The ''Lafayette'' class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the of

fleet ballistic missile submarine A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarines became a major weapon system in the Cold War because of their nuclear deterrence capabi ...

, slightly larger and generally improved. This class, together with the , , , and classes, composed the "

41 for Freedom 41 for Freedom refers to the US Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarines from the , , , , and es. All of these submarines were commissioned 1959–1967, as the goal was to create a credible, survivable sea-based deterrence theory, deterrent ...

," the Navy's primary contribution to the

nuclear deterrent Nuclear strategy involves the development of doctrines and strategies for the production and use of nuclear weapons. As a sub-branch of military strategy, nuclear strategy attempts to match nuclear weapons as means to political ends. In addit ...

force through the late 1980s. The ''James Madison'' and ''Benjamin Franklin'' classes are combined with the ''Lafayette''s in some references.

Design

The first eight submarines initially deployed with the Polaris A-2 missile, later being refitted with the longer ranged Polaris A-3, with having the A-3 missile from the start.Polmar 1981, p.21. In the mid-1970s all were upgraded to carry the Poseidon C3 missile; their missile tubes were slightly larger than the ''Ethan Allen'' and ''George Washington'' classes and Poseidon was designed to take advantage of this. Unlike twelve of the similar ''James Madison'' and ''Benjamin Franklin'' classes, none of the ''Lafayette''-class submarines were refitted with Trident I (C4) missiles. The ''Lafayette''s and their successors were equipped with a hovering system to manage trim more effectively when firing missiles; this increased the missile rate of fire from one per minute to four per minute. ''Daniel Webster'' was originally built with

diving plane Diving planes, also known as hydroplanes, are control surfaces found on a submarine which allow the vessel to Pitch (flight), pitch its bow and stern up or down to assist in the process of submerging or surfacing the boat, as well as controlling ...

s mounted on a "mini-sail" near the bow, leading to her nickname "Old Funny Fins". This configuration, unique to US submarines, was an attempt to reduce the effect of porpoising. While successful, the "mini-sail" required to contain the operating mechanism reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her overall speed. During a mid-1970s overhaul these unusual planes were removed and standard fairwater planes were installed. Here is a rar
1964 16mm Silent Film
of USS Daniel Webster testing the unique "Funny Fins" diving planes off Cape Canaveral.

Fate

The ''Lafayette''s were decommissioned between 1986 and 1992, due to a combination of

SALT II The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were two rounds of bilateral conferences and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War superpowers dealt with arms control in two rounds of ...

treaty limitations as the SSBNs entered service, age, and the

collapse of the Soviet Union The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Declaration No. 142-Н of ...

. One (''Daniel Webster'') remains out of commission but converted to a Moored Training Ship (MTS-626) with the missile compartment removed. She is stationed at Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston,

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

, along with and .

Boats in class

Submarines of the ''Lafayette'' class:Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p.612. California Center for Military History (dead link 2015-05-05)

References

Bibliography

*Gardiner, Robert and Chumbley, Stephen (editors). ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995''. Annapolis, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. . *Polmar, Norman. ''The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Twelfth Edition''. London:Arms and Armour Press, 1981. .
US Naval Vessel Register - List of SSBN BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE (NUCLEAR-POWERED) Class vessels
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lafayette Class Submarine Submarine classes Lafayette class

Design

Fate

Boats in class

See also

References

Bibliography