Submarines of the United States Navy

Submarines of the United States Navy
Name	United States Navy Submarine Force
Caption	USS Arizona model and modern submarine exercise
Service	1900–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Submarine warfare
Battles	World War I, World War II, Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War

Submarines of the United States Navy are the undersea warships operated by the United States Navy that have conducted reconnaissance, deterrence, sea control, power projection, and special operations since the early 20th century. United States submarine development traces through innovators like John Philip Holland, industrial firms such as Electric Boat Company, and naval leaders including Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, evolving across eras from diesel-electric coastal types to nuclear-powered ballistic missile platforms central to strategic doctrine. The force has interacted with major events including World War II, the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and operations in the Persian Gulf.

History

Early United States submersible efforts involved inventors like John Philip Holland and operators such as the United States Revenue Cutter Service, culminating in USS Holland (SS-1) entering service in 1900 under Theodore Roosevelt's naval expansion. During World War I, submarines supported convoy escort and antisubmarine measures tied to the Zimmermann Telegram aftermath, while interwar treaties like the Washington Naval Treaty influenced surface and undersea tonnage debates among United States Navy planners. In World War II, fleet submarines including Gato-class submarine and Balao-class submarine conducted unrestricted commerce interdiction against the Imperial Japanese Navy and contributed to campaigns such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Midway logistics and reconnaissance efforts. Postwar advances under Admiral Hyman G. Rickover produced USS Nautilus (SSN-571), ushering nuclear propulsion and altering strategic posture during the Cold War alongside ballistic missile submarines like USS George Washington (SSBN-598) tied to Mutually Assured Destruction dynamics and crises such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Recent history includes operations in the Persian Gulf, counterterrorism support during Operation Enduring Freedom, and modern incidents involving USS Greenville (SSN-772) and USS Hartford (SSN-768).

Design and Technology

United States submarine design integrates nuclear propulsion pioneered by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover with hull design concepts from firms like General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding, engines such as S9G and reactor plant GAU prototypes, and systems developed with contractors including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Sensors encompass towed array systems developed after research by Acoustic Research Laboratory and combat systems like the AN/BYG-1 and Mk 48 torpedo fire-control suites supplied under programs tied to Naval Sea Systems Command. Weapons include Tomahawk (missile), UGM-133 Trident II, and anti-ship ordnance integrated with Trident missile basing on Ohio-class SSBNs; navigation uses Global Positioning System inputs linked to Naval Observatory timekeeping and inertial navigation systems from Honeywell. Stealth features borrow from acoustic quieting research tested at Naval Undersea Warfare Center and hydrodynamic shaping informed by U.S. Naval Academy research.

Classes and Types

Classes have ranged from early Holland-class submarine and T-class submarine to World War II workhorses like Gato-class submarine, Balao-class submarine, and Tench-class submarine, then to Cold War and modern designs including Skipjack-class submarine, Los Angeles-class submarine, Seawolf-class submarine, Virginia-class submarine, and the strategic Ohio-class submarine. Types include diesel-electric SS- boats (e.g., S-class submarine), nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines (SSGN), and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) such as USS Ohio (SSGN-726) after conversion and USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735). Special mission platforms like NR-1 (submersible) supported research and recovery in coordination with agencies such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA recovery operations.

Operations and Roles

Submarines perform strategic deterrence via SSBN patrols under commands like U.S. Strategic Command, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance tasks supporting National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency requirements, antisurface and antisubmarine warfare in coordination with Carrier Strike Group assets, and strike missions using Tomahawk (missile) in theater campaigns such as Operation Iraqi Freedom. They support special operations forces including Naval Special Warfare Command units during Operation Enduring Freedom insertions, conduct undersea cable surveillance in cooperation with National Reconnaissance Office priorities, and engage in freedom of navigation operations allied with partners like Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy.

Notable Engagements and Incidents

Notable wartime achievements include the high-submarine tonnage campaign against the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II and decisive reconnaissance during Battle of Midway. Cold War incidents include USS Scorpion (SSN-589) and USS Thresher (SSN-593) losses prompting SUBSAFE quality assurance reforms led by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and organizations like Naval Sea Systems Command. Peacetime collisions, groundings, and covert operations involved platforms such as USS Grayling (SSN-646), USS San Francisco (SSN-711), and USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), while high-profile special operations included searches with NR-1 (submersible) and recovery tasks linked to incidents like the USS Cole bombing aftermath logistics. Engagements in the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom showcased Tomahawk strike employment from platforms including Los Angeles-class submarine.

Training and Personnel

Submarine personnel receive training through institutions including Naval Nuclear Power School and Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut, supported by training commands like Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Officers progress via pipelines through United States Naval Academy or Officer Candidate School and advanced engineering curricula connected with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Naval Postgraduate School research collaborations. Enlisted sailors specialize in rates such as Machinist's Mate (United States Navy), Electronics Technician (United States Navy), and Sonar Technician (Submarine) trained at centers including Great Lakes Naval Training Center.

Future Developments and Procurement

Future planning centers on the Columbia-class submarine replacing Ohio-class submarine SSBNs to maintain strategic deterrence under New START constraints, continued procurement of Virginia-class submarine blocks with modules such as Virginia Payload Module, and exploration of next-generation propulsion, sensor, and unmanned undersea vehicle integration with programs involving Office of Naval Research, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, General Dynamics, and Huntington Ingalls Industries. Budget and acquisition are governed by United States Department of Defense planning cycles, Congressional oversight from committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and United States House Committee on Armed Services, and treaty obligations under New START and other arms control frameworks, while industrial base sustainment involves supply chains across Electric Boat and shipyards linked to regional economies like Groton, Connecticut and Newport News, Virginia.

Submarines