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United States SSN


Nautilus Class


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History & Modifications

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The worlds first nuclear powered ship. Although including a revolutionary powerplant, Nautilus was built with a conventional hull, to avoid too many advances in one boat.


Seawolf Class


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As liquid metal cooling was thought to provide advantaged over PWR reactors, a liquid sodium reactor was installed in the Seawolf, with a conventional hull. But constant trouble with the system meant that the reactor was soon replaced with a PWR.


Skate Class


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The Skates were the first full class of SSN. They set many underwater endurance records, but were still limited by their conventional Type XX1 style hulls.


Skipjack Class


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The Skipjacks were the first submarines to combine nuclear power with the Albacore type hull, and created set new underwater speed records not equalled in production submarines for some time.


Thresher Class


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History & Modifications

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The Thresher class were the first US submarines designed for antisubmarine operations, and featured much of the equipment developed for the Tullibee.

The class was renamed after SSN593 Permit following the loss of the Thresher.