N700078 USS TRITON SSN-586, ATTACK SUBMARINE CONFIGURATION

The USS Triton (SSRN-586) was an originally US nuclear powered radar surveillance submarine (SSRN), which was laid down in May 1956, launched in August 1958, and entered service with the US Navy in 1959. The vessel was 136.4 m long, 11 m wide, and its underwater displacement was about 7,900 tons. In turn, the maximum underwater speed was 27-28 knots. The armament consisted of 4 bow and 2 stern 533 mm torpedo tubes. USS Triton (SSRN-586) was one of the most unusual submarines in the history of the US Navy after 1945. Its uniqueness was due to several reasons. First, it was designed and built as a radar surveillance submarine - that is, it was to patrol forward approaches to its own bases or fleet teams, and to collect and transmit information to its own air and surface ships. In order to perform this unusual task, it was equipped with one of the first ever electronic scanning radar technology. Secondly, it is the only ship in the history of the US Navy to receive propulsion based on two nuclear reactors. Third, it turned out to be the first American nuclear submarine to circumnavigate the globe while submerged - along the route of Ferdinand Magellan's 1519-1522 expedition! It should be noted, however, that the uniqueness of this ship was quickly undermined when the Grumman Tracer early warning planes began to enter the equipment of US Navy aircraft carriers. In this situation, the USS Triton (SSRN-586) was adapted to the role of a hunting submarine. The unit was decommissioned as early as 1969.