HMS Courageous (50)

HMS Courageous (50) was an aircraft carrier in service with the Royal Navy between 1928 to 1939. She had begun her career as a light battlecruiser in 1916, taking part in naval engagements of the First World War. However, in 1924,  the British government decided to convert it into an aircraft carrier, along with two other battlecruisers that had also fought in this armed conflict; HMS Glorious and Furious. The main reason for the conversion of these surface warships was the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which had turned them into WW1 leftover, floating junk, as this treaty limited the fleet tonnage of the signatory countries.

During the First World War, three light battlecruisers had been built; HMS Courageous, HMS Furious, and HMS Glorious, each with four 380-mm (15-in) guns, serving with the British Grand Fleet. After the war, all three warships were put in reserve until they were converted into aircraft carriers, whose transformation would begin in 1924. In early May, 1928, Courageous was commissioned after several months of sea trials. Not only were they fitted with a flight deck and storage hangars for their aircraft, but their propulsion system was also upgraded, being fitted with four Parsons geared steam turbines, with four shafts.

As soon as she was commissioned, HMS Courageous (50) was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, which was based at Malta, where she would spend two years. From 1930 to 1938, she served with the Atlantic and Home Fleet. In 1934, she was equipped with hydraulic catapults on the upper flight deck, which was 240-m (787 ft) long. What made her look different from other carriers was her small island, which was located on the starboard side and on the forward portion of ship. Also, the flight deck did not cover the whole length of the former battlecruiser hull, whose aft section stuck out below it.

Although she rendered a good service in the inter-war years, HMS Courageous was sunk early in the war. On September 17, 1939, she was struck by two torpedoes launched by the German submarine U-29, while she was conducting anti-submarine operations in the Atlantic, off the coast of Ireland, along with two British destroyers. Several hours later, she sank into the bottom of the Atlantic. Due to the Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers she carried onboard, it was common for her to carry out anti-submarine missions. She was the first British warship to be sunk in World War II.

Specifications

Type: fleet aircraft carrier

Displacement: 27,560 tons (full load)

Length: 240 m (787 ft)

Beam: 27.6 m (90 ft)

Draft: 8.5 m (28 ft)

Power Plant: 4 Parsons geared steam turbines, with four shafts, supplied by 18 Yarrow tube boilers, producing 90,000 SHP.

Maximum Speed: 30 knots

Range: 6,500 nautical miles.

Aircraft: 48

Crew: 1,216 men

Below, aerial view of the HMS Courageous (50) before the war, in 1937.

HMS Ark Royal (91)

HMS Ark Royal (91) was a British aircraft carrier which was used by the Royal Navy during the first two years of World War II. Being the only ship of her class, she had been launched in 1937 and commissioned on December 16, 1938. She was the Royal Navy's first carrier in fifteen years, transporting on her flight deck and storage areas 26 Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers and 15 Blackburn Skua bombers as her anti-submarine and anti-ship flying artillery. Despite her impressive might, she would be sunk by a German submarine in late 1941.

During her short life, HMS Ark Royal gave excellent service to the Royal Navy, taking part in the Allied campaign against the German forces that had invaded Norway in April 1940. During this year, she provided carrier protection to British surface warships operating off the Norwegian coasts. In this theater of operations, she and HMS Glorious evacuated British and French troops from Narvik, Norway, to the United Kingdom after they had failed to liberate this Scandinavian country.

After the German invasion of France in May/June 1940, the Ark Royal (91) was assigned to the Mediterranean Theater of Operation as part of the British fleet. On November 11, 1941, she and HMS Argus launched a total of 34 Hurricane aircraft to reinforce the British garrison of Malta, which was being besieged by the Germans and Italians. On her way back to home port , and before reaching the Gibraltar Strait, she was hit by a single torpedo fired from the German U-Boat U-81 in the afternoon of November 13. The explosion tore a huge hole low down in her hull on the starboard side. In the early hours of November 14, a great amount of water had poured into the her bowels as she listed heavily to one side. She would finally sink at 06:40 hours.

Technical Characteristics

HMS Ark Royal (91) had a 240-m (800-ft) long flight deck, which was 17 m (56 ft) above the water line. She had a squared off bow and a very long stern overhang. She was fitted with two hydraulic, steam-powered catapults and three rectangular lifts, which had two platforms, with one platform operating between the lower and upper hangar and the other between the upper hangar and the flight deck. She also had a cross-deck arrester gear on the rear portion of flight deck.

Specifications

Type: aircraft carrier

Displacement: 27,700 tons (full load)

Length: 240 m (800 ft)

Beam: 28.9 m (95 ft)

Draft: 8.5 m (28 ft)

Power Plant: 3 Parsons geared steam turbines, with three shafts, fed by 6 boilers, generating 102,000-SHP.

Maximum Speed: 31 knots

Range: 7,600 nautical miles (14,100 km), sailing at 20 knots.

Aircraft: 60

Compliment: 1,580 officers and sailors

Below, the flight deck of HMS Ark Royal crowded with Fairley Swordfish aircraft in 1939.

The characteristic square bow of this British carrier.

The Ark Royal sailing on the North Sea in 1938, just before being commissioned.

USS Tullibee (SSN-597)

The USS Tullibee (SSN-597) was a nuclear attack submarine, which was in service with the US Navy from 1960 to 1988. Characterized by stealth and her small size, she was called the 'Hunter Killer', whose main mission in the Cold War was to stalk Soviet submarines cruising the world oceans. The US Navy built only one boat of this design. Although it could be lethal to enemy submarines, operationally it had a major shortcoming; it was slow (only 16 knots) for Ocean transits.

The project of the Tullibee had begun in 1957, when the need for a small, low-cost submarine with unlimited range arose. The boat was laid down in 1958 and launched on April 27, 1960. After a short period of sea trials, she was commissioned on November 9, 1960. Her crew numbered six officers and fifty enlisted men. Her first skipper was Commander Richard E. Jortberg. The building of additional boat of this type would not be undertaken as the US Navy would come to the conclusion that it was more sensible to produce more Thresher class submarines, because these were more versatile and faster.

Technical Characteristics

The USS Tullibee (SSN-597) was a small and compact submarine. She was only 83 m (273 ft) in length and her displacement was 2,255 tons. Her hull was built with HTS (High Tensile Steel) and not with the higher quality steel HY-80 used in other subs; this technical detail limited her test depth to 215 m (700 feet). She was powered by one S2C pressurized water reactor, which supplied a turbo-electric drive with a single propeller shaft. This reactor was way smaller than the S5W employed in the Thresher class subs.

The Tullibee was equipped with one AN/BQQ-1 sonar system as well as four angled torpedo tubes. The BQQ-1 was the US Navy's first integrated sonar system, which was consisted of the AN/BQR-7 low-frequency, passive array sonar and the AN/BQS-6 spherical active sonar. The BQR-7 was composed in turn of a triple row of hydrophones. This equipment was mounted in the hull of submarine.

Specifications

Type: nuclear attack submarine.

Displacement: 2,255 tons (surfaced); 2,600 tons (submerged).

Length: 83.16 m (273 ft)

Beam: 7.19 m (23 ft, 7 in)

Draft: 6.4 m (21 ft)

Power Plant: one S2C nuclear reactor; one electric motor, driving one propeller shaft.

Maximum Speed: 16 knots (submerged); 13 knots (surfaced).

Range: unlimited (needed to be resupplied with food every other 70 days).

Crew: 56 sailors and officers.

Armament: four 533-mm torpedo tubes.

Below, the SSN-597 Tullibee cruising in the Pacific Ocean in early October 1960 during sea trials. Notice the two dorsal fins, one forward and the other aft, which were part of her PUFFS fire control system.

USS Thresher (SSN-593)

The USS Thresher (SSN-593) was an American fast attack submarine, which was powered by one S5W nuclear reactor. She sank by implosion during deep-diving tests on April 10, 1963, off the coast of Massachusetts, killing 129 officers and sailors. Extremely quiet, she had been designed to hunt Soviet submarines during the Cold War.

The USS Thresher had been launched on July 9, 1960, and commissioned on August 3, 1961. Built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, she was the lead submarine of her class of 14 boats. The other subs were Permit (SSN-594), Plunger (SSN-595), Barb (SSN-596), Pollack (SSN-603), Haddo (SSN-604), Guardfish (SSN-612), Flasher (SSN-613), Greenling (SSN-614), Gato (SSN-615), Haddock (SSN-621).

Below, the Thresher on sea trials in July 1961. It had a better hardened hull against explosive shock and introduced new sensors.

Technical Description

The design of USS Thresher (SSN-593) featured major advantages in five vital areas: depth, quieting, sonar, shock hardening, and weapons. She had a greater operating depth than her predecessors of the Skipjack class. Her pressure hull was made of HY-80 steel. Although it was the same type of steel used to produce the Skipjack submarines, to build the Thresher, the American engineers used improved welding techniques and piping, giving her a test depth of 400 m (700 feet).

To reduce the coolant piping and turbine noises, the sub machinery was isolated from the hull using a technique called "rafting", which the Royal Navy had developed for the Ton-class minesweeper. This arrangement decreased the sound transmission through the hull into the sea water. Thus, the twin steam turbines and related gearing were set up on a sound-isolating raft, not directly attached to the hull.

The most advanced electronic feature of the USS Thresher was her AN/BQQ-2 sonar system, which replaced the old BQR-2 and BQR-4 passive sonars. The BQQ-2 revolved around a 15-foot diameter sphere which was fitted with 1,241 hydrophones. Thus, it was capable of greater passive detection than older types of sonars as it could distinguish target noise from own ship and background sea noises. It also had an active acoustic pinging component.

Specifications

Type: attack nuclear submarine

Displacement: 4,369 tons (submerged), 3,810 tons (surfaced)

Length: 84.86 m (278 feet, 5 inches)

Beam: 9.63 m (31 feet, 7 inches)

Draft: 7.67 m (25 feet, 2 inches)

Propulsion: one pressurized water reactor S5W, which produced 11 MGW, with two steam turbines and one shaft, which generated 15,000 SHP.

Maximum Speed: 28 knots (submerged), 15 knots (surfaced).

Range: unlimited propulsion; food supplies for up to 90 days.

Compliment: 113 sailors and officers.

Armament: four 533-mm torpedo tubes, eighteen Mk-37 torpedoes.

Below, the AN/BQQ-2 sonar, the most advanced sonar of the time.

Front view of the SSN-593 on September 20, 1961.

Charlie Class Submarine

A Charlie class submarine (Project 670 Skat) was one of a series of seventeen Soviet, cruise missile submarines, which were powered by one nuclear reactor. The first boat of the class, the K-43, was launched in 1966 and commissioned in 1967. She was the world's first submarine with an underwater-launch cruise missile capability. The last one, the K-209, entered service in 1980. All boats were built at the State-run Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard No. 112 (Gorkiy) on the Volga River.

The last six boats of the series were improved subs and they were designated Project 670M by the Soviet Navy. NATO called them "Charlie II class". They were built from 1973 and 1980. The upgrade included a longer hull for the incorporation of electronic equipment and a new launch system to be able to use the P-120 Malakhit anti-ship missile, thus posing a major threat to NATO warships. All seventeen boats of the class were phased out from 1990 to 1994.

A Charlie class submarine cruising in the South China Sea in 1974.

Technical Description

The Project 670 submarine was developed and built exclusively as a cruise missile boat. She had a streamlined, double-hull design, which consisted of seven compartments. The inner and the outer hull were made of steel. The sail was of aluminum construction to save weight. The eight missile tubes were built in the bow section between the inner and outer hull, with four on each side; they lay slantingly, with a 32 degrees angle of inclination. The six torpedo tubes, on the other hand, were horizontally arranged; four 533-mm, and two 400-mm in diameter.

Compared to other cruise missile submarine designs, the Charlie class was a relatively smaller and compact boat. However, the Project 670M was 8 m (26 feet, 3 inches) longer. She was powered by one pressurized, water-cooled VM-4 nuclear reactor. Her OK-350 steam turbine generated 18,800 horsepower to drive a single shaft propeller. She had a test depth of 350 m (1,150 feet) and could sail at the maximum speed of 26 knots (submerged).

Specification

Type: nuclear-powered, cruise missile submarine.

Displacement: 4,900 tons (submerged); 4,300 tons (surfaced).

Length:  95 m (312 feet); Charlie II: 103 m (338 feet)

Beam: 10 m (32 feet, 10 inches)

Draft: 8 m (26 feet, 3 inches)

Propulsion: one VM-4 nuclear reactor; one OK-350 steam turbine, with one shaft.

Maximum Speed: 26 knots (submerged); 20 knots (surfaced.

Range: unlimited, but she had to moor after 80 days for food supply.

Crew: 100 sailors and officers.

Armament: 8 P-70 Amethyst anti-ship, cruise missiles; Charlie II: 8 P-120 Malhkit anti-ship missiles. Six torpedo tubes.

Below, a Charlie II class submarine (Project 670M) sailing in the Atlantic Ocean in 1984.

November Class Submarine

The November class submarine (Project 627) was the first nuclear-propelled submarine design of the Soviet Union. The first boat of the series was the K-3, which was commissioned in 1959, three and half years after the USS Nautilus. However, the design of these attack submarines had begun in 1952, under Vladimir N. Peregudov, at the Research Institute of Chemical Machine-Building, which would build the nuclear reactor for the Project 627 led by physicist N. A. Dollazhal.

The November class submarine was the first nuclear-powered boat to have a torpedo-shaped hull in naval history, since the USS Nautilus had a modified Type-XXI configuration. Vladimir Peregudov asserted that the submarine should resemble a torpedo in shape to fully exploit the power of her reactors. However, this new design in Soviet Navy was based on the USS Albacore (AGSS-569), which was a diesel-electric research submarine. According to Russian engineers, the Soviets had obtained details of the American submarine from a magazine photos.

Below, aerial view of the K-8, a Project 627A sub. Here, it was already in trouble off the coast of Spain in 1970. She would sink soon after this photo was taken. You can see her forward diving planes on the bow section are extended.

The first submarine of the series, the K-3, had been launched on August 9, 1957. She had gone to sea for the first time on July 4, 1958. Due to safety concerns, her nuclear twin reactor power plant first operated at only 60% until the completion of the test runs, reaching a speed of 23.3 knots. Later, her maximum speed would be 30 knots. Until then, the Project 627 was highly secret, with the last sub being retired in 1990.

Technical Description

The Project 627 submarine had a torpedo-shaped, double-hull configuration, with a reserve buoyancy of 30%, roughly twice that of the Nautilus, and internal pressure bulkheads. Internally, the November class submarine contained nine compartments (three more than the Nautilus): torpedo (bow); battery/crew; officers; reactor; turbine; two machinery compartments, and the stern compartment. The reactor compartment was located amidships and was fitted with two VM-A reactors, each supplying 70 megawatts thermal power.

The Project 627 boat was also equipped with electric motors for quiet low-speed operation, and in an emergency, they could drive her at 8 knots. Her inner pressure hull was built with the new AK-25 high-tensile steel, which provided the boat increased test depth. Thus, she would have a test depth of 300 m (985 feet), deeper than US Navy's contemporary submarines. The AK-25 steel had first been used in the Project 641/Foxtrot class submarine.

A coating of classified special material was applied to the inner hull to absorb own ship machinery noise to reduce the acoustic signature of the boat. Nevertheless, her noise levels increased at higher speeds. Although the first generation of Soviet nuclear attack submarines had a good speed quality and atomic installation two times more powerful than the US Navy's submarines, they significantly lacked in stealth at maximum speed.

Specifications (Project 627A)

Type: nuclear attack submarine

Displacement: 3,118 tons (surfaced); 4,750 tons (submerged)

Length: 107.4 m (351 feet)

Beam: 7.9 m (26 feet)

Draft: 6.4 m (20 feet)

Propulsion: two VM-A water-cooled reactors, producing 70 megawatts.

Maximum Speed: 30 knots (submerged); 15 knots (surfaced)

Range: 20 years, but limited to 70 days for food supplies.

Armament: eight 533-mm torpedo tubes, with 20 SET-65 torpedoes.

Below, the K-3 November class submarine. The photo was taken in 1964.

Victor Class Submarine

A Victor class submarine (Project 671) is one of a series of nuclear attack submarines developed and built by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. With the first one being commissioned in 1967, a total of 48 subs were produced in three variants; Victor I, II, and III. Today 3 of them still remain in active service with the Russian Navy. When it was introduced, it was the first Soviet attack boat featuring a single-propeller shaft.

Technical Characteristics

Made of AK-29 steel, the Project 671 submarine has a double-hull configuration. The pressure hull comprises seven compartments: torpedo/berthing/battery; command center; reactor; turbine; auxiliary equipment; berthing and diesel generators; and electric motors. The ballast tanks are located along her sides, between outer and inner hull, as well as in forward and aft. The Soviet AK-29 steel is the equivalent to the American HY-100 steel, which has a high yield and high impact strength used in marine defense. This extremely hard steel enables the Victor class submarine to submerge to a maximum depth of 450 m (about 1,400 feet).

In order to reduce self-generated noise, the Project 671 is fitted with limber hole covers, which close automatically the deeper it sails. Thus, they reduce flow noise over the hull. The versions Victor II and III (Project 671RT and 671RTM respectively) have anechoic (anti-sonar) coating on the outer hull, and dampening coating on the inner hull. The purpose of the dampening coating is to reduce the transmission of machinery noises.

The Project 671 is powered by a twin VM-4P pressurized-water nuclear reactor, and twin OK-300 turbine. The submarine was designed with a streamlined sail, which has contributed to her excellent underwater performance. The first version, the Victor I, had a two-reactor plant, with a single steam turbine rated at 31,000 shaft horsepower. The single propeller is situated 4.5 m (15 feet) aft of the stern control surfaces.

Below, a Victor III (Project 671RTM) submarine in 1983. You can see the large sonar array pod on top of her vertical fin. Her electronic surveillance mast is raised.

Armament

The Victor class submarine features six bow torpedo tubes; four 533-mm tubes, and two 650-mm tubes to launch the VA-111 Shkval and the Type-65 torpedo as well as the SS-N-16 Stallion anti-submarine missiles. The VA-111 Shkval is a fast and lethal supercavitating torpedo, which can travel underwater at 225 knots, which means more than 380 km/h (305 mph).

Specifications

Type: nuclear-powered attack submarine

Displacement: 7,250 tons (submerged); 6,990 tons (surfaced).

Length: 102 m (334 feet)

Beam: 10 m (32 feet, 10 inches)

Draft: 7 m (23 feet)

Propulsion System: a twin VM-4P nuclear reactor; two OK-300 turbines.

Maximum Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h - 37 mph)

Range: limitless but must moor after 90 days for food supply.

Radar:  one MRK-50 Albatros; Skat sonar system

Crew: 37 men

Below, a Victor II (Project 671RT) at sea in 1980.