Los Angeles-class submarine
The Los Angeles class of submarines are nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. Also known as the 688 class (pronounced "six-eighty-eight") after the hull number of lead vessel USS Los Angeles (SSN-688), 62 were built from 1972 to 1996, the latter 23 to an improved 688i standard. As of 2022, 26 of the Los Angeles class remain in commission—more than any other class in the world—and they account for more than half of the U.S. Navy's 50 fast attack submarines.
Los Angeles-class SSN profile | |
USS Los Angeles, lead boat of the class. | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | |
| Operators | United States Navy |
| Preceded by | Sturgeon class |
| Succeeded by | Seawolf class |
| Cost | $900 million, 1990 dollars; $1.79 billion, 2022 dollars |
| Built | 1972–1996 |
| In commission | 1976–present |
| Completed | 62 |
| Active | 26 |
| Retired | 34 |
| Preserved | 2 (as moored training ships) |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Nuclear attack submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 362 ft (110 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | Refueling required after 30 years |
| Endurance | 90 days |
| Test depth | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Complement | 129 |
| Sensors and processing systems | BQQ-5 suite which includes active and passive systems sonar, BQS-15 detecting and ranging sonar, WLR-8V(2) ESM receiver, WLR-9 acoustic receiver for detection of active search sonar and acoustic homing torpedoes, BRD-7 radio direction finder, BPS-15 radar |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | WLR-10 countermeasures set |
| Armament | 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 37 × Mk 48 torpedo, Tomahawk land attack missile, Harpoon anti-ship missile, Mk 67 mobile, or Mk 60 CAPTOR mines (FLTII and 688i FLTIII have a 12-tube VLS) |
Submarines of this class are named after American towns and cities, such as Albany, New York; Los Angeles, California; and Tucson, Arizona, with the exception of USS Hyman G. Rickover, named for the "father of the nuclear Navy." This was a change from traditionally naming attack submarines after marine animals, such as USS Seawolf or USS Shark. Rickover's response to the decision to name the submarines after cities (and occasionally politicians influential in defense issues) was that "Fish don't vote."