NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Skate 1980

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
SSN578	Skate	147	Electric Boat, Groton	21.7.1955	16.5.1957	23.12.1957	stricken 10.1986
SSN579	Swordfish		Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery	25.1.1956	27.8.1957	15.9.1958	stricken 1.1990
SSN583	Sargo		Mare Island N Yd, Vallejo	21.2.1956	10.10.1957	1.10.1958	stricken 4.1988
SSN584	Seadragon	1041	Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery	20.6.1956	16.8.1958	5.12.1959	stricken 4.1986

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	2550 / 2848
Length, m	81.6
Breadth, m	7.60
Draught, m	6.30
No of shafts	2
Machinery	SSN578, 583: 2 sets Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 1 Westinghouse S3W nuclear reactor SSN579, 584: 2 sets Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 1 Westinghouse S4W nuclear reactor
Power, h. p.	6600
Max speed, kts	15.5 / 20
Fuel, t	nuclear
Endurance, nm(kts)	practically unlimited
Armament	8 - 533 TT (6 Mk 56 bow, 2 Mk 57 stern, 22)
Electronic equipment	BPS-12 radar, BQS-4, BQR-2 sonars, BLR-1 ECM suite
Complement	84
Diving depth operational, m	210

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

These four attack boats were the first US approach to a 'production' nuclear submarine, considerably smaller than Nautilus, with about half her power; they corresponded approximately to the earlier Tang class in dimensions, although they were somewhat heavier. Production was abandoned in favour of the much faster Skipjack class, the transition occurring in die FY56 programme.

Modernizations

1960s, all: - BLR-1 ECM suite; + WLR-1 ECM suite

1980s, Swordfish, Sargo: - BQS-4 sonar; + SQS-49 sonar

Naval service

No significant events.