Undersea Warfare

Agenda

• Submarine Classes

• Deployment Cycles

• Weapons and sensors

• Submarine Missions

US Navy Submarines

Fast Attack Submarine Classes (SSN)

- Los Angeles Class (41)

- Seawolf Class (3)

- Virginia Class

Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN)

- Ohio Class (14)

Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN)- Still considered Ohio Class (only 4 units)

- Converted SSBNs

Warfare Areas

Undersea Warfare

ASW

Mine Warfare

Surface Warfare (ASUW)

Strike Warfare

Special Warfare (SOFs)

Strategic Warfare (ISR)

Strategic Deterrence (SSBNs)

Los Angeles Class (SSN) – 50 strong

Los Angeles Class (SSN)

Dimensions: 360 x 33 x 32.3 ft.

Displacement: 6080 tons standard

(6927 tons submerged)

Speed: 25+ knots

Crew: 127 enlisted 16 officers

Sonar:

- AN/BQQ/ ARCI 5D/E active/passive

- BQR 23/25 – TB-23/29 thin line towed array

- BQS 15 active close range ice detection

- MIDAS mine detection after SSN 751

Los Angeles Weapons Systems

Vertical Launch System (after SSN 719) (12 tubes)- Tomahawk: TLAM-N, TLAM-C/D, TASM

Mines: MK 67 Mobile and MK 60 Captor

Torpedoes: MK 48 wire-guided option (4 tubes)

Countermeasures:- MK 2 torpedo decoys- WLR-12, WLR-9A Electronic

countermeasures

SEAWOLF (SSN 21-23)

SEAWOLF Class

Unmatched Capability

SSN 21 - SEAWOLF

Commissioned: July 19, 1997

SSN 22 - CONNECTICUT

Commissioned: December 1998

SSN 23 - JIMMY CARTER

Commissioned: 2005

Fastest, Quietest and Most Capable

Submarine In The World

Seawolf Class (SSN)Dimensions: SSNs 21 & 22- 353 x 40 x 35.8 ft.

SSN 23- 453 x 40 x 35.8

Displacement: 7460 tons standard

(9,138 tons submerged)

12,158 std. for SSN 23 (12,353 subm.)

Crew: 126 enlisted 14 officers

Sonar: BQQ 5D suite

TB-16 and TB-23 towed arrays

Seawolf Class Weapons Systems

SLCM: 12GDC Tomahawk

SSM: Tomahawk

Mine Capable

Torpedoes: MK 48 ADCAP wire-guided option (8 tubes)

Countermeasures:

MK 2 torpedo decoys

WLQ-4(V)1

SDV (Swimmer-SEAL Delivery Vehicle)

ASDS (Advanced Swimmer Delivery System)

Virginia Class (SSN-774)

Virginia Class (SSN)

Dimensions: 377 x 33 x 30.5 feet

Displacement: Approx. 6,950 tons

(Approx. 7,800 tons submerged)

Speed: Surfaced: Approx. 25+ knots

Submerged: Approx. 32+ knots

Crew: 117 enlisted, 15 officers

Virginia Class Weapons

Tomahawk missiles from 2 87-

inch Virginia Payload Tubes

(VPTs) (6 missiles each)

Four 533 mm torpedo tubes for

MK-48 torpedoes

Advanced mobile mines and

unmanned undersea vehicles

Ohio Class (SSBN)

Dimensions: 560 x 42 x 36.4 ft.

Displacement: 16,764 tons standard

(18,750 tons submerged)

Speed: 20+ knots

Crew: 140 enlisted 15 officers

Sonar: BQQ 5D/E Passive Search

ARCI APB-02 passive towed array

BQR 19 active navigation

Ohio Class Weapons Systems

24 missile tubes: D5 Trident II Missiles

Torpedoes: MK 48 wire-guided option (4

tubes)

Countermeasures:

MK 2 torpedo decoys

Ohio Class SSGN

SSN/SSGN Missions and SSBN

• Intelligence, Surveillance and

Reconnaissance (ISR)

• Mine Warfare

• ASW and ASuW

• Power Projection and Strike Warfare

• Landing Special Operations Forces

• Sea Control

• Strategic Deterrence

Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance

• Difficult to detect

• Capable of transmitting real-time

information

• ACINT and collection of tactical

information

• Littoral reconnaissance prior to

amphibious warfare

Support of Surface Units

• Highly capable surface and

subsurface interdiction platform

• 20% of CSG Tomahawk firepower

• Mine detection by UUV’s and

acoustics

Strike Warfare

Precision Strike on shore

based targets up to 650 nm.

Tomahawk (TLAM)

Special Operations

SEAL transportation and recovery (EOD

if attached)

SDV

ASDS

SSGN

Strategic Warfare

Submarine Tactics:

Considerations:

Acoustic Advantage

+ Speed Advantage

= Tactical Advantage

Submarine Tactics:

Localization Detect, Track, Classify !!!

Operate per sensors

Maneuver to keep on beam

Attack General due to clearances

Preferred firing position

Alertment position

Typical Deployment Cycles

SSN – typical 6-9 months

SSBN / SSGN - 3 months on / 3 off avg.

w/ training and maintenance in

between (not set schedule)

(Blue & Gold Crews)

USS Jimmy Carter - Around 300 days (?)

Future of Submarines

SSGN

Virginia Class (SSN)

Conformal Acoustic

Velocity Sonars

(CAVES)Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

Questions??