Lafayette-class submarine

Lafayette-class submarine. The *Lafayette* class was a class of ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) constructed for the United States Navy during the Cold War. As the third class of fleet ballistic missile submarines, they formed a critical component of the United States' strategic nuclear deterrent under the doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction. The class was an evolutionary development of the preceding Ethan Allen-class submarine, with improved quieting and habitability for extended deterrent patrols.

Design and development

The design of the *Lafayette* class was a direct evolution from the earlier Ethan Allen-class submarine and the pioneering George Washington-class submarine. Primary construction was undertaken by General Dynamics Electric Boat, with additional units built at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard and Newport News Shipbuilding. A key design focus was on reducing acoustic signatures to enhance stealth, incorporating lessons from the Thresher/Permit-class submarine program. The boats were originally designed to carry the UGM-27 Polaris A-2 missile, but their large missile tubes were sized to accommodate future, larger strategic weapons. The class introduced the standardized S5W reactor plant, which provided reliable power for their global patrols. Habitability was significantly improved over earlier classes to support the two alternating crews, known as Blue and Gold crews, during patrols that could last over 60 days.

Service history

Entering service from 1963, the *Lafayette*-class boats immediately began conducting strategic deterrent patrols as part of the United States Strategic Command's continuous at-sea presence. They operated primarily in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with some deployments to the Pacific Ocean under the United States Pacific Fleet. Throughout the 1970s, most boats were retrofitted to carry the more advanced UGM-73 Poseidon missile, with a select few later modified for the UGM-96 Trident I missile as part of the Backfit program. Their service spanned the height of the Cold War, including periods of heightened tension such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Able Archer 83 exercise. With the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) treaties and the introduction of the Ohio-class submarine, the class was gradually withdrawn from strategic service between 1986 and 1994.

Boats in class

Nine submarines constituted the *Lafayette* class. The lead boat, USS Lafayette (SSBN-616), was named for the American Revolutionary War hero, the Marquis de Lafayette. The others were USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617), named for the first United States Secretary of the Treasury; USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619), named for the seventh President of the United States; USS John Adams (SSBN-620), named for the second President; USS James Monroe (SSBN-622), named for the fifth President and author of the Monroe Doctrine; USS Nathan Hale (SSBN-623), named for the Continental Army spy; USS Woodrow Wilson (SSBN-624), named for the 28th President; USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625), named for the influential United States Senator; and USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626), named for the famed orator and statesman. All were decommissioned and disposed of through the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program.

Specifications

The *Lafayette*-class submarines had a length of 425 feet and a beam of 33 feet. They displaced 7,250 tons on the surface and 8,250 tons submerged. Propulsion was provided by a single S5W reactor driving two steam turbines and a single shaft, enabling speeds in excess of 20 knots on the surface and 25 knots submerged. Their primary armament consisted of 16 launch tubes for UGM-27 Polaris missiles, later upgraded to UGM-73 Poseidon or, for some, UGM-96 Trident I. Secondary armament included four 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow, typically armed with the Mark 48 torpedo. Each boat was manned by two separate crews of approximately 140 officers and enlisted personnel to maximize operational availability.

See also

* Ballistic missile submarine * George Washington-class submarine * Ethan Allen-class submarine * James Madison-class submarine * Benjamin Franklin-class submarine * Ohio-class submarine * UGM-27 Polaris * UGM-73 Poseidon * Nuclear triad

Category:Ballistic missile submarine classes Category:Cold War submarines of the United States Category:Ship classes built by Electric Boat