Proposed New Submarine




The aging U.S. submarine fleet requires new construction in the coming years and design proposals foresee a transition from separate attack submarine and missile submarine fleets.

It's proposed that future submarines merge the attack boat and missile boat functions, creating a dual-purpose boat.

According to a briefing from the Navy’s Submarine Warfare Division, or N87, “this design option has been technically studied and is feasible.”

The idea would be to insert a new hull section with large missile tubes into the existing Virginia-class design. The exact number of missile tubes has yet to be agreed on, although most studies indicate four tubes would be optimal. The new section would be about 94 feet long and increase the length of the submarines, which today stretch 377 feet, by about 25 percent.

Two of the tubes, known as Virginia Payload Tubes, are being installed in the bows of Block III Virginia-class submarines, beginning with North Dakota, which is under construction. The bow VPTs are able to carry six Tomahawk cruise missiles apiece and replace 12 single-tube missile launchers of the original design. Although the VPTs are able to carry a larger variety of payloads, including vehicles and other gear, the bow location prevents dry access when the sub is submerged.

The new hull section, known as the Virginia Payload Module, would feature four in-line, 87-inch-diameter missile tubes able to carry a range of payloads, from Tomahawks — seven apiece, for a total of 28 — to other items that could be floated out. The VPM tubes are configured with access hatches and connectors to enable their use by special operations forces.

The concept continues to be studied and refined by the submarine force and its submarine builders, General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News.

Heh.