Evolution Of U.S. Submarines (55 pics)
Turtle -Revolutionary War
Turtle is the World’s FIRST submersible documented in combat.
It was used by the US during the Revolutionary War.
A single human attempted to bike-ride the semi-submarine (as in top above water) to an enemy ship…then plant explosives.
Simple specs from graphic:
Depth / Notable / Crew
-Max depth 6 ft.
-First Combat "sub"
-1 brave man
The Turtle never sank an English ship but the concept of silent attack would change the world.
H.L. Hunley -Civil War
This is the first submersible to sink an enemy... unfortunately, the H.L. was on Confederate team during the Civil War.
U.S. Navy “Alligator” - 1862
First submarine in the U.S. Navy. Purpose was to protect wooden ships against ironclads.
USS Holland (SS 1) - start of WWI
S Class - after WWI used at start of World War 2
Gato / Tench Class / Balao Class
WW2 submarines and first versions after named the Barbel Class.
Gato Class
The Gato class of submarines was built for the United States Navy and launched in 1941–1943; they were the first mass-production U.S. submarine class of World War II. Together with their near-sisters the Balao and Tench classes, their design formed the majority of the United States Navy's World War II submarine fleet.
Tench-Class
Tench-class submarines were a type of submarine built for the United States Navy (USN) between 1944 and 1951. They were an improvement over the Gato and Balao classes, only about 35 to 40 tons larger, but more strongly built and with a slightly improved internal layout. One of the ballast tanks was converted to carry fuel, increasing range from 11,000 nautical miles (13,000 mi) to 16,000 nautical miles (18,000 mi). This improvement was also made on some boats of the previous two classes. Further improvements were made beginning with SS-435, which are sometimes referred to as the Corsair class. Initial plans called for 80 to be built, but 51 were cancelled in 1944 and 1945 when it became apparent that they would not be needed to defeat Japan.
Balao Class
The Balao-class was a successful design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 120 boats completed, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy.
5-inch (25-Cal.) gun on U.S. World War subs.
(post WWII)
The Barbel-class submarines, the last diesel-electric propelled attack submarines built by the United States Navy, incorporated numerous, radical engineering improvements over previous classes. They were the first production warships built with the teardrop-shape hull first tested on the experimental USS Albacore (AGSS-569), and the first to combine the control room, attack center, and conning tower in the same space in the hull. They were of double hull design with 1.5-inch thick HY80 steel. This class of submarine became part of the United States Navy's fleet in 1959 and was taken out of service 1988–1990, leaving the Navy with an entirely nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
From last of diesel-electric propulsion to NUCLEAR powerplants...
USS Nautilus - Cold War
Nuclear power driven subs have ONE huge advantage... they never have to be re-filled with fuel.
As long as crew has food/fresh-water, the sub stays out at Sea.
That be un-classified view of a nuclear sub "engine".
George Washington Class
Los Angeles Class - modern Attack subs
Ohio Class - "BOOMers" - defining weapon of mutual destruction.
Virginia Class - newest U.S. Attack Sub
