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USS Seawolf (SSN-21)


Fast Attack Nuclear-Powered Submarine


United States | 1997



"The USS Seawolf was the first in her class, a class which initially was to field some 29 ships but ended with just three produced."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS Seawolf (SSN-21).
1 x S6W PWR nuclear reactor developing 45,000 horsepower to 1 x Shaft; 1 x Propulsion submerged motor; 1 x Pumpjet propulsor.
Propulsion
18.0 kts
20.7 mph
Surface Speed
35.0 kts
40.3 mph
Submerged Speed
Essentially Unlimited
Range
Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS Seawolf (SSN-21).
116
Personnel
Complement
353.0 ft
107.59 meters
O/A Length
40.0 ft
12.19 meters
Beam
36.0 ft
10.97 meters
Draught
8,600
tons
Displacement
9,140
tons
Displacement (Submerged)
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS Seawolf (SSN-21).
8 x 26" (762mm) torpedo tubes (40 x torpedo reloads OR missiles OR 100 x naval mines).
Ships-in-Class (3)
Notable series variants as part of the USS Seawolf (SSN-21) family line as relating to the Seawolf-class group.
USS Seawolf (SSN 21); USS Connecticut (SSN 22); USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23)
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/30/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The USS Seawolf was designed and developed during the Cold War though by the time she was made available, the Cold War was all but over. Some 29 vessels of her Seawolf-class were originally ordered though the collapse of the Soviet Union curtailed this total substantially to just the three ships in service - the USS Seawolf (SSN 21), USS Connecticut (SS 22)and the USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23). The USS Seawolf is the lead ship of the Seawolf-class of submarines. The vessel is classified as an attack submarine and was suppose to replace the Los Angeles-class in number and was specifically added to the naval fleet to combat the Soviet Akula-class types.

As with any submarine since the First World War, the USS Seawolf if an offensive weapon with armament centering around her arsenal of torpedoes (hence the attack submarine designation). She operates with 8 x 762mm torpedo tubes with some 50 reload torpedoes though this munitions load can be replaced by 100 anti-ship mines if need be. Additionally, the Seawolf can take on up to 50 x Tomahawk surface-to-surface cruise missiles or 50 x AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

The USS Seawolf design is contemporary with her sail held forward. She has a single propeller shaft at rear and power is derived from the single S6W PWR nuclear reactor with an output of 45,000 shaft horsepower. A crew of up to 140 personnel operate her various systems and she can achieve a top surface speed of 18 knots. More importantly, the vessel is known for her submerged top speed of 35 knots - allowing USS Seawolf a tactical advantage when running as silent as she does (moreso even than the Los Angeles-class reportedly).

The USS Seawolf was originally ordered in 1989 and laid down that year. The vessel was launched in 1995 and officially commissioned in 1997. She makes her homeport out of Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor, Washington and serves under the motto of "Beware the Wolf". As of this writing, the submarine is in active service and has been on three major deployments since her commissioning. With only three Seawolf submarines available, the smaller Virginia-class has been acquired to help fill the strength-in-numbers void left by the limited Seawolf-class production following the end of the Cold War.

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Operators
Global operator(s) of the USS Seawolf (SSN-21). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.

Shipbuilder(s): General Dynamics Electric Boat - USA
National flag of the United States

[ United States ]
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Image of the USS Seawolf (SSN-21)
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Image of the USS Seawolf (SSN-21)
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