The Lafayette class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the Ethan Allen class of fleet ballistic missile submarine , slightly larger and generally improved. This class, together with the George Washington , Ethan Allen , James Madison , and Benjamin Franklin classes, composed the " 41 for Freedom ," the Navy's primary contribution to the nuclear deterrent force through the late 1980s. The James Madison and Benjamin Franklin classes are combined with the Lafayette s in some references.
15-581: USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) , a Lafayette -class ballistic missile submarine (FBM), was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Senator Daniel Webster . The contract to build Daniel Webster was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut , on 3 February 1961 and her keel was laid down there on 28 December 1961. She
30-616: A moored training ship (MTS) and S5W reactor prototype training facility, by the Charleston Naval Shipyard at Charleston, South Carolina . Upon completion and designated MTS-626, she was towed up-river to her permanent berth at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston. [REDACTED] This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register , which, as
45-608: A U.S. government publication, is in the public domain . The entry can be found here . Lafayette-class submarine The first eight submarines initially deployed with the Polaris A-2 missile, later being refitted with the longer ranged Polaris A-3, with USS Daniel Webster having the A-3 missile from the start. In the mid-1970s all were upgraded to carry the Poseidon C3 missile ; their missile tubes were slightly larger than
60-444: A mid-1970s overhaul these unusual planes were removed and standard fairwater planes were installed. Here is a rare 1964 16mm Silent Film of USS Daniel Webster testing the unique "Funny Fins" diving planes off Cape Canaveral. The Lafayette s were decommissioned between 1986 and 1992, due to a combination of SALT II treaty limitations as the Ohio class SSBNs entered service, age, and
75-501: Is a rare 1964 16mm Silent Film of USS Daniel Webster bow planes tests off Cape Canaveral also showing crew and port. While in service, Daniel Webster was the last Lafayette -class submarine to be retrofitted to carry UGM-73 Poseidon missiles. Patrol history includes: Patrol 50 (Gold Crew) July, 1982 from Holy Loch, port calls Groton, CT, and Kings Bay, GA; Patrol 52 Feb 1983 ERP Holy Loch; Patrol 56 March 1984 from Holy Loch, port call Naples, Italy; port call Groton, CT in transit to
90-401: Is the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat , the point that is usually most forward when the vessel is underway. The aft end of the boat is the stern . Prow may be used as a synonym for bow or it may mean the forward-most part of the bow above the waterline. A ship's bow should be designed to enable the hull to pass efficiently through the water. Bow shapes vary according to
105-569: The Ethan Allen and George Washington classes and Poseidon was designed to take advantage of this. Unlike twelve of the similar James Madison and Benjamin Franklin classes, none of the Lafayette -class submarines were refitted with Trident I (C4) missiles. The Lafayette s and their successors were equipped with a hovering system to manage trim more effectively when firing missiles; this increased
120-407: The bow , leading to her nickname "Old Funny Fins". This configuration, unique to US submarines, was an attempt to reduce the effect of porpoising . While successful, the "mini-sail" required to contain the operating mechanism reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her overall speed. During a mid-1970s overhaul, these unusual planes were removed and standard fairwater planes were installed. Here
135-463: The collapse of the Soviet Union . One ( Daniel Webster ) remains out of commission but converted to a Moored Training Ship (MTS-626) with the missile compartment removed. She is stationed at Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston , South Carolina , along with USS La Jolla and USS San Francisco . Submarines of the Lafayette class: Bow (ship) The bow ( / b aʊ / )
150-530: The Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, SC, March 1985; ERP Charleston, April 1985; Patrol 60 June 1985; Patrol 66 (Gold Crew) December 1986 - March 1987; port call Naples, Italy, March 1987; Patrol 68 June 1987 from Holy Loch, port call November 1987 Lisbon, Portugal. Daniel Webster was decommissioned on 30 August 1990 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. She was converted to
165-452: The bow is called the "stem" or "forestem". Traditionally, the stem was a timber (or metal) post into which side planks (or plates) were joined. Some boats such as the Dutch barge "aak" or the clinker-built Viking longships have no straight stem, having instead a curved prow. Many types of bows exist. These include: From Middle Dutch boech or Old Norse bógr (shoulder). Thus it has
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#1732852487565180-453: The missile rate of fire from one per minute to four per minute. Daniel Webster was originally built with diving planes mounted on a "mini-sail" near the bow , leading to her nickname "Old Funny Fins". This configuration, unique to US submarines, was an attempt to reduce the effect of porpoising. While successful, the "mini-sail" required to contain the operating mechanism reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her overall speed. During
195-428: The speed of the boat, the seas or waterways being navigated, and the vessel's function. Where sea conditions are likely to promote pitching , it is useful if the bow provides reserve buoyancy ; a flared bow (a raked stem with flared topsides) is ideal to reduce the amount of water shipped over the bow. Ideally, the bow should reduce the resistance and should be tall enough to prevent water from regularly washing over
210-422: The top of it. Large commercial barges on inland waterways rarely meet big waves and may have remarkably little freeboard at the bow, whereas fast military vessels operating offshore must be able to cope with heavy seas. On slower ships like tankers and barges, a fuller bow shape is used to maximise the volume of the ship for a given length. The bow may be reinforced to serve as an ice-breaker. The forward part of
225-517: Was launched on 27 April 1963, sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ernestine (Appleton) Goodrich, great-great granddaughter of Daniel Webster and wife of W. Osborn Goodrich, Jr., and commissioned on 9 April 1964, with Commander Marvin S. Blair in command of the Blue Crew and Commander Lloyd S. Smith in command of the Gold Crew. Daniel Webster was originally built with diving planes mounted on a "mini-sail" near
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