List of submarine classes of the United States Navy: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|None}}

| {{USS|Alligator|1862|2}}<ref name="danfsalligator">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/alligator-iv.html|title=Alligator IV (Submarine)|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> || 1 || 1861 || 1862 || First submarine in the U.S. Navy. Purpose was to protect wooden ships against ironclads.

| {{USS|Holland|SS-1|2}}<ref name="usnholland">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/ss1-v.htm|title=USS Holland (Submarine # 1) -- Construction|date=2004-06-10|work=USN Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-09}}</ref><ref name="danfsholland">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/holland-i.html |title=Holland I (SS-1) |work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> || 1 || 1896 || 1900 || 5 others were made; only {{USS|Holland|SS-1|3}} entered the U.S. Navy as it was the first officially commissioned submarine purchased on 11 April 1900.

| {{sclass|Plunger|submarine|5}}<ref name="danfsa1">{{cite web|title=A-1 I (Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 2)|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |date=4 August 2015|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/a-1-submarine-torpedo-boat-no-2-i.html|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="danfsa2">{{cite web|title=A-2 (Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 3)|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |date=31 August 2016|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/a-2-submarine-torpedo-boat-no-3.html|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="danfsa5">{{cite web|title=A-5 (Submarine Torpedo Boat No. 6)|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |date=31 August 2016|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/a-5.html|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="friedthrough p28">Friedman 1995, p. 28.</ref> || 7 || 1900 || 1903 || Later renamed A class in November 1911, when Navy stopped naming submarines. Essentially enlarged, more powerful ''Holland''.

| [[United States B-class submarine|B]]<ref name="mfbclass">{{cite web|url=http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=B-Class|title=B class - Navy Ships|date=2008-08-03|work=Military Factory|access-date=2009-06-09}}</ref><ref name="danfsb1">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/b-1.htm|title=B-1|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-09|archive-date=15 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015061231/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/b-1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="danfsb3">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/b-3.htm|title=B-3|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-09|archive-date=15 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015061241/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/b-3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="globalb">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-10.htm|title=SS-10 B-1 Viper|author=John Pike}}</ref> || 3 || 1905 || 1907 || Last in series of ''Holland''-like submarines. Originally known as ''Viper'' class.

| [[United States C-class submarine|C]]<ref name="globalc">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-9.htm|title=SS-9 C-1 Octopus|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-09}}</ref> || 5 || 1905 || 1910 || Designed by [[Lawrence York Spear]]. Originally known as the ''Octopus'' class.

| [[United States D-class submarine|D]]<ref name="globald">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-17.htm|title=SS-17 D-1 Narwhal|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-09}}</ref> || 3 || 1908 || 1910 || Originally known as the ''Narwhal'' class. Designed to survive flooding in one compartment.

| [[United States E-class submarine|E]]<ref name="globale">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-24.htm|title=SS-24 E-1 Skipjack|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> || 2 || 1909 || 1912 || First US Navy [[Diesel engine|diesel]]-powered submarine. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape.

| [[United States F-class submarine|F]]<ref name="globalf">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-20.htm|title=SS-20 F-1 Carp|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> || 4 || 1909 || 1913 || In 1920, the class was designated SS-20&ndash;SS-23.

| [[United States G-class submarine|G]]<ref name="globalg">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-19.htm|title=SS-19(1/2) G-1 Seal|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref><ref name="danfsg1">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g1/g-1.htm|title=G-1|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref><ref name="danfsg4">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g1/g-4.htm|title=G-4|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref><ref name="museumla">{{cite web|url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/LA%20Sub%20Base.html|title=California Naval History: The City of Los Angeles . . . An Inland City with the First Submarine Base on the Pacific Coast|year=2002|work=militarymuseum.org|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> || 4 || 1909 || 1914 || Used gasoline engine. {{USS|G-1|SS-19½|3}} set the submerged depth record in 1915, {{convert|256|ft|m}}. {{USS|G-1|SS-19½|3}} was given the number 19½ because SS- numbers were given after her decommissioning; she was between SS-19 & SS-20.

| [[United States H-class submarine|H]]<ref name="globalh">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-28.htm|title=SS-28 H-1 Seawolf|last=Pike |first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref><ref name="danfsh9">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h1/h-9.htm|title=H-9|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> || 9 || 1911 || 1918 || 3 originally ordered by U.S. Navy. 17 ordered by the [[Imperial Russian Navy]], 11 delivered. Other 6 bought by U.S. Navy. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape.

| [[United States K-class submarine|K]]<ref name="globalk">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-32.htm|title=SS-32 K-1 Haddock|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref><ref name="usnk1">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-k/ss32.htm|title=USS K-1 (Submarine # 32)|date=2004-06-17|work=USN Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> || 8 || 1912 || 1912 || Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. {{USS|K-1|SS-32|3}}, {{USS|K-2|SS-33|3}}, {{USS|K-5|SS-36|3}}, {{USS|K-6|SS-37|3}} were the first U.S. submarines to see action in World War I.

| [[United States L-class submarine|L]]<ref name="globall">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-40.htm|title=SS-40 L-1|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> || 11 || 1914 || 1918 || The first US submarines with a [[deck gun]]. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. Designed for coastal defense.

| {{USS|M-1|SS-47|2}}<ref name="globalm">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-47.htm|title=SS-47 M-1|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> || 1 || 1914 || 1918 || Double-hull design. Twenty percent larger than the ''K'' class. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. Considered failure by the submarine community.

| [[United States N-class submarine|N]]<ref name="globaln">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-53.htm|title=SS-53 N-1|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> || 7 || 1915 || 1918 || Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. Used for coastal patrol.

| [[United States O-class submarine|O]]<ref name="globalo">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-62.htm|title=SS-62 O-1|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-06-08|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref><ref name="globalo11">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-72.htm|title=SS-72 O-11|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> || 16 || 1916 || 1918 || Each cost $550,000. First submarines with reliable diesel engines. Every man had his own berth and locker. Known as "pig boats", or "boats", due to foul living quarters and unusual hull shape. ''O-11'' through ''O-16'' (built by [[Lake Torpedo Boat]] Company) also known as the "modified O-class". Modified boats proved to be disappointing and were scrapped in 1930; Lake went out of business in 1925.

| {{sclass|AA-1|submarine|5}}<ref name="globalt">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-52.htm|title=SS-52 T-1 Schley|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> || 3 || 1916 || 1922 || Later renamed T class. Designed for {{convert|5540|mi|km}} at {{convert|14|kn|m/s}}, but performed {{convert|3000|mi|km}} at {{convert|11|kn|m/s}}. Prototype "fleet submarines"&mdash;submarines fast enough ({{convert|21|kn|m/s}}) to travel with battleships. Twice the size of any concurrent or past U.S. submarine. A poor tandem engine design caused the boats to be decommissioned by 1923 and scrapped in 1930.

| [[United States R-class submarine|R]]<ref name="globalr1">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-78.htm|title=SS-78 R-1|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref><ref name="danfsr20">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r1/r-20.htm|title=R-20|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Department of the Navy|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> || 20 || 1917 || 1918 || Larger conning tower to serve as commanding officer's battle station. Fired [[Mark 10 torpedo]]es and traveled {{convert|5000|mi|km}} at {{convert|10|kn|m/s}}.

| [[United States R-21-class submarine|''R-21'']]<ref name="globalr21">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ss-98.htm|title=SS-98 R-21|last=Pike|first=John|date=2005-04-27|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> || 7 || 1917 || 1919 || Designed by [[Simon Lake]]. Generally similar to R class, but smaller and reverted to 18-inch torpedo tubes. Scrapped in 1930; Lake went out of business in 1925.

==Interwar==

|+Interwar

| {{sclass|Narwhal|submarine|5}} || 2 || {{USS|Narwhal|SS-167}}<br/>10 May 1927 || {{USS|Nautilus|SS-168}}<br/>1 July 1930 ||

| {{sclass|Cachalot|submarine|5}} || 2 || {{USS|Cachalot|SS-170}}<br/>7 October 1931 || {{USS|Cuttlefish|SS-171}}<br/>8 June 1934 ||

| {{sclass|Salmon|submarine|5}} || 6 || {{USS|Salmon|SS-182}}<br/>15 April 1936 || {{USS|Skipjack|SS-184}}<br/>30 June 1938 ||

| {{sclass|Sargo|submarine|5}} || 10 || {{USS|Sargo|SS-188}}<br/>12 May 1937 || {{USS|Seawolf|SS-197}}<br/>1 December 1939 ||

| {{sclass|Tambor|submarine|5}} || 12 || {{USS|Tambor|SS-198}}<br/>16 January 1939 || {{USS|Grayback|SS-208}}<br/>30 June 1941 ||

| {{sclass|Mackerel|submarine|5}} || 2 || {{USS|Mackerel|SS-204}}<br/>6 October 1939 || {{USS|Marlin|SS-205}}<br/>1 August 1941 ||

| {{sclass|Gato|submarine|5}} || 77 || {{USS|Drum|SS-228}}<br/>11 September 1940 || {{USS|Croaker|SS-246}}<br/>21 April 1944 || USS ''Drum'' was only boat actually commissioned before US Entry to WWII

| {{sclass|Balao|submarine|5}} || 120 || {{USS|Devilfish|SS-292}}<br/>31 March 1942 || {{USS|Tiru|SS-416}}<br/>1 September 1948 || 62 cancelled

| {{sclass|Tench|submarine|5}} || 29 || {{USS|Amberjack|SS-522}}, {{USS|Grampus|SS-523}}, {{USS|Pickerel|SS-524}}, and {{USS|Grenadier|SS-525}}<br/>8 February 1944 || {{USS|Grenadier|SS-525}}<br/>10 February 1951 || 51 cancelled

| colspan="6" |{{sclass|Tang|submarine|5}}

| colspan="6" |{{sclass|Grayback|submarine|5}}

| colspan="6" |{{sclass|Barbel|submarine|5}}

| colspan="35" |First production submarines with teardrop hull.<br />U.S. Navy's last conventionally-powered submarines

|{{sclass|Skate|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Skipjack|submarine|5}}

|First nuclear submarine class with [[teardrop hull]] form. USS ''Scorpion'' lost at sea 1968.

|{{sclass|Sturgeon|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Seawolf|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|George Washington|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Ethan Allen|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Lafayette|submarine|5}}

|{{USS|Daniel Webster|SSBN-626}}<br />09 April 1964

|{{sclass|James Madison|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Benjamin Franklin|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Ohio|submarine|5}}

|}

===Deep-submergence vehicles (DSVs)===

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Class Name

!No.

!First boat laid down

!Last boat commissioned

!Notes

!Picture/Silhouette

|-

|[[Trieste class]]

|2

|[[Trieste (bathyscaphe)|Trieste (DSV-0)]]<br />1958

|[[Trieste II (Bathyscaphe)|Trieste II (DSV-1)]]<br />1969

|The Trieste was the first submarine which reached the [[Challenger Deep]] by Swiss [[Jacques Piccard]] and US Navy Lieutenant [[Don Walsh]] in 1960.

|[[File:Bathyscaphe Trieste.jpg|frameless|242x242px]]

|-

|[[Alvin class]]

|4

|[[DSV Alvin|Alvin (DSV-2)]]<br />5 June 1964

|[[DSV-5 Nemo|Nemo (DSV-5)]]<br />1970

|

|[[File:ALVIN submersible.jpg|frameless|242x242px]]

|-

|[[American submarine NR-1|NR-1]]

|1

|10 June 1967

|27 October 1969

|

|[[File:NR-1 986.jpg|frameless|242x242px]]

|{{sclass|T-1|submarine|5}}

|{{sclass|Sailfish|submarine|5}}

|[[Radar picket]]

|Unique submarine; Radar picket; Twin S4G Nuclear Reactors

|Unique submarine; research and development for deep diving technologies; last operational U.S. Navy [[diesel-electric]] submarine; Decommissioned 15 January 2007

| {{sclass|Virginia|submarine|5}} || 48 (planned) || {{USS|Virginia|SSN-774}}<br/>2 September 1999 || {{USS|Hyman G. Rickover|SSN-795}}<br>October 14, 2023 || Attack submarine. 22 commissioned {{as of|2022|6|lc=on}}.

| {{sclass|Columbia|submarine|5}} || 12 (planned) || {{USS|District of Columbia|SSBN-826}}<br>(planned) || || Ballistic missile submarine

* [[List of United States Navy ships]]

==External links==

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBx1qyEILLk youtube.com USS Holland ]

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOeZJieYqRE youtube.com Submarine #1 ]

* {{DANFS}}

* {{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011005083318/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2001-10-05 |title=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |publisher=Department of the Navy |access-date=2009-06-09 }}

* {{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/submarine.htm|title=Submarine Warfare|last=Pike|first=John|date=2008-07-23|work=[[globalsecurity.org]]|access-date=2009-06-10}}

{{US submarine classes after 1945}}

[[Category:Lists of ships of the United States Navy|Submarine classes]]

[[Category:Lists of submarines|United States Navy]]