USS Sturgeon (SSN-637)

History of USS Sturgeon (SSN-637)

The core of the U.S. submarine fleet during the Cold War (1947-1991) was the Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered attack submarine. Thirty-seven of the ships were built from 1963 to 1975, and the group served from 1967 to 2004 - all after retirement. The class was replaced by the powerful Los Angeles-class submarines, and with the timely arrival of the Virginia-class and a limited number of Seawolf-class submarines, the U.S.

Navy's submarine fleet was further strengthened.

Sturgeon pedigree

The Sturgeon class is essentially an extended and ultimately improved form of the previous License class submarine. There were 14 ships in the Permit class, which appeared in the late 1950s and was itself an improvement over the early mid-1950s Skipjack class.

The main benefit of the newer Sturgeon class is the focus on noise reduction technology and electrical system improvements - resulting in a more powerful underwater hull.

The USS Sturgeon (SSN-637) becomes the capital ship of the new class, ordered on November 30, 1961 and assigned to General Dynamics Electric Ships at the shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. She was buried on August 10, 1963, and officially commissioned on March 3, 1967.

Special Features

At the time of construction, the vessel displaces 4,010 tons under light load and 4,310 tons under full load. She measures 292 feet from bow to stern and the beam measures 32 feet. The draft is 29 feet. Electricity is provided by a General Electric S3G (Submarine, Gen 3, GE) nuclear reactor unit coupled to a Westinghouse S5W.

This arrangement allowed the boat to reach speeds of 28 knots underwater and its range was essentially unlimited . The hull has been tested to a depth of 1,350 feet. There are 14 offers and 95 recruits on board.

The armament consists of 4 x 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes, all mounted on the bow.

Tour

Externally, the ship has a traditional look, like a modern submarine. The bow section has been rounded to facilitate strong hydrodynamic properties, and the sails have been positioned forward amidships. At the stern is a cruciform fin with the propeller extending a short distance.

The hull is rounded in the usual way and the overall design looks elegant and stylish.

Service Manual

Sturgeon's Shakedown cruise took place in the second half of the 1960s, along the US East Coast and Caribbean waters. In operation, the Sturgeon-class ships were primarily used to gather intelligence against the Soviet Union, where their speed and silence were put to good use. This also includes needs-based support for national security efforts and special forces.

USS Sturgeon participated in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises early in his maritime career before assisting in attempts to locate the missing USS Scorpion (SSN-589) submarine off the Azores. In 1969, she was awarded the Unit of Merit Commendation for her outstanding service to date.

In 1971, the ship underwent a major overhaul to update its systems and other important internal features. More anti-submarine maneuvers followed, but the ship ran aground off St. Croix in May 1973, damaging her bow and was forced to return to the US east coast in June of that year. From there, she became a member of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Forces and has since directed the training of future seafarers before heading to the Mediterranean.

From there she took part in the "ICEX 89" in arctic waters and was refitted in Charleston, South Carolina later that year.

After the end of the Cold War following the fall of the Soviet Empire - technology had outdone it - the USS Sturgeon was decommissioned on August 1, 1994, and dropped from the Naval Register shortly after. She was sold after her powerplant was properly disposed of and the airframe was stripped of military use.

Both her sail and control station survived the scrap man's torch and are on display at the Naval Undersea Museum and the Submarine Force Library and Museum, respectively.

Specification

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