Seawolf SSN 575

[tom dougherty]

OK, got a request. A new model manufacturer (that has done outstanding work to date) is planning a resin model of the Seawolf (SSN 575) in her 1950's configuration. All I have are the old Wisweisser plans, which are known to be a bit sketchy. Does anyone have or have any ideas as to a source for the 575 plans?
Thanks!

[thor]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Tom,

I have some stuff on 575, but it is all crap to be honest with you. She is a subject I want to do for a personal model and have been looking for years! Information on that boat is as hard to find as turtle fur....

Matt

[tom dougherty]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Thanks, Matt! Yeah, I've been on an eight year quest for this information, along with a a number of other people who build models. Really, all we need are some decent external drawings and cross sections, but those seem impossible to come by for this boat.

I do note that the Russian firm OKB Grigorov has modeled Seawolf in 1/700 scale in both the original as built and the later Special Operations version. The question is do they have some source we don't know about, or are they just eyeballing it?

[Rogue Sub]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

I made a trip to the libraries at the Groton sub base museum with no luck. I have also scoured a certain ship yards intra net records for clues and found nothing. I also searched a certain laboratories intra net with no data yield. This boat and the 571 are very difficult to get info on. Perhaps due to the nature of their experimental reactors. Now add that with the conversion to spook ops and its a hard boat. Good luck finding someone to prove you wrong if you take any artistic liberties.

[tom dougherty]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Thanks, Kevin. Yeah, it is tough to find. We are after the original configuration (built with the liquid sodium reactor). I can understand the Spec Ops "stretch" version still being under wraps, but the original build was almost 60 years ago. Also we just need external drawings, not any interior configurations.

Interesting in that a Russian resin model company, OKB Grigorov has 1/700 scale (too small for my eyes) of Seawolf, the Special Operations version of Seawolf, and the stretch version of Parche. I have no idea whether they are just doing "by guess and by golly" on these models, but I would really be pissed if a Russian firm has obtained drawings that we can't seem to rustle up. Note: NOT pissed at OKB Grigorov itself, but rather that they could find someone to give them something we can't seem to obtain.

[Rogue Sub]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

It wouldn't surprise me if the Russians "obtained" drawings of the boat to help kick start their nuclear endeavors. I have found that with most of the original nuke boats most of the info was destroyed or shipped to the national archives. I was surprised how hard it was to find info on the 571 considering you can go walk on it and it goes into dry dock at EB about every 5 years. You would think something was out there. I got luck with 571 because I had a friend stationed on it for museum duty and he saw some repair paperwork and thought of me. I think the only chance on 575 is to find a sailor that squirreled some info away or contact the national maritime and ask permission to visit, they definitely have info their. The question is will they let you look at it.

60yrs doesn't matter by the way. The 571 is set up for museum tours but you still can't go back there. It's not an exposure concern anymore either.(at least that you could access)

[tom dougherty]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Thanks, Kevin! I am working some angles to see what I can scare up. Actually the first few pages of an old TAB book would be perfect! Someone has told me that the 575 plans are in Archives II in College Park, but still not declassified. I have not been able to confirm that as of yet.

The 571 is set up for museum tours but you still can't go back there. It's not an exposure concern anymore either.(at least that you could access)

Yeah, God forbid we see a steam turbine plant on a submarine that has not moved under its own power in 35 years. Maybe I shouldn't have even mentioned they use steam...

[Rogue Sub]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Actually once you go past the bulkhead door at the crews mess (the turn around point of the tour) it dumps you right into the reactor compartment upper level, staring right at the control rod drive motor assembly and housing. The poor fellow that used to stand watch up there used to get 5 Rem a year from what I have heard. For anyone that doesnt know, that is a lot of exposure. I spent most my time sitting infront of the secondary shield while under way and only got .197 Rem life time exposure.

Wish I could have poked my nose around the 575. So many interesting things to see I am sure!

[tom dougherty]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

5 REM! Wow, when we use isotopes they get freaked if we go over 100 mREM per year over background.
Are you sure you don't mean that the bulkhead door in the aft end of the upper control room led into the reactor upper compartment? IIRC, the mess is forward and in the lower level of the two level control room, and there is a hatch (which I always assumed led to the upper level tunnel are the aft end of the upper level of control (I think sonar and radio are back in that corner as well).

[Rogue Sub]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Yeah your right...brain fart! It has been over a year since I went back there. Will likely never get to again

[seawolfsailor]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Morning, I was on the seawolf ( ssn 575) from 1980 -85 and made a run on the parche ( ssn 683 ) during this same time period. I do have some pictures and may be able to answer some questions.

[thor]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Tom,

Any luck with drawings with information on this boat?

Matt

[tom dougherty]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Working on it.

[nino]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

Re:Seawolf Plans. I am Trying to make a Seawolf SSN 575 out of an old Aurora kit. I have not decided on whether to use original plan or the special projects conversion as I have no detail info only Pic's and some Internet info . The available information indicates a length of 338' as completed vs 350' Special Projects. Although I understood a 52' section was added forward of the sail, would this have displaced other segments ( no torpedo room?) in order to only be 350' rather then 338+52= 390'? Just wondering if anyone has some plans on either version or some advice ( Buy a OKB kit and measure....?) Thanks.

[seawolfsailor]

Re: Seawolf SSN 575

52 feet was added forward of crews mess. The hull was cut forward of the water tight bulkhead and the forward section was dragged forward on rails. This included the torpedo room and forward berthing. The projects plug was inserted and welded up to the aft section then the torpedo room was dragged back and welded up.

you will see several reference ( correct and incorrect ) to the complete total length on the internet. in several side shots after the conversion you can see were the curvature changes were the project section was inserted. some equipment in the torpedo room was installed making a couple torpedo tubes useless, they used them for cold storage during long missions

the difference between ssn571 and ssn575 was mostly forward of reactor compartment. the 575 had a conning tower were the 571 did not. the attack center and wardroom area were different but the torpedo rooms were pretty close.

the aurora ssn575 model is just a ssn571 model relabeled.

the 52 " project section was a constant diameter part. if you were to take a cross section of the hull at the crews mess bulkhead and make it 52 ft in length it would not change in size or shape. this was so it could weld up to the torpedo room.

NOTE !!!!! this is copied from several sources on the net. I have not released any info that is not already public knowledge. ( covering my ass )
here is a photo of the section being installed

http://i0.wp.com/www.defensemedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/USS-Seawolf4.jpg