From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

SSN (hull classification symbol)

Symbol for nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarine

An SSN is a nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarine – SSN is the US Navy hull classification symbol for such vessels. SS means "Submarine, General" according to the NATO Standard Ship Designator System (STANAG 1166,) with SSN referring to a "Submarine Attack Nuclear" vessel. The "SS" designator is consistent with other examples of STANAG 1166 using double letter referring to a type of vessel – for example, "BB" designates a Battleships, "DD" is a Destroyer, "CC" a Cruiser, "FF" a Frigate, and so on.

History

The first nuclear-powered attack submarine was the US Navy's , operational from 1954. This was followed by the four submarines of the entering service in 1957. The Royal Navy's first nuclear fleet submarine was which by using an American reactor entered service in 1963. The first all-British nuclear submarines were the two s. The SS designation has sometimes been incorrectly quoted as being an abbreviation of 'Ship Submersible' but this is not correct – even the Royal Navy have made this mistake in the past on the some of their historical (but now withdrawn) websites.

The USN submarine fleet has been all-nuclear powered for over three decades. The last Barbel-class diesel-electric attack submarine, , was decommissioned in 1990. The bulk of the USN's SSN fleet has been the Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Designed during the Cold War the Los Angeles-class boats raison d'etre was to protect USN carrier battle groups and to hunt Soviet Navy SSBNs before they could launch a first strike against the United States.

The first ever major combat action involving an SSN was during the 1982 Falklands War. An Argentinian cruiser, was sunk by torpedoes fired by the Royal Navy fleet submarine . After that incident, the Argentinian Navy was effectively confined to port.

Since the end of the Cold War, SSNs have evolved into multi-mission submarines. Their roles include submarine-launched cruise missile platforms, intelligence gathering platforms, insertion and exfiltration of special forces teams in addition to traditional hunter-killer SSN roles.

The advantages of an SSN over a conventionally powered SSK are much longer endurance (limited more by the crew than the boat, a nuclear submarine can stay submerged for months and does not need refueling in their 25-year lifespans), and higher speed. Unlike most SSKs, SSNs do not have to surface periodically for air, which would compromise their stealth. Some of the newest conventional submarines approach these advantages: Stirling engine powered vessels can cruise underwater for up to two weeks and, like diesel/electric vessels (and in theory LOX powered vessels), are significantly quieter than nuclear submarines, since they do not need to run the powerful (and noisy) pumps associated with the cooling circuits of pressurized water reactors.

The main disadvantages of an SSN are the technological challenges and expenses of building and maintaining a nuclear power plant. Nuclear submarines can have political downsides, as some countries refuse to accept nuclear-powered vessels as a matter of policy. Furthermore, decommissioned nuclear submarines require costly dismantling and long term storage of the radioactive waste.

The following navies currently operate SSNs:

United States Navy
Russian Navy
French Navy
Indian Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy of China
Royal Navy of the United Kingdom

Active and future SSN classes

;Australia Royal Australian Navy

Virginia-class submarine – 3 planned (with an option to purchase a further two vessels)
SSN-AUKUS – up to eight planned

;Brazil Brazilian Navy

Brazilian submarine Álvaro Alberto – one under construction

;China People's Liberation Army Navy of the People's Republic of China

Han-class submarine (Type 091) – 3 in service, 2 retired
Type 093 submarine – 6 in service
Type 095 submarine – 5 planned

;France French Navy

– 2 in service, 4 retired
Suffren-class submarine – 3 in service, total of 6 planned

;India Indian Navy

– one to be delivered by 2028. (Another leased Akula class submarine was returned to Russia in 2021, before the end of its contract. )
Project 77-class submarine – 2 cleared, 6 planned

;Russia Russian Navy

Victor III-class submarine – 2 in service, 46 retired
Sierra II-class submarine – 2 in service
– 10 in service, four retired
Yasen-class submarine – 6 in service, one on sea trials, total of 12 planned

;United Kingdom Royal Navy of the United Kingdom (Known as "fleet submarines" in the Royal Navy.)

– 1 in service, six retired
– 5 in service, two more under construction
SSN-AUKUS – 12 Planned (first design contract awarded)

;United States United States Navy

– 30 in service, 32 retired
– 3 in service
– 19 in service, 66 planned in total
SSN(X)-class submarine – number TBD (under development)

Retired SSN classes

;India Indian Navy

was formerly the K-43 leased in 1987 from Russia and returned in 1991.
was formerly the Nerpa leased from Russia in 2011 and returned in June 2021.

;United Kingdom Royal Navy of the United Kingdom

- the Royal Navy's first nuclear-powered fleet submarine 1963 - 1980
— 2 submarines in service 1966–94
— 3 submarines in service 1970–92
— 6 submarines 1973–2010

;Soviet Union Soviet / Russia Russian Navy

November-class submarine 1958–91
K-278 Komsomolets — only member of the "Mike" class, 1984–89 (sank after fire)
Alfa-class submarine

;United States United States Navy

(unique)
(unique)
— 4 submarines in service 1957–89
— 6 submarines in service 1959–90 (one lost, 1968)
USS Triton (SSN-586) (unique)
USS Halibut (SSN-587) (unique)
— 14 submarines in service 1961–96 (one lost, 1963)
(unique)
— 37 submarines in service 1967–2004
(unique)
(unique)

References

"NATO glossary of abbreviations used in NATO documents and publications (AAP-11)". [[NATO]].
"Fleet Submarines (SSN)". Royal Navy website.
(14 December 2018). "Brazil take first step in program to join nuclear-powered sub club".
"Brazilian Navy - Marinha do Brasil - Modernization". GlobalSecurity.org.
"Launch prediction".
"Type 095".
(6 December 2006). "Chinese fast developing advanced submarines".
(2024-10-24). "India launches its latest nuclear submarine with 75% indigenous tech: Here's what the new S4 means for regional security". The Economic Times.
(2024-11-11). "Russia to deliver first of two missile frigates by month-end". The Times of India.
"India Russia Nuclear deal: India, Russia to ink $3 billion nuclear submarine deal this week".
"Navy's Only Nuclear Attack Submarine Returns To Russia Before Lease Expires".
(31 December 2011). "Russia leases out Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine to India".
"Archived copy".
(2024-10-09). "Centre clears deal to build 2 nuclear submarines, purchase 31 predator drones".
(14 July 2014). "Move to fast-track two submarine projects gathers steam - Times of India".
"Government clears construction of 7 stealth frigates, 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines".
Diplomat, Franz-Stefan Gady, The. "Report: India, Russia Sign $3 Billion Nuclear Attack Submarine Deal".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

attack-submarines

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about SSN (hull classification symbol) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report