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 USSEthan Allen | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ethan Allen class |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  United States Navy |
| Preceded by | George Washington class |
| Succeeded by | Lafayette class |
| Built | 1959–1963 |
| In commission | 1961–1992[1] |
| Completed | 5[1] |
| Retired | 5[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ballistic missile submarine |
| Displacement | Surfaced: 6,946long tons (7,057 t)Submerged: 7,884long tons (8,011 t)[2] |
| Length | 410 ft 4 in (125.07 m) |
| Beam | 33.1 ft (10.1 m) |
| Draft | 29 ft 10 in (9.09 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Test depth | 1,300 ft (400 m)[2] |
| Complement | 12 officers and 128 enlisted (two crews, "Blue" and "Gold") |
| Armament | 16Polaris A2/A3 missiles, 4 ×21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes, 12torpedoes[2] |
TheEthan Allen class of fleetballistic missile submarine was an evolutionary development from theGeorge Washington class. TheEthan Allen, together with theGeorge Washington,Lafayette,James Madison, andBenjamin Franklin classes comprised the "41 for Freedom" that were the Navy's main contribution to thenuclear deterrent force through the late 1980s.
Rather than being designed asSkipjack-class attack submarines with a missile compartment added, theEthan Allens were the first submarines designed "from the keel up" asFleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarines carrying thePolaris A-2 missile - theEthan Allen-class was the first to be designed under projectSCB 180, and theGeorge Washington-class was a subsequent design (SCB 180A) made for a quickly implemented mobilization effort.[2] They were functionally similar to theGeorge Washingtons, but longer and more streamlined and with torpedo tubes reduced to four. In the early and mid-1970s, they were upgraded to Polaris A3s. Because their missile tubes could not be modified to carry the larger diameterPoseidon missile,[3] they were not further upgraded.
To comply withSALT II treaty limitations as theOhio-class ballistic missile submarines entered service, in the early 1980s theEthan Allens were refitted and officially designatedSSNs (fast attack submarines), but often referred to as a "slow approach". Their missilefire control systems were removed and the missile tubes were filled with concrete.Sam Houston andJohn Marshall were further converted to carrySEALs or otherSpecial Operations Forces, accommodating 67 troops each withdry deck shelters to accommodateSEAL Delivery Vehicles or other equipment. TheEthan Allen-class submarines were decommissioned between 1983 and 1992.[4]All were disposed of through the nuclearShip-Submarine Recycling Program 1992–1999.
Submarines of theEthan Allen class:[1][4][5]
| Hull number | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSBN-608 | Ethan Allen | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 14 September 1959 | 22 November 1960 | 8 August 1961 | 31 March 1983 | Disposed,[a] 1999 |
| SSBN-609 | Sam Houston | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 28 December 1959 | 2 February 1961 | 6 March 1962 | 6 September 1991 | Disposed,[a] 1992 |
| SSBN-610 | Thomas A. Edison | General Dynamics Electric Boat | 15 March 1960 | 15 June 1961 | 10 March 1962 | 1 December 1983 | Disposed,[a] 1997 |
| SSBN-611 | John Marshall | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. | 4 April 1960 | 15 July 1961 | 21 May 1962 | 22 July 1992 | Disposed,[a] 1993 |
| SSBN-618 | Thomas Jefferson | 3 February 1961 | 24 February 1962 | 4 January 1963 | 24 January 1985 | Disposed,[a] 1998 | |
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.