U.S. and Soviet Submarine Milestones of the Cold War Definitions of “beam,” “draft,” “displacement” Date and Name Stats 1954: Nautilus First Nuclear-Powered Sub Length: 324 ft (99 m) Beam: 28 ft (9 m) Draft: 22 ft (7 m) Displacement: 4,092 tons 1959: Skipjack Class Power + Streamlining = Speed Length: 252 ft (77 m) Beam: 32 ft (10 m) Draft: 29 ft (9 m) Displacement: 3,513 tons 1959: George Washington Class First Nuclear-Powered, Ballistic Missile Subs Length: 382 ft (116 m) Beam: 33 ft (10 m) Draft: 29 ft (9 m) Displacement: approx. 6,700 tons 1961: Thresher/Permit Class Faster, Stronger, Deeper, Quieter Length: 279 ft (85 m) Beam: 32 ft (10 m) Draft: 29 ft (9 m) Displacement: 4,300 tons 1976: Los Angeles Class The Sub Hunters Length: 360 ft (109 m) Beam: 33 ft (10 m) Draft: 31 ft (9 m) Displacement: approx. 6,000 tons 1981: Ohio Class More and Longer-Range Weapons Length: 560 ft (171 m) Beam: 42 ft (13 m) Draft: 38 ft (12 m) Displacement: 18,750 tons Date and Name Stats 1958: November Class First Non-U.S. Nuclear-Powered Subs Length: 361 ft (110 m) Beam: 26 ft (8 m) Draft: 21 ft (6 m) Displacement: approx. 4,380 tons 1960: Hotel Class First Soviet Nuclear-Powered, Ballistic Missile Subs Length: 374 ft (114 m) to 427 ft (130 m) Beam: 30 ft (9 m) Draft: 24 ft (7 m) Displacement: 6,085 tons to 6,990 tons 1967: Victor Class Streamlined for Speed Length: 303 ft (93 m) to 352 feet (107 m) Beam: 35 ft (11 m) Draft: 24 ft (7 m) Displacement: 6,085 tons to 7,190 tons 1967: Yankee Class Comparable Firepower Length: 426 ft (130 m) Beam: 38 ft (12 m) Draft: 29 ft (9 m) Displacement: 9,300 tons 1981: Typhoon Class World’s Largest Submarines Length: Approx. 564 ft (172 m) Beam: 75 ft (23 m) Draft: 38 ft (12 m) Displacement: 33,800 tons 1982: Oscar Class Bristling With Missiles Length: 469 ft (143 m) to 505 ft (154 m) Beam: 35 ft (18 m) Draft: 24 ft (7 m) Displacement: 17,000 tons to 18,000 tons    Top    Next: Radiation Risk? >>