N700036 USS SEAWOLF SSN-575

The USS Seawolf (SSN-575) was an American nuclear-powered fighter submarine (SSN), the keel of which was laid in September 1953, launched in July 1955, and entered service with the US Navy in 1957. The vessel was 103 m long, 8.5 m wide, and its underwater displacement was about 4,150 tons. In turn, the maximum underwater speed was up to 19 knots. The armament consisted of 6 bow 533 mm torpedo tubes. The USS Seawolf (SSN-575) was built at the General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, as the second nuclear powered submarine in the history of the US Navy. It is also the only submarine in the history of the US Navy to be powered by a liquid metal cooled reactor so far. By the way - a similar solution was used, for example, on Soviet Alpha class ships. Structurally, the USS Seawolf (SSN-575) was very similar to the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), but had a completely different nuclear reactor, changed the shape of the conning tower, was slightly larger and had a modified sonar system. It is also worth noting that as a result of the decision of Admiral Hyman Rickover, USS Seawolf received a water-cooled reactor in the late 1950s. It was a somewhat controversial decision that raised disputes within the US Navy. Nevertheless, the USS Seawolf (SSN-575) remained in the line until 1987.