The ''Lafayette'' class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the of
fleet ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. The United States Navy's hull classification symbols for ballistic missile submarines are SSB and SSBN – ...
, slightly larger and generally improved. This class, together with the , , , and classes, composed the "
41 for Freedom
41 for Freedom refers to the US Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarines from the , , , , and es. All of these submarines were commissioned 1959–1967, as the goal was to create a credible, survivable sea-based deterrent as quickly as poss ...
," the Navy's primary contribution to the
nuclear deterrent
Nuclear strategy involves the development of doctrines and strategies for the production and use of nuclear weapons.
As a sub-branch of military strategy, nuclear strategy attempts to match nuclear weapons as means to political ends. In addit ...
force through the late 1980s. The ''James Madison'' and ''Benjamin Franklin'' classes are combined with the ''Lafayette''s in some references.
Design
The first eight submarines initially deployed with the
Polaris A-2 missile, later being refitted with the longer ranged Polaris A-3, with having the A-3 missile from the start.
[Polmar 1981, p.21.] In the mid-1970s all were upgraded to carry the
Poseidon C3 missile; their missile tubes were slightly larger than the ''Ethan Allen'' and ''George Washington'' classes and Poseidon was designed to take advantage of this.
Unlike twelve of the similar ''James Madison'' and ''Benjamin Franklin'' classes, none of the ''Lafayette''-class submarines were refitted with
Trident I (C4) missiles.
The ''Lafayette''s and their successors were equipped with a hovering system to manage trim more effectively when firing missiles; this increased the missile rate of fire from one per minute to four per minute.
''Daniel Webster'' was originally built with
diving planes mounted on a "mini-sail" near the
bow, leading to her nickname "Old Funny Fins". This configuration, unique to US submarines, was an attempt to reduce the effect of
porpoising. While successful, the "mini-sail" required to contain the operating mechanism reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her overall speed. During a mid-1970s overhaul these unusual planes were removed and standard
fairwater plane
Diving planes, also known as hydroplanes, are control surfaces found on a submarine which allow the vessel to pitch its bow and stern up or down to assist in the process of submerging or surfacing the boat, as well as controlling depth when subm ...
s were installed. Here is a rar
1964 16mm Silent Filmof USS Daniel Webster testing the unique "Funny Fins" diving planes off Cape Canaveral.
Fate
The ''Lafayette''s were decommissioned between 1986 and 1992, due to a combination of
SALT II
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were two rounds of bilateral conferences and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War superpowers dealt with arms control in two rounds o ...
treaty limitations as the SSBNs entered service, age, and the
collapse of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union, also negatively connoted as rus, Разва́л Сове́тского Сою́за, r=Razvál Sovétskogo Soyúza, ''Ruining of the Soviet Union''. was the process of internal disintegration within the Sov ...
. One (''Daniel Webster'') remains out of commission but converted to a Moored Training Ship (MTS-626) with the missile compartment removed. She is stationed at
Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston,
South Carolina
)'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
, along with
USS La Jolla (MTS-701) and
USS San Francisco (MTS-711).
Boats in class
Submarines of the ''Lafayette'' class:
[Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p.612.][ California Center for Military History (dead link 2015-05-05)]
See also
* ''
41 for Freedom
41 for Freedom refers to the US Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarines from the , , , , and es. All of these submarines were commissioned 1959–1967, as the goal was to create a credible, survivable sea-based deterrent as quickly as poss ...
'' Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines
*
Fleet Ballistic Missile
A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhead a ...
*
List of submarines of the United States Navy
This is a list of submarines of the United States Navy, listed by hull number and by name.
List
See also
* Submarines in the United States Navy
* List of current ships of the United States Navy
* List of lost United States submarines
* L ...
*
List of submarine classes of the United States Navy
Submarines of the United States Navy are built in classes, using a single design for a number of boats. Minor variations occur as improvements are incorporated into the design, so later boats of a class may be more capable than earlier. Also, boat ...
References
*Gardiner, Robert and Chumbley, Stephen (editors). ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995''. Annapolis, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. .
*Polmar, Norman. ''The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Twelfth Edition''. London:Arms and Armour Press, 1981. .
US Naval Vessel Register - List of SSBN BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE (NUCLEAR-POWERED) Class vessels*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lafayette Class Submarine
Submarine classes
Lafayette class