USS South Dakota (SSN-790)

Nuclear Attack Submarine [ 2018 ]

USS South Dakota SSN-790 is one of the latest submarine additions to the United States Navy fleet.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/09/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image of USS John Warner (SSN-785) used to demonstrate the soon-to-be-commissioned USS South Dakota.

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The Virginia-class series of nuclear attack submarines represents one of the most important undersea components of the modern United States Navy (USN). Some 48 total boats of the group are planned with sixteen completed as of late-2017. The latest of these is USS South Dakota (SSN-790), laid down on April 4th, 2016 and christened on October 14th, 2017. The boat is part of the Block III batch featuring a modified bow section as well as improved technologies. Electric Boat (General Dynamics) was responsible for her construction after the contract was awarded on December 22nd, 2008.

The boat displaces 7,800 tons under load and has a length of 377 feet with a beam measuring 34 feet. Power is from an S9G series nuclear reactor unit generating 40,000 horsepower to a single shaft astern. This provides essentially unlimited range (an estimated thirty-three year lifespan for the reactor is reported) and speeds reach up to 25 knots. On board there is a crew of 134 (14 officer-level candidates) and mission endurance is limited to food supplies and general maintenance schedules.

The armament suite of the attack submarine consists of 4 x 533mm torpedo tubes cleared to fire the Mk 48 torpedo series. About 37 reloads can be carried. Beyond this the boat also supports the launching of the BGM-109 "Tomahawk" land-attack cruise missile and twelve Vertical Launching Systems (VLSs) are installed. The boat can fire these while completely submerged so as to maintain its position away from enemy eyes. The "Harpoon" anti-ship missile is also another ranged option for the boat and the type can also release naval mines as needed.

The general profile of SSN-790 is consistent with the Virginia-class. The nose section is rounded for hydrodynamic efficiency and contains a sonar fit as we well as the four torpedo launch tubes. Ahead of midships is the conning tower / sail and various communications and sensors are installed on the structure. The hull is tubular and tapers at the stern where a cruciform plane arrange is featured. Aft of this is the single-shaft propeller unit which is shrouded for noise reduction. The entire boat is also optimized for stealth through various noise-reduction means. Surface-search and navigation radars are carried as well as a complete electronic warfare suite.

The Virginia-class Block III group includes USS North Dakota, USS John Warner, USS Illinois, USS Washington, USS Colorado, USS Indiana and USS Delaware. USS South Dakota and USS Delaware officially remain "under construction" as of this writing (2017). The versatility of these boats is such that it can undertake intelligence-gathering missions, support special operations forces, defend contested sea-spaces and deny strategic areas from the enemy. ©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

2018

Origin

United States

Status

COMMISSIONED
In Active Service.

Complement

134
PERSONNEL

Class

Virginia-class

Number-in-Class

18
VESSELS

Ships-in-Class

USS Virginia (SSN-774); USS Texas (SSN-775); USS Hawaii (SSN-776); USS North Carolina (SSN-777); USS New Hampshire (SSN-778); USS New Mexico (SSN-779); USS Missouri (SSN-780); USS California (SSN-781); USS Mississippi (SSN-782); USS Minnesota (SSN-783); USS North Dakota (SSN-784); USS John Warner (SSN-785); USS Illinois (SSN-786); USS Washington (SSN-787); USS Colorado (SSN-788); USS Indiana (SSN-789); USS South Dakota (SSN-790); USS Delaware (SSN-791)

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.

✓ Offshore Operation
Activities conducted near shorelines in support of allied activities.

✓ 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

377.0 ft
114.91 m

Beam

34.0 ft
10.36 m

Draught

32.0 ft
9.75 m

Displacement

7,800
tons

Installed Power: 1 x General Electric S9G nuclear reactor driving 1 x shaft.

Surface Speed

25.0 kts
(28.8 mph)

Submerged Speed

35.0 kts
(40.3 mph)

Range

Essentially Unlimited

12 x VLS (Vertical Launch System) launch tubes for BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

4 x 21" (530mm) torpedo tubes (Mk-48 torpedoes)

Naval Mines as needed.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft aerial torpedo

Graphical image of an air launched cruise missile weapon

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

None.

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Image of USS John Warner (SSN-785) used to demonstrate the soon-to-be-commissioned USS South Dakota.

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