SSN or SSKN?

[petn7]

What's the difference between a "SSN" and "SSKN" submarine? is the former an attack submarine (nuclear) while the latter is a hunter/killer (nuclear)?

[tom dougherty]

The only "official" time that

The only "official" time that the appelation SSKN was applied to a submarine was the late 1950's USS Tullibee. She was built to be a small, quiet (turbo-electric drive) hunter-killer of other submarines, a follow-on to the small diesel SSKs and the fleet boat SSK conversions. Tullibee (roughly 2200 tons displacement) was equipped with the small S2C reactor, which produced only 2500 SHP, as opposed to the contemporaneous Skipjack S5W with 15,000 SHP. Hence, she was quite a bit slower than other SSNs.

In fact, the role of SSKN was subsumed under the SSN (fast attack) role, that included both surface and subsurface attack roles. The idea of building a separate SSKN class of submarines optimized to hunt other submarines fell by the wayside.

I'm working on a new resin model of Tullibee from Yankee Modelworks right now.



Edited By Tom Dougherty on 1121133727

[petn7]

Tom,

Thanks for the reply, but

Tom,

Thanks for the reply, but I'm still a little confused. So SSKN is a specific type of SSN? SSKN is a submarine dedicated to hunt and kill other subs only? While a SSN goes after subs AND surface ships? I know you mentioned the term "SSKN" has been officially used once, but I'm sure SSK has been used alot, so I'm just trying to figure out what the "K" reall signifies

[chips]

Naval Historical Center says]Global Security's

[color=#000000]Naval Historical Center says]Global Security[/url]'s website states]



Edited By chips on 1121311113

[tom dougherty]

So, it all started in

So, it all started in the 50's, when it looked like the USSR was going to field an enormous number of Whiskey class diesel submarines. The Navy decided to build submarines specially optimized to hunt other submarines. This meant specifically, enhanced sonar systems installed in the bow. Several fleet submarines were converted and designated as SSK, and in addition, three small diesel submarines with large bow sonars were built (K-1, K-2, and K-3). The Tullibee was an attempt at a nuclear powered hunter killer, and hence was initially designated as an SSKN. With the development of the Thresher class with their large bow sonar sphere, the role of both submarine killer and surface attack submarine were joined, and the submarines designated as SSNs.

I seem to be experiencing deja vu in writing all this, as if I had written it all before......in the pages of the December 2004 SCR.

[sam reichart]

the modified fleet boat that

the modified fleet boat that resides in Buffalo, NY - the USS Croaker- I believe she was a hunter/killer- I remember when she was towed to the pier...the whole bow of that boat was truncated from the torpedo doors forward; I think it used to have a huge sonar array attached to it... SS-246??

hmmm...here's a good link for her...

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08246.htm

[maniac05]

I don't mean to be

I don't mean to be a buzzkill, but you skipped a classification. There was actually an SST class built by the US in 1953. It consisted of the USS Marlin and the USS Mackerel. They were target subs used for antisubmarine warfare training. They used diesel electric engines for propulsion and had one 21 inch torpedo tube.

Maniac05