Skipjack Class SSN
Users: United States Navy
Built: 1956–1961
In Commission: 1959-1990
For the longest time submarines were shaped in a manner optimized for surface running. Limited battery life and low submerged speeds limited their ability underwater. Then came improved batteries, and in time the Nautilus would bring Nuclear power to submarines. Yet while streamlined their shape still exhibited a boat like form. Then the Albacore was developed, introducing a unique 'teardrop' hull shape optimized for underwater speed. Yet the Albacore was a conventional submarine.
Then the Skipjack Class submarine was developed, combining the new teardrop hull design from the Albacore with the nuclear powerplant introduced via Nautilus and put into vessels such as the Seawolf. The Skipjack was also unique in being the first nuclear submarine with a single shaft and screw for propulsion. The planes were placed on the sail in order to reduce flow-induced noise on the bow mounted sonar. A Hull constructed of HY-80 steel allowed for deep diving, while a new S5W reactor allowed for high submerged speeds.
Infamously, one ship of the class was lost at sea. SSN 589, the USS Scorpion, was lost with all hands on May 22, 1968. While originally thought to be sunk by an accidentally activated torpedo, although this theory was rejected after the wreckage was found. Flooding caused by mechanical failure was suggested, with the batteries believed to have exploded. With a number of maintenance problems and poorly working safety systems other factors could have spelled its loss as well.
The Skipjack class was withdrawn from service in the late 1980's and early 1990's, having served during the Vietnam War and most of the Cold War.
Source(s)
Wikipedia
designed4submariners
Features:
- Fully working hydroplanes and rudder (pitch and yaw)
- Simulated Ballast Control
- Unlimited Dive
- Near 1:1 Scale
- 2 Mark 37 ASW torpedoes.
- 4 Mark 16 Anti-Ship Torpedoes
Instructions:
Submarine Operation
1)Pitch for Pitch Control
2)Roll for steering
3)VTOL for ballast control (Note: Ballast doesn't work well at high speeds, but works find at low speeds)
Torpedo Operation
1)Activation Group 1 (Mark 37) (Note: Slowing down is recommended before launch)
1.5)Activate Group 2 (Mark 16) (Note: Don't press below 60 feet if engaging surface targets)
2)Switch to Air to Ground Mode
3)Fireweapon to Launch
4)Yaw for steering (Mark 37 only)
5)Trim for pitch (Mark 37 only)
Easy Part count reduction: Pull of the torpedo tubes (squares on the nose) and delete to remove torpedoes
Specifications
Spotlights
- KerlonceauxIndustries 4.5 years ago
- Tang0five 4.5 years ago
General Characteristics
- Successors 3 airplane(s)
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 37.7ft (11.5m)
- Length 251.8ft (76.8m)
- Height 58.7ft (17.9m)
- Empty Weight 15,741lbs (7,140kg)
- Loaded Weight 15,741lbs (7,140kg)
Performance
- Wing Loading 6.5lbs/ft2 (31.7kg/m2)
- Wing Area 2,422.7ft2 (225.1m2)
- Drag Points 13082
Parts
- Number of Parts 268
- Control Surfaces 14
- Performance Cost 1,367
@Leviatham Nope, because they use Rockets as a base. Rockets don't disappear at all in water.
won't the torpedoes disappear after 20m deep?
@lastv801 Most likely soon, whenever I feel it's ready to release. I've already tested it as a target for an ASW helicoptor armed with depth charges.
@MintLynx Will you ever post it?
@lastv801 No but I have been doing some work on an AI version of My Foxtrot for use as an ASW target. Having the bowplanes switched from pitch so it doesn't pull up to the surface and having an engine above which keeps it from surfacing (and can be used to set the depth of the sub when spawned).
Did you ever make a ai sub that dosent move?
@FlyingHueman Thanks for the info! And for the compliments.
In any case, enough about that, since I dropped in to comment, might as well talk about your ship right there, lel. Great lines as always, part count doesn't seem too large for the level of refinement its shape has. I'm a big fan of the Skipjack's looks, with that nearly perfect teardrop. Not exactly the best engineering compromise ever, but it does the job very well and damn, it looks great.
@MintLynx I'm not the guy who made the comment but thought I'd clear things up, lel. No, it wasn't built yet, though they might have started building the sections (I don't think so though, would have to look into it). The SN-10 Álvaro Alberto, which is the enlarged Riachuelo-Class (which itself is a longer Scorpène) with a nuclear reactor is going to be the last of the Riachuelo "family", so to speak, to be built. The Riachuelo was finished last year, later this year they're planning on launching the second (I think it's the Humaitá), and then there's going to be other two to go before we even get to the Álvaro Alberto. Needless to say, given the complexity and utter seriousness of everything involved in building a country's first nuclear submarine and preparing the Navy to recieve it, we're probably looking at several years between the comissioning of the last diesel-electric Riachuelo-class and that of the SN-10.
Original plans were for this sub to be delivered in 2020, but that's from way back. More recent chronograms had its delivery planned for 2025, which is a realistic number considering the Riachuelo was delivered in late 2018; however, due to recent budget cuts, that was postponed to 2027. With the Navy getting more cuts this year, who knows when that's actually going to happen. I'm betting in somewhere around 2030, personally.
@Nuclearbomber36 Oh? They got it built? Learned about it when I read up on the Riachuelo, cool to hear!
Hey @MintLynx Brazil just made a nuclear submarine
Great build my fellow sentient being.
@Plane66373637 Did you not even look at the tags? It's a replica, one of the very first submarines to be made with that hull shape.
It is look like generic submrine. Next time be creative.
11th to upvote, 5th to comment
Ref the scorpion, terrible way to go. Slowly descending through crush depth. Good build once more.
This is an incredibly cool build of an awesome submarine. Skipjack was a very cool class of boat which served the USN for a long time but of course RIP to all those aboard USS Scorpion.
1st comment 1st upvote
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