In the absence of immediate underwater adversaries, American submarines can now expand their surveillance capabilities by patrolling the coastlines of potential adversaries.
The Los Angeles–class nuclear attack submarines were among the most successful American submarines of the Cold War era. The United States constructed a total of sixty-two Los Angeles–class subs, a number surpassed only by the World War II Gato class. These submarines, known as the 688 class, were characterized by their speed, power, and advanced weaponry. However, they are gradually being replaced by the newer Virginia-class attack submarines.
Los Angeles Class Fast Attack Submarine
The Los Angeles–class submarines, designed in the early 1970s, were first introduced with the launch of the Los Angeles (SSN-688) in 1976. Production of these submarines occurred at a brisk pace during the Cold War, averaging three to five submarines per year, significantly higher than the current production rate of two Virginia-class submarines per year. The U.S. Navy sustained this production rate until 1992. Over the two decades of production, various systems, including propulsion, sonar technology, and hull materials, were upgraded to incorporate the latest advancements.
Despite their age, the Cold War-era Los Angeles submarines remain a formidable weapon. With a length of 360 feet and a submerged weight of 6,927 tons, they were designed to be 20 percent longer and 50 percent larger by displacement than their predecessors, the Sturgeon class. These submarines were also faster, capable of reaching speeds of up to thirty-seven knots. Constructed from HY-80 steel and featuring a glass-reinforced plastic bow over the sonar array, the Los Angeles–class submarines could reach a maximum official depth of 650 feet, with some sources suggesting an operational depth of up to 950 feet.
The submarines are equipped with a teardrop hull design and feature strengthened sails for breaking through Arctic ice. Their power comes from a General Electric S6G pressurized water reactor that drives two sets of geared steam turbines, producing 35,000 shaft horsepower. The submarines are armed with four 533-millimeter torpedo tubes and can carry a variety of weapons, including Mk.48 homing torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and CAPTOR mines. Some of the later Los Angeles–class submarines were equipped with vertical launch silos for Tomahawk missiles.
In addition to their traditional roles in undersea, surface, and strike warfare, these submarines are capable of conducting special operations. Some ships in the class were equipped with portable Dry Dock Shelters, which could accommodate Swimmer Delivery Vehicles, SEAL teams, and Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts. This role has been taken over by Ohio-class cruise missile submarines and the Seawolf class.
Sixty-two Los Angeles–class submarines were constructed between 1976 and 1996. Today, thirty-eight of them are still in active service. While the Seawolf class, meant to provide deeper-diving submarines capable of Arctic operations, was canceled due to cost overruns and changing geopolitical dynamics, the true successors to the 688 class are the Virginia-class submarines, which are currently under construction.
