Skipjack 1963
Scamp 1976
Skipjack 1990
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| SSN585 | Skipjack | 148 | Electric Boat, Groton | 29.5.1956 | 26.5.1958 | 15.4.1959 | stricken 4.1990 |
| SSN588 | Scamp | Mare Island N Yd, Vallejo | 23.1.1959 | 8.10.1960 | 5.6.1961 | stricken 4.1988 | |
| SSN589 | Scorpion | 150 | Electric Boat, Groton | 20.8.1958 | 19.12.1959 | 29.7.1960 | lost 21-27.5.1968 |
| SSN590 | Sculpin | 1064 | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 3.2.1958 | 31.3.1960 | 1.6.1961 | stricken 3.1990 |
| SSN591 | Shark | 545 | Newport News SB | 24.2.1958 | 16.3.1960 | 9.2.1961 | stricken 9.1990 |
| SSN592 | Snook | 1065 | Ingalls, Pascagoula | 7.4.1958 | 31.10.1960 | 24.10.1961 | stricken 11.1986 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
|
|
Displacement normal, t |
3070 / 3500 |
|
Length, m |
75.0 wl 76.8 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
9.70 |
|
Draught, m |
7.70 |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
SSN585: 2 sets Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 1 Westinghouse S5W nuclear reactor SSN588 - 592: 2 sets General Electric geared steam turbines, 1 Westinghouse S5W nuclear reactor |
|
Power, h. p. |
15000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
15 / 29 |
|
Fuel, t |
nuclear |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | practically unlimited |
|
Armament |
6 - 533 Mk 59 TT (bow, 24) |
|
Electronic equipment |
BPS-12 radar, BQS-4A, BQR-2B, SQS-49 sonars, WLR-1 ECM suite |
|
Complement |
85 |
|
Diving depth operational, m |
210 |
Project history: These six ships were essentially nuclear equivalents of the Barbels, benefitting from the Albacore hull form and also introducing the S5W reactor and single-hull construction to US SSNs. They were the fastest submarines in the US service until the appearance of the Los Angeles class, and they formed the basis of the George Washington class SSBNs. A single propeller shaft precluded the installation of stern torpedo tubes, so that they are limited to six bow tubes. Although they do not have the bow sonar or SUBROC of later US submarines, they continue to be highly regarded, and projects for Skipjack sonar improvement were considered during the 1960s.
Scorpion was laid down twice: at first her keel was laid down 1.11.1957 but later she was renumbered SSBN598 and became the ballistic missile submarine George Washington. The second SSN589 was laid down 20.8.1958 and became Scorpion.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: Scorpion was lost with all hands in May 1968 in 400nm SW of the Azores while en route from the Mediterranean to Norfolk. Her last reported position was ~50nm S of Azores 21.5.1968. Six days later she was reported overdue at Norfolk and declared 'presumed lost' 5.6.1968.
Sculpin 1965
Scamp 1976
© Ivan Gogin, 2015