Hunley-class submarine tender

The Hunley-class was a class of two submarine tenders in service with the United States Navy from 1962 to 1996.

Class overview
Name: Hunley-class submarine tender
Operators:  United States Navy
Preceded by: USS Proteus (AS-19)
Succeeded by: Simon Lake class
Built: 1960 - 1963
In commission: 1962 - 1996
Completed: 2
Scrapped: 2
General characteristics
Type: Submarine tender
Displacement: 19,000 tons
Length: 599 ft (183 m)
Beam: 83 ft (25 m)
Draft: 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
Propulsion: Diesel–electric, 15.000 SHP
Speed: 18 kn (33 km/h)
Complement: 58 Officers, 1.023 Enlisted
Armament: 4 × 3 inch/50 caliber guns

History

The Hunley-class was the first class of submarine tenders in the U.S. Navy being built from the keel up to service ballistic missile submarines (SSBN). The early generations of SSBNs were equipped with the UGM-27 Polaris missile. To handle these missiles, a large 32 ton crane was installed aft that moved in a large circle. In 1973-1975 both ships were converted to handle the newer UGM-73 Poseidon missile. The massive crane was then replaced by two smaller ones.[1] The ships were powered by ten Diesel engines, delivering 15.000 SHP on one shaft. [2] Both tenders were decommissioned following the retirement of the Poseidon-equipped SSBNs. After spending at least a decade in the Reserve Fleet, both ships were scrapped.

Ships
 Name   Number   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Decommissioned   Status   DANFS   NVR 
Hunley AS-31 Newport News Shipbuilding 28 September 1961 16 June 1962 30 September 1994 Sold for scrap 5 January 2007
Holland AS-32 Ingalls Shipbuilding 19 January 1963 7 September 1963 30 September 1996 Sold for scrap 18 July 2013

References
  1. Stefan Terzibatschitsch: Seemacht USA, Volume 2, Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany), 1997, pp. 665-667. ISBN 3-86047-576-2
  2. Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd., London (UK), 1986, p. 145. ISBN 0-7110-1598-8
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