USS Narwhal (SSN-671)

The USS Narwhal (SSN -671 ) was a nuclear submarine of the United States Navy. She was the 100th atomic submarine of the United States and a test vessel for reactor technology, the doctrine of the Navy following but fully operational and regularly misplacing. It was named for the narwhal.

Technology

The Narwhal belong to any class of ship, but was built specifically to test a new type of reactor. The design is based on the principle, but the Sturgeon class. The Narwhal However, due to the reactor over 95 meters in length and 5350 standard tons displacement longer and heavier than the latter.

The reactor of the Narwhal was the type S5G, that he had been designed for submarines (S ), belonged to the fifth generation in the reactor core (5) and was manufactured by General Electric (G). The special feature of this type was the first use of natural convection to transport the reactor coolant through the circuit. Since thus the circulation pumps could be switched off at low and medium speeds, generated this type less noise, which could be perceived by enemy boats. The S5G remained a prototype, next to the Narwhal operation only the Idaho National Laboratory, a further such a reactor. However, it led to the development of S8G, which was used on the boats of the Ohio class.

The rest of the equipment of the boat was not significantly different from that of the Sturgeon: You also had four torpedo tubes in the bow, from which they could fire Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes or UUC -44 Subroc and UGM -84 Harpoon and UGM -109 Tomahawk. Next, the sonar systems were the same: The BQQ -2 was used, later upgraded to BQQ -5.

At an unknown date after 1990, referred to as turtleback (English for turtles hump ) structure was installed on the rear deck of the Narwhal. Its purpose is not officially known. See speculation in him a hangar for an underwater vehicle that could be used in espionage operations. A simpler explanation would be the testing of a new trawl sonar, the model TB -23 time is in question with a BQQ - 5D sonar head.

History

Narwhal was commissioned in mid 1964 and early 1966 set at Electric Boat in Kiel. In September 1967, the boat was launched, in July 1969 was followed by the official commissioning ceremony. The shipyard costs for the boat were U.S. $ 47.8 million.

The submarine remained around 30 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy and received several awards, including a Navy Unit Commendation, three Meritorious Unit Commendations and five Battle It for excellent commitment.

In early 1999, finally followed by the deactivation of the boat at Newport News Shipbuilding, July 1, the Narwhal was officially decommissioned. Originally, the boat should be scrapped in the Ship- Submarine Recycling Program from 2001 in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. A contemplated refurbishment as a museum ship was wrecked in the financing.

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