Seawolf-class submarine
The Seawolf class is a class of nuclear-powered, fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. The class was the intended successor to the Los Angeles class, and design work began in 1983. A fleet of 29 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period, but that was reduced to 12 submarines. The end of the Cold War and budget constraints led to the cancellation of any further additions to the fleet in 1995, leaving the Seawolf class limited to just three boats. This, in turn, led to the design of the smaller Virginia class. The Seawolf class cost about $3 billion per unit ($3.5 billion for USS Jimmy Carter), making it the most expensive United States Navy fast attack submarine and second most expensive submarine ever, after the French Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
| Top: USS Seawolf (SSN-21) underway Middle: Seawolf subgroup (boats 1 and 2) profile Bottom: USS Jimmy Carter (boat 3) profile | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | General Dynamics Electric Boat |
| Operators | United States Navy |
| Preceded by | Los Angeles class |
| Succeeded by | Virginia class |
| Cost | $3 billion per unit (equivalent to $6 billion in 2023) |
| Built | 1989–2005 |
| In commission | 1997–present |
| Planned | 29 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Cancelled | 26 |
| Active | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Nuclear attack submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
|
| Range | Unlimited |
| Endurance | Only limited by food supplies |
| Test depth | 1,600 ft (490 m) |
| Complement | 140 |
| Crew | 14 officers; 126 enlisted |
| Armament | 8 × 26.5-inch torpedo tubes, sleeved for 21-inch weapons (up to 50 Tomahawk land attack missile/Harpoon anti-ship missile/Mk 48 guided torpedo carried in torpedo room) |