SSK was the United States Navyhull classification symbol for a diesel-electric submarine specialized for anti-submarine duties. SS indicated that the vessel was a submarine, and the K suffix that it was a hunter-killer. The United States Navy does not currently operate any submarines of this type, and so the designation is inactive.[1]
The start of the Cold War in the mid-1940s and the threat of Soviet submarines in the Atlantic led several Western navies to build or adapt submarines to specialize in hunting other submarines. The changes included streamlining to make them quieter and improved acoustic sensors. This type of vessel was given the classification SSK in United States service. Due to tactical and financial considerations resulting from nuclear propulsion these changes were eventually incorporated into all submarines, allowing the SSK role to be subsumed into the regular attack submarine role and the classification became obsolete.
These were small submarines equipped with enhanced hydrophones and designed to lie in wait for Soviet submarines off the Russian coast. They were designed to be cheaply built for easy mass-production in the event of a war, and were all reclassified as SS or SST boats in 1959 when they were relegated to training duties.
Seven World War IIGato-class submarines were also given the SSK classification in the late 1940s following streamlining and sensor upgrades. These were:
For a brief period in the 1950s the US Navy listed the SSKN as a valid hull classification, because it was thought that a small relatively low-cost nuclear SSK would be needed given the high cost of the nuclear attack submarines. The USS Tullibee(SSN-597) was slated to become the first SSKN. However, during her construction it became apparent that it was impossible to build a low-cost nuclear SSK. It was decided to launch Tullibee with the SSN hull classification and retire the unused SSKN classification.[2]
^For example in "SSK Kilo Class (Type 636) Attack Submarine, Russia". SPG Media Limited. and Ted Parsons (20 September 2010). "Mystery Chinese SSK fuels Asia's submarine race". IHS Global Limited.
hull, classification, symbol, united, states, navy, hull, classification, symbol, diesel, electric, submarine, specialized, anti, submarine, duties, indicated, that, vessel, submarine, suffix, that, hunter, killer, united, states, navy, does, currently, operat. SSK was the United States Navy hull classification symbol for a diesel electric submarine specialized for anti submarine duties SS indicated that the vessel was a submarine and the K suffix that it was a hunter killer The United States Navy does not currently operate any submarines of this type and so the designation is inactive 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Barracuda class construction 1 2 Gato class conversions 1 3 SSKN 2 Current uses 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 SourcesHistory editThe start of the Cold War in the mid 1940s and the threat of Soviet submarines in the Atlantic led several Western navies to build or adapt submarines to specialize in hunting other submarines The changes included streamlining to make them quieter and improved acoustic sensors This type of vessel was given the classification SSK in United States service Due to tactical and financial considerations resulting from nuclear propulsion these changes were eventually incorporated into all submarines allowing the SSK role to be subsumed into the regular attack submarine role and the classification became obsolete Further information Attack submarine Beginnings of a separate hunter killer submarine type SSK Further information Attack submarine End of the U S conventional hunter killers SSK Barracuda class construction edit nbsp USS Bass SSK 2 The only purpose built ones were the three Barracuda class USS Barracuda SSK 1 USS Bass SSK 2 USS Bonita SSK 3 These were small submarines equipped with enhanced hydrophones and designed to lie in wait for Soviet submarines off the Russian coast They were designed to be cheaply built for easy mass production in the event of a war and were all reclassified as SS or SST boats in 1959 when they were relegated to training duties Gato class conversions edit Main article Gato class submarine Hunter killer nbsp USS Bluegill SSK 242 Seven World War II Gato class submarines were also given the SSK classification in the late 1940s following streamlining and sensor upgrades These were USS Grouper SSK 214 USS Angler SSK 240 USS Bashaw SSK 241 USS Bluegill SSK 242 USS Bream SSK 243 USS Cavalla SSK 244 USS Croaker SSK 246 SSKN edit nbsp USS Tullibee SSN 597 For a brief period in the 1950s the US Navy listed the SSKN as a valid hull classification because it was thought that a small relatively low cost nuclear SSK would be needed given the high cost of the nuclear attack submarines The USS Tullibee SSN 597 was slated to become the first SSKN However during her construction it became apparent that it was impossible to build a low cost nuclear SSK It was decided to launch Tullibee with the SSN hull classification and retire the unused SSKN classification 2 Further information Attack submarine Failure to develop a U S nuclear hunter killer SSKN Current uses edit nbsp HMCS Victoria SSK 876 The Royal Canadian Navy operates diesel electric hunter killer submarines and uses this hull classification for example the Canadian HMCS Victoria SSK 876 The term SSK term is sometimes currently used to indicate a diesel electric patrol submarine 3 See also editAttack submarine SubmarineReferences editCitations edit United States Navy Inactive Classification Symbols Naval Vessel Register Archived from the original on 2012 01 18 Friedman 1994 pp 134 138 For example in SSK Kilo Class Type 636 Attack Submarine Russia SPG Media Limited and Ted Parsons 20 September 2010 Mystery Chinese SSK fuels Asia s submarine race IHS Global Limited Sources edit Friedman Norman 1994 U S Submarines Since 1945 An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland United States Naval Institute ISBN 1 55750 260 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SSK hull classification symbol amp oldid 1172534806 SSKN, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
