350-036 USS ALBACORE (AGSS-569)

USS Albacore (AGSS-569) is an American experimental diesel-electric submarine from the Cold War period. The keel for this unit was laid in 1952, the launch took place in August 1953, and commissioning took place in December of the same year. The length of the ship was 62.14 m, width 8.31 m, and the underwater displacement - approx. 1,800 tons. The maximum underwater speed was over 30 knots. The ship did not have any on-board weapons. The USS Albacore was built as a kind of submarine laboratory of the US Navy, on which various hydrodynamic properties of the submarine were tested. The shape of the hull of this unit turned out to be the most revolutionary, known as the drop hull or the Albacore hull. It differed radically from the shape of the hulls used during World War II, and at the same time it turned out to be very advantageous in terms of hydrodynamics and allowed for the development of previously unattainable underwater speeds of 30 knots and more! It turned out to be a direct inspiration for Skipjack-class units and clearly influenced many later American fighter submarines. Various stern and bow rudder systems as well as various swim control systems were also tested on the USS Albacore. This revolutionary ship has been serving as a museum since 1984.