Double-hulled submarines - Why doesn't the U.S. Navy build them?

Janaury 24, 2010 | myknowledge

[myknowledge]

I'm sure you have heard of the United States Navy's proud and elite submarine service, comprising high-tech nuclear subs such as the LA, Seawolf and Virginia class SSNs, Ohio class boomers and SSGNs, and historically, Sturgeon class SSNs and George Washington class boomers.

But they have one thing in common: They are single-hulled subs. Subs with only one hull.

In stark contrast, the Russian Navy has fielded to this day, double-hulled submarines, such as the Akula class SSN and Typhoon class SSBN, the largest in the world, along with the latest Borei class SSBN and soon-to-be-completed Graney class SSN.

So here's my question: Why doesn't the United States Navy's submarine fleet ever have double-hulled subs?

[bvw]

Has anyone ever tried to lens an explosion using counter shock waves? Just speculating ...

[chemicalman]

An American sub ran into an underground mountain and survived.

Was it underground or underwater?

[xone]

zot

via 'crappy' (because it isn't Russian) torpedo.

[CharlesWayneCT]

It would be hard to hit an underground mountain, wouldn’t it. :-)

[Al B.]

That submarine, the USS SAN FRANCISCO survived by suberb engineering from Electric Boat.

The San Francisco was built at Newport News and they were also the lead design yard for the Los Angeles-class boats.

[El Gran Salseron]

“I have three novels at home about both U.S. and Russian subs”

I think the keyword there is “novelS”. In other words, just someone’s thoughts, not facts.

Trust me, U.s. submarines have two hulls.

ex-STS2(SS) and would have been STS1(SS) if I had agreed to extend for a year. I had passed the 1st class exam but didn’t have sufficient time left to make the next step.

[El Gran Salseron]

Supre-caviitating toepedoes are uncontrollabe. They get a mind of their own at the high speeds.

[mylife]

I never got qualed but I know that there is an outer hull and a people tank.

I cant believe that I didnt know Ivan had 2 pressure hulls.

Prolly isnt worth a **** considering the people tank on theirs is a radioactive wasteland.

And them Alpha class titanium rattle buckets suck.

Nuff said

[Redcloak]

All US subs have two hulls: An outer hull and a pressure hull. This has been true for decades.

[castlegreyskull]

Yes, your right. I corrected myself. But Newport News had the lead on the LA Class.

[downwdims]

Definitely made the right call on not precomming the Seawolf.

[Al B.]

I served on them, and I work in the business of building submarines. Current EB has the market.

Perhaps you can clarify. It's my understanding that both the design and construction of the Virginia-class boats is being executed by both yards under a teaming arrangement. Each yard designs and builds specific modules and final assembly of the vessel is alternated.

The concept was to keep both yards in the submarine business.

[castlegreyskull]

Ah Yes. EB was the lead on the VIRGINIA Class design. Even numbered boats are assembled at EB in Groton, that is VIRGINIA SSN 774, HAWAII SSN 776, HAWAII SSN 778, MISSOURI SSN 780. Odd numbered boats are assembled in Newport News Shipyard TEXAS SSN 775, NORTH CAROLINA SSN 777, NEW MEXICO SSN 779. I used the worded assembled intentionally. The modules are constructed at Quonset Point, Rhode Island and delivered by a sea barge to each shipyard. Although both shipyards are run by different corporations, they work in close cooperation. EB owns the facility in Quonset Point as well. Also, the USS MISSOURI hasn’t been commissioned yet, it will be in a few months.

[Al B.]

The modules are constructed at Quonset Point, Rhode Island and delivered by a sea barge to each shipyard.

How familiar are you with the construction arrangement for the Virginia-class boats?

Modules are constructed by both yards. NN builds the bow, stern, sail and selected forward compartments for every Virginia-class boat. In addition, each yard builds their own reactor compartment in order to keep them both nuke-qualified.

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/winter99/virginia_class.htm

"The teaming arrangement between General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Corporation and Newport News Shipbuilding for building this new class allocates major sections of the ship to one yard or the other, so modularity by hull section is inherent from the outset. In addition, large, internal sub-assemblies are fabricated and tested separately before they are “packed” into the hull as Modular Isolated Deck Sections (MIDS). The design process itself incorporates both concurrent engineering design/build teams and an extensive infrastructure for computer-aided design, engineering, and manufacturing (CAD/CAE/CAM). Each design/build team is responsible for a specific aspect of the ship’s structure or mission capability and includes Navy managers, fleet operators, technical personnel, key vendors and suppliers, and the shipyard’s designers and waterfront construction supervisors."

[castlegreyskull]

Good post, and thanks for the correction. I over simplified way to much, gave to much credit to EB and wrote it in a misleading way too. I find it very fascinating how these two shipyards do this, and what they seem to have planned in the coming years. Enjoy your Sunday.

[houeto]

It is only by the very narrowest of margins that I managed to avoid spraying my monitor with beer.

Exact same thing happened here except I'm still on coffee.

[rmlew]

For example, the Oscar II class SSGN (nuclear cruise missile submarine). Its heavy displacement and double hull enables her to take three direct torpedo hits to sink.

The outer hull acts as an armored shell, much like a turtle shell for a turtle.
The crew of the Kursk may have another opinion.

[ThomasSawyer]

"'But I'm not saying all Russian engineering bad.'

I'll say it.
"

Hey! Does that thang got a Hemi?!!!

[MHGinTN]

You’ll have to lift its tail to find out. Don’t think Prep-H comes in big enough tubes.

[Richard Kimball]