USS Hammerhead Submarine

1962 USS HAMMERHEAD. A member of the highly successful Sturgeon class
of nuclear-powered attack submarines, construction of which spanned a 14-year period from the early 1 960s to the 1970s.

THE THRESHER/PERMIT AND STURGEON CLASSES

These two classes were essentially similar. The first boat of all, USS Thresher, was unfortunately lost during diving trials, on 10 April 1963, before she was commissioned, and the sub-class officially became known as the Permits, after the first unit to go into service. While the vessels were still in construction, it was decided to lengthen them to enable mounting of an advanced sonar system, and the result was the 42 boat-strong Sturgeon class. USS Hammerhead (SSN 663), the 18th unit of the class, was built at Newport News, being laid down on 29 November 1965, launched on 14 April 1967 and commissioned on 28 June 1967. She was deactivated on 31 December 1993, decommissioned on 1 October 1994 and disposed of by submarine recycling on 22 November 1995.

BUILT TO HUNT SUBMARINES

The prime task of the Permi 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 self-destruction had it ever been employed.

TECHNICAL DATA

Type: Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Machinery: 1-shaft, S5W reactor driving 2 geared turbines producing 15,000shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 89. (292.2ft); beam, 9.7m (31.71t)
Displacement: 4250t surfaced; 4780t submerged
Draught: 7.6m (25ft}
Complement: 99