USS Haddo Submarine

1962 USS HADDO. One of the eleven-strong Thresher/Permit class of nuclear-powered attack sub marines constructed for the United States Navy during the 1960s.

THE THRESHER/PERMIT CLASS

The first boat of the class, USS Thresher, was unfortunately lost before she was actually commissioned, during diving trials, on 10 April 1963 and the sub-class officially became known as the Permits, after the first unit to be commissioned. They are perhaps best considered as an interim design, for they evolved into the much more capable Sturgeon class. USS Haddo (SSN 604) was constructed by New York Shipbuilders. Laid down on 9 September 1960, she was launched on 18 August 1962 and completed on 16 December 1964. She was deactivated on 1 October 1990 and disposed of by submarine recycling on 30 June 1 992.

ARMAMENT AND EQUIPMENT

The prime task of the Permits and Sturgeons was to hunt down and destroy enemy submarines (though they carried anti-surface shipping weapons too) and their most useful asset in that was their integrated sonar, which com prised a spherical transducer array which filled the bow space and (later) a towed array, together with associated fire-control systems. They were briefly armed with the notorious Astor Mk45 torpedo with its nuclear warhead, which had a lethal radius greater than its own range, and which guaranteed sell-destruction as a result, had it ever been employed.

TECHNICAL DATA

Type: Nuclear-powered attack submarine Machinery: 1 -shaft, 55W reactor driving 2 geared turbines delivering 15,000shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 89.1 m (292.25ft); beam, 9.7m (31.7ft)
Displacement: 4250t surfaced; 4780t submerged
Draft: 7.6m (25ft)
Complement: 99
Speed: 28 knots (51.8km/h) (submerged)