View source for Seawolf-class submarine

{{short description|Class of US nuclear attack submarines}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox ship
|infobox_caption=''Seawolf'' class
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 | image = USS Connecticut SSN 22.jpg
 | image_caption = {{USS|Connecticut|SSN-22}}, second of the three-boat ''Seawolf''-class
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview
 | name = 
 | builders = [[General Dynamics Electric Boat]]
 | operators = {{navy|United States}}
 | class_before = {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|4}}
 | class_after = {{sclass|Virginia|submarine|4}}
 | subclasses = 
 | cost = $3&nbsp;billion per unit (equivalent to $6&nbsp;billion in 2023)<ref>{{cite web|last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/24363/navy-wants-a-new-seawolf-like-attack-submarines-to-challenge-russian-chinese-threats |title=Navy Wants New 'Seawolf-Like' Attack Submarines To Challenge Russian And Chinese Threats|publisher=Drive Media Inc|date=22 October 2018|access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref>
 | built_range = 1989–2005
 | in_service_range = 
 | in_commission_range = 1997–present
 | total_ships_building = 
 | total_ships_planned = 29
 | total_ships_completed = 3
 | total_ships_canceled = 26
 | total_ships_active = 3
 | total_ships_laid_up = 
 | total_ships_lost = 
 | total_ships_retired = 
 | total_ships_preserved = 
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 | hide_header = 
 | header_caption = 
 | class = 
 | type = Nuclear attack submarine
 | tonnage = 
 | displacement = {{ubl
 | '''Surfaced:''' 8,600 tons 
 | '''Submerged:''' 9,138 tons, (12,139&nbsp;tons&nbsp;full, {{USS|Jimmy Carter}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4|title=The US Navy – Fact File|work=US Navy|access-date=30 August 2008|archive-date=3 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703120930/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4|url-status=dead}}</ref>)
 }}
 | length = {{ubl
|{{convert|353|ft|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|452.8|ft|abbr=on}} {{USS|Jimmy Carter}}}}
 | beam = {{convert|40|ft|abbr=on}}
 | height = 
 | draught = 
 | draft = 
 | depth = 
 | hold_depth = 
 | decks = 
 | deck_clearance = 
 | ramps = 
 | ice_class = 
 | power = 
 | propulsion = {{Seawolf-class submarine propulsion}}
 | sail_plan = 
 | speed = *{{convert|20|kn|mph km/h}} (silent)<ref name = "ntseawolf">{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/seawolf/|title=SSN Seawolf Class|publisher=naval-technology.com}}</ref>
           *{{convert|35|kn|mph km/h}} (maximum)<ref name = "ntseawolf"/>
 | range = Unlimited
 | endurance = Only limited by food supplies
 | test_depth = {{convert|1600|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |author=Federation of American Scientists |date=8 December 1998 |title=Run Silent, Run Deep |work=Military Analysis Network |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/deep.htm |access-date=10 May 2010}}</ref>
 | boats = 
 | capacity = 
 | troops = 
 | complement = 140
 | crew = 14 officers; 126 enlisted
 | time_to_activate = 
 | sensors = 
 | EW = 
 | armament = 8 × 26.5-inch torpedo tubes, sleeved for 21-inch weapons<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1128z2.html|title=Learning from Experience: Volume II: Lessons from the U.S. Navy's Ohio, Seawolf, and Virginia Submarine Programs|publisher=rand.org|last1=Schank|first1=John F.|last2=Cesse|first2=Cameron|last3=Ip|first3=Frank W.|last4=Lacroix|first4=Robert|last5=Murphy|first5=Mark V.|last6=Arena|first6=Kristy N.|last7=Kamarck |first8=Gordon T.|last8=Lee|date=2011}}</ref> (up to 50 [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk land attack missile]]/[[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon anti-ship missile]]/[[Mark 48 torpedo|Mk 48 guided torpedo]] carried in torpedo room)<ref>{{cite web |title=Attack Submarines - SSN |url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169558/attack-submarines-ssn/ |website=United States Navy Fact Files |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=November 13, 2021}}</ref>
 | armour = 
 | armor = 
 | aircraft = 
 | aircraft_facilities = 
 | notes = 
 }}
}}
{{multiple image
| align        = right
| direction    = vertical
| width1       = 200
| header       = Silhouette profiles of the two boat sub-types in this class
| image1       = SSN21.svg
| alt1         = a boat
| class1       =
| caption1     = ''Seawolf'' subgroup; {{USS|Seawolf|SSN-21|6}} & {{USS|Connecticut|SSN-22|6}} (boats 1 and 2) profile
| image2       = SSN23.svg
| alt2         = a bigger boat
|caption2      = ''Jimmy Carter'' subgroup; {{USS|Jimmy Carter}} (boat 3) profile 
}}

The '''''Seawolf'' class''' is a class of [[Nuclear propulsion|nuclear-powered]], [[fast attack submarine]]s (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. The class was the intended successor to the {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|4}}, and design work began in 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/history/chrono.html |title=Submarine Centennial Chronology |access-date=22 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006174141/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/history/chrono.html |archive-date=6 October 2012 }}</ref> 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 {{sclass|Virginia|submarine|4}}. The ''Seawolf'' class cost about $3&nbsp;billion per unit ($3.5&nbsp;billion for {{USS|Jimmy Carter|SSN-23|6}}), making it the most expensive United States Navy fast attack submarine and second most expensive submarine ever, after the French {{sclass|Triomphant|submarine|0}} nuclear-powered [[ballistic missile submarine]]s.

== Design ==
The ''Seawolf'' design was intended to combat the threat of advanced Soviet ballistic missile submarines such as the {{sclass2|Typhoon|submarine|4}}, and attack submarines such as the {{sclass2|Akula|submarine|4}} in a deep-ocean environment. ''Seawolf''-class hulls are constructed from [[HY-100]] steel, which is stronger than the [[HY-80]] steel employed in previous classes, in order to withstand water pressure at greater depths.<ref>{{cite book|last = Polmar|first = Norman|title = The Naval Institute guide to the ships and aircraft of the U.S. fleet|publisher = [[Naval Institute Press]]|year = 2004|location = Annapolis, Maryland|pages = [https://archive.org/details/navalinstitutegu0018polm/page/81 81]–82|edition = 18|url = https://archive.org/details/navalinstitutegu0018polm|url-access = registration|isbn = 978-1-59114-685-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last = Zimmerman|first = Stan|title = Submarine Technology for the 21st Century|publisher = Trafford Publishing|year = 2000|location = Victoria, British Columbia|page = 81|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SjfgOfV8Am0C&pg=PA81|isbn = 978-1-55212-330-0}}{{self-published source|date=January 2018}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2018}}

''Seawolf''-class submarines are larger, faster, and significantly quieter than previous ''Los Angeles''-class submarines; they also carry more weapons and have twice as many torpedo tubes. The boats are able to carry up to 50 [[Tomahawk (missile family)#Variants|UGM-109 Tomahawk]] cruise missiles for attacking land and sea surface targets. The boats also have extensive equipment to allow shallow water operations. The class uses the more advanced ARCI Modified AN/BSY-2 combat system, which includes a larger spherical sonar array, a wide aperture array (WAA), and a new towed-array sonar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpoondatabases.com/Encyclopedia/Entry2316.aspx|title=AN/BSY-2 sonar |website=www.harpoondatabases.com|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071447/http://www.harpoondatabases.com/Encyclopedia/Entry2316.aspx|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Each boat is powered by a single [[S6W reactor|S6W nuclear reactor]], delivering {{convert|45000|hp|MW|abbr=on}} to a low-noise [[pump-jet]].

As a result of their advanced design, however, ''Seawolf''-class submarines were much more expensive. The projected cost for 12 submarines of this class was $33.6&nbsp;billion, but construction was stopped at three boats when the Cold War ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/navy/submarines/ssn21_seawolf.html|title=SSN-21 Seawolf Class|access-date=11 August 2011|work=Federation of American Scientists|archive-date=19 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419195730/http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/navy/submarines/ssn21_seawolf.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Variants ==
{{USS|Jimmy Carter|SSN-23|6}} is roughly {{convert|100|ft}} longer than the other two boats of her class because it has an additional central section known as the Multi-Mission Platform (MMP), which allows launch and recovery of [[remotely operated underwater vehicle]]s (ROV) and [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEALs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.submarinehistory.com/JimmyCarter.html|title=USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23)|access-date=10 June 2009|work=Submarinehistory.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703053203/http://www.submarinehistory.com/JimmyCarter.html|archive-date=3 July 2009}}</ref> The MMP may also be used as an underwater splicing chamber for [[fiber tapping|tapping of undersea fiber optic cables]]. This role was formerly filled by the now decommissioned {{USS|Parche|SSN-683|6}}. ''Jimmy Carter'' was modified for this role by [[General Dynamics Electric Boat]] at a cost of $887&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gdeb.com/about/product/seawolf/|title=Seawolf Class|access-date=5 August 2011|work=General Dynamics Electric Boat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930071710/http://www.gdeb.com/about/product/seawolf/|archive-date=30 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Boats in class==
<!--Section linked from [[List of Seawolf class submarines]]-->
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Hull no.
! Builder
! Laid down
! Launched 
! Commissioned
! Status
|-
! colspan="7"|''Seawolf'' subgroup
|-
|{{USS|Seawolf|SSN-21|2}}
|SSN-21
|rowspan=2|[[General Dynamics Electric Boat]], [[Groton, Connecticut|Groton]]
|25 October 1989
|24 June 1995
|19 July 1997
|Active in service
|-
|{{USS|Connecticut|SSN-22|2}}
|SSN-22
|14 September 1992
|1 September 1997
|11 December 1998
|Active in service
|-
! colspan="7"|''Jimmy Carter'' subgroup
|-
|{{USS|Jimmy Carter||2}}
|SSN-23
|[[General Dynamics Electric Boat]], [[Groton, Connecticut|Groton]]
|5 December 1998
|13 May 2004
|19 February 2005
|Active in service
|}

==See also==
* [[List of submarine classes of the United States Navy]]
* [[List of submarines of the United States Navy]]
* [[List of submarine classes in service]]
* [[List of military electronics of the United States]]
* [[Submarines in the United States Navy]]
* [[Cruise missile submarine]]
* [[Attack submarine]]

== References ==
{{commons category|Seawolf class submarines}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Seawolf class submarine}}{{Active ship classes of the United States Navy}}{{US submarine classes after 1945}}
{{Current SSN}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seawolf Class Submarine}}
[[Category:Submarine classes]]
[[Category:Naval ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Seawolf-class submarines| ]]