergall
20. SSN-668 USS Spadefish
21. SSN-669 USS Seahorse
22. SSN-670 USS Finback
23. SSN-672 USS Pintado
24. SSN-673 USS Fluing Fish
25. SSN-674 USS Trepang
26. SSN-675 USS Blue Fish
27. SSN-676 USS Bill Fish
28. SSN-677 USS Drum
Surgeon class (9): S-Hull
1. SSN-678 USS Archerfish
2. SSN-679 USS Silversides
3. SSN-680 USS William H. Bates
4. SSN-681 USS Batfish
5. SSN-682 USS Tunny
6. SSN-683 USS Parche
7. SSN-684 USS Cavalla
8. SSN-686 USS L. Mendel Rivers
9. SSN-687 USS Richard B. Russel
Narhwal class (1):
1. SSN-671 USS Narwhal
Glenard P Lipscomp class (1):
1. SSN-685 USS Glenard P. Lipscomp
Los Angeles class (62):
1. SSN-688 USS Los Angeles
2. SSN-689 USS Baton Rouge
3. SSN-690 USS Philadelphia
4. SSN-691 USS Memphis
5. SSN-692 USS Omaha
6. SSN-693 USS Cincinnati
7. SSN-694 USS Groton
8. SSN-695 USS Birmingham
9. SSN-696 USS New York City
10. SSN-697 USS Indianpolis
11. SSN-698 USS Bremerton
12. SSN-699 USS Jacksonville
13. SSN-700 USS Dallas
14. SSN-701 USS La Jolla (MTS-701)
15. SSN-702 USS Phoenix
16. SSN-703 USS Boston
17. SSN-704 USS Baltimore
18. SSN-705 USS City of Corpus Cristi
19. SSN-706 USS Albuquerque
20. SSN-707 USS Portsmouth
21. SSN-708 USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul
22. SSN-709 USS Hyman G, Rickover
23. SSN-710 USS Augusta
24. SSN-711 USS San Francisco
25. SSN-712 USS Atlanta
26. SSN-713 USS Houston
27. SSN-714 USS Norfolk
28. SSN-715 USS Buffalo
29. SSN-716 USS Salt Lake City
30. SSN-717 USS Olympia
31. SSN-718 USS Honolulu
32. SSN-719 USS Providence
33. SSN-720 USS Pittsburgh
34. SSN-721 USS Chicaco
35. SSN-722 USS Key West
36. SSN-723 USS Oklahoma City
37. SSN-724 USS Louisville
38. SSN-725 USS Helena
39. SSN-750 USS Newport News
40. SSN-751 USS San Juan
41. SSN-752 USS Pasadena
42. SSN-753 USS Albany
43. SSN-754 USS Topeka
44. SSN-755 USS Miami
45. SSN-756 USS Scranton
46. SSN-757 USS Alexandria
47. SSN-758 USS Asheville
48. SSN-759 USS Jefferson City
49. SSN-760 USS Annapolis
50. SSN-761 USS Springfield
51. SSN-762 USS Columbus
52. SSN-763 USS Santa Fe
53. SSN-764 USS Boise
54. SSN-765 USS Montpelier
55. SSN-766 USS Charlotte
56. SSN-767 USS Hampton
57. SSN-768 USS Hartford
58. SSN-769 USS Toledo
59. SSN-770 USS Tucson
60. SSN-771 USS Columbia
61. SSN-585 USS Greeneville
62. SSN-585 USS Cheyenne
Nuclear Cruise Missile Submarines (SSGN)
Several boats were converted into cruise missile submarines after construction, the USS Halibut was the only purpose built SSGN of the US Navy
The Regulus missile submarines were a group of submarines operated by the United States Navy (US Navy) capable of carrying the Regulus cruise missile.
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Halibut | 1 | 04-01-1960 | Unique submarine; Regulus missile submarine |
Halibut class (1):
1. SSGN-587 USS Halibut
Nuclear Balistic Missile Submarines (SSBN)
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
George Washington | 5 | 1961 | |
Ethan Allen | 5 | 1963 | The only SSBN to fire live missile and detonate nuclear warhead at test range |
Lafayette | 9 | 1964 | This class was an evolutionary development from the Ethan Allen class |
James Madisson | 10 | 1964 | Also an evolutionary development from the Lafayette class |
Benjamin Franklin | 12 | 1967 | Redesigned using lessons learned from loss of the USS Thresher. |
Ohio | 18 | 1997 | All still active, 14 SSBNs and 4 SSGNs. |
George Washinton class (5):
1. SSBN-598 USS George Washington
2. SSBN-599 USS Patrick Henry
3. SSBN-600 Theodore Roosevelt
4. SSBN-601 Robert E. Lee
5. SSBN-602 Abraham Licoln
Ethan Allen class (5):
1. SSBN-608 USS Ethan Allen
2. SSBN-609 USS Sam Houston
3. SSBN-610 USS Thomas A. Edison
4. SSBN 611 USS John Marshall
5. SSBN-618 USS Thomas Jefferson
Lafayette class (9):
1. SSBN-616 USS Lafayette
2. SSBN-617 USS Alexander Hamilton
3. SSBN-619 Andrew Jackson
4. SSBN-620 John Adams
5. SSBN-622 James Monroe
6. SSBN-623 USS Nathan Hale
7. SSBN-624 USS Woodrow Wilson
8. SSBN-625 USS Henry Clay
9. SSBN-626 USS Daniel Webster
James Madison class (10):
1. SSBN-627 USS James Madison
2. SSBN-628 USS Tecumseh
3. SSBN-629 USS Daniel Boone
4. SSBN 630 USS John C. Calhaun
5. SSBN-631 USS Ulysses S. Grant
6. SSBN-632 USS Von Steuben
7. SSBN-633 USS Casimir Pulaski
8. SSBN-634 USS Stonewall Jackson
9. SSBN-635 USS Sam Rayburn
10. SSBN-636 USS Nathanael Greene
Benjamin Franklin class (12):
1. SSBN-640 USS Benjamin Franklin
2. SSBN-641 USS Simon Bolivar
3. SSBN-642 Kamehameha
4. SSBN-643 George Bancroft
5. SSBN-644 Lewis and Clark
6. SSBN-645 USS James K. Polk
7. SSBN-654 USS George C. Marshall
8. SSBN-655 USS Henry L. Stimson
9. SSBN-656 USS George Washington Carver
10. SSBN-657 USS Francis Scott Key
11. SSBN-658 USS Mariano G. Vallejo
12. SSBN-659 USS Will Rogers
Ohio class (18):
1. SSGN-726 USS Ohio
2. SSGN-727 USS Michigan
3. SSGN-728 USS Florida
4. SSGN 729 USS Georgia
5. SSBN-730 USS Henty M. Jackson
6. SSBN-731 USS Alabama
7. SSBN-732 USS Alaska
8. SSBN-733 USS Nevada
9. SSBN-734 USS Tennessee
10. SSBN-735 USS Pennsylvania
11. SSBN-736 USS West Virginia
12. SSBN-737 USS Kentucky
13. SSBN-738 USS Maryland
14. SSBN-739 USS Nebraska
15. SSBN-740 USS Rhode Island
16. SSBN-741 USS Maine
17. SSBN-742 USS Wyoming
18. SSBN-743 USS Louisiana
Deep-submergence verhicles (DSVs)
A deep-submergence vehicle (DSV) is a deep-diving crewed submersible that is self-propelled. Several navies operate vehicles that can be accurately described as DSVs. DSVs are commonly divided into two types: research DSVs, which are used for exploration and surveying, and DSRVs (deep-submergence rescue vehicles), which are intended to be used for rescuing the crew of a sunken navy submarine, clandestine (espionage) missions (primarily installing wiretaps on undersea communications cables), or both.DSRVs are equipped with docking chambers to allow personnel ingress and egress via a manhole.
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Trieste | 2 | 1969 | The Trieste was the first submarine which reached the Challenger Deep. |
Alvin | 4 | 1970 | Originally designed for 6,000 ft (1,800 m) operation |
Nr-1 | 1 | 1969 | DSV submarine, which could roll on the seabed using large balloon wheels. |
Miscellaneous Submarines (SSTs, SSRs, AGSSs & SSRNs)
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Albacore | 1 | 1953 | Unique submarine; teardrop hull form; no weapons |
T-1 | 2 | 1953 | Training and experimental submarines |
Sailfish | 2 | 1956 | Radar picket |
Triton | 1 | 10-11-1959 | Unique submarine; Radar picket; Twin S4G Nuclear Reactors |
Dolphin | 1 | 17-08-1968 | Unique submarine; research and development for deep diving technologies. |
Post-Cold War
Class | No. build | Commisioned | Notes |
Virginia | 48 | planned | Attack submarine. 23 commissioned as of September 2024. |
Columbia | 12 | planned | Ballistic missile submarine |
(Virginia class)
(Virginia class)
(Columbia class planned)
(Columbia class planned)
References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_submarine_classes_of_the_United_States_Navy