USS Bluefish (SSN-675)

Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine (1971)

Naval Warfare

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Image from the Public Domain.

A Cold War player, USS Bluefish SSN-675 served from 1971 until decommissioned in 1996.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/20/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

USS Bluefish (SSN-675) was a Cold War-era (1947-1991) nuclear-powered attack submarine serving the United States Navy (USN) as part of the critical Sturgeon-class group of boats. The Sturgeon-class entered service in the 1960s and maintained an active status into the early 2000s such was their value during a time when the enemy-of-the-day was the Soviet Union and its vaunted submarine fleet. Thirty-seven total boats were completed to the Sturgeon standard and these were an evolution of the earlier Thresher-/Permit-class.

USS Bluefish (SSN-675) was ordered on July 15th, 1966 and saw her keel laid down by General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation of Groton, Connecticut on March 13th, 1968. Launched on January 10th, 1970, the boat was formally commissioned for service into the ranks of the USN on January 8th, 1971. She was given the motto "Blue Thunder from Down Under!" for her time at sea.

SSN-675 became just the second USN vessel to carry the name "Bluefish". The earlier incarnation was a veteran of the World War 2 (1939-1945) period (and is detailed elsewhere on this site).

Bluefish was completed with a full displacement of 4,340 tons and had a length of 292.2 feet, a beam of 31.7 feet, and a draught down to 28.7 feet. Power was from a single S5W series water-cooled nuclear reactor which provided fuel for the twin steam turbines, these generating 15,000 shaft horsepower to 1 x Screw astern. All told, the boat could make headway at 15 knots when surfaced and up to 25 knots when submerged. The hull was tested to depths of 1,300 feet.

Aboard was a crew complement of 109 officers and enlisted personnel. Armament centered on 4 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes installed amidships just aft of the bow section. These supported the Mark 48 torpedo series and there was eventual support for the UUM-44A SUBROC (thermonuclear, anti-submarine) and UGM-84A/C "Harpoon" (anti-ship) missile families. In addition to this, the vessel was cleared to use Mark 57 deep-water mines and Mark 60 CAPTOR naval mines as needed.

Because of her armament capabilities as well as stealthy acoustics and performance, USS Bluefish became an integral part of American Navy actions during the Cold War decades. The boat had the capability to tackle enemy subs and surface combatants thanks to her broad armament support. Her onboard systems allowed for a great deal of surveillance capabilities as well - which proved priceless in an era where each side attempted to outdo the other.

USS Bluefish managed a service life into the 1990s at which point the boat was decommissioned from frontline use on May 31st, 1996. She was struck from the Naval Register that same day, formally ending her days with the USN.

Specifications

Service Year

1971

Origin

United States

Complement

109
PERSONNEL

Class

Sturgeon-class

Number-in-Class

37
VESSELS

Ships-in-Class

Sturgeon (SSN-637); Whale (SSN-638); Tautog (SSN-639); Grayling (SSN-646); Pogy (SSN-647); Aspro (SSN-648); Sunfish (SSN-649); Pargo (SSN-650); Queenfish (SSN-651); Puffer (SSN-652); Ray (SSN-653); Sand Lance (SSN-660); Lapon (SSN-661); Gurnard (SSN-662); Hammerhead (SSN-663); Sea Devil (SSN-664); Guitarro (SSN-665); Hawkbill (SSN-666); Bergall (SSN-667); Spadefish (SSN-668); Seahorse (SSN-669); Finback (SSN-670); Pintado (SSN-672); Flying Fish (SSN-673); Trepang (SSN-674); Bluefish (SSN-675); Billfish (SSN-676); Drum (SSN-677); Archerfish (SSN-678); Silversides (SSN-679); William H. Bates (SSN-680); Batfish (SSN-681); Tunny (SSN-682); Parche (SSN-683); Cavalla (SSN-684); L. Mendel Rivers (SSN-686); Richard B. Russell (SSN-687)

United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Submerged Attack
Traveling under the surface to search, track, and / or engage or reconnoiter areas.

✓ Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.

✓ Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.

Length

292.2 ft
89.06 m

Beam

31.7 ft
9.66 m

Draught

28.7 ft
8.75 m

Displacement

4,000
tons

Installed Power: 1 x S5W nuclear reactor with 2 x Steam turbines developing 15,000 horsepower to 1 x Shaft.

Surface Speed

15.0 kts
(17.3 mph)

Submerged Speed

25.0 kts
(28.8 mph)

Range

Essentially Unlimited

4 x 533mm (21") torpedo tubes (bow-facing) (Mk 48 torpedoes).

Support for UUM-44A SUBROC missiles, UGN-84A/C Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Mk 57 naval mines and Mk 60 CAPTOR naval mines.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft aerial torpedo

Graphical image of an aircraft anti-ship missile

(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)

None.

Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective naval campaigns / operations / periods.