N700041 USS BARBEL CLASS SUBMARINE

Barbel-class units were American classic diesel-electric fighter submarines that were built and launched between 1956 and 1959. In total, 3 ships of this class were built. A single vessel of this type was 66.8 m long and 8.8 m wide at the time of launching, with an underwater displacement of approximately 2,700 tons. The maximum underwater speed was 18-19 knots. The armament consisted of 6 bow 533 mm torpedo tubes with a torpedo reserve of 16. Barbel submarines were constructed on the basis of the hull in the so-called teardrop shape (Albacore type), which gave them significantly better maneuverability and good underwater speed for those times for ships with classic propulsion. They also received a very modern combat center for those times, and their hull was constructed of HY80 steel with increased strength, which allowed them to submerge at least 180-200 meters. In general, the general assumptions and many design solutions used in this class turned out to be very successful. To some extent, ships of this class had an impact on such structures as the Dutch Zwaardvis class or the Japanese Uzushio class. It is also worth mentioning that the Barbel type units turned out to be the last class-propelled submarines built for the US Navy so far (2022). With their withdrawal from the line at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, the US Navy operated only nuclear powered submarines.