National Geographic: Sub Milestones -- Los Angeles Class

U.S. and Soviet Submarine Milestones of the Cold War

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	Definitions of “beam,” “draft,” “displacement”

1976: Los Angeles Class (U.S.)
The Sub Hunters

The submarine Los Angeles
Photograph courtesy U.S. Navy

The Los Angeles class, with 62 vessels, is the world’s largest series of nuclear-propelled submarines. Like its predecessor the Sturgeon class, the quieter and faster Los Angeles class was designed primarily to protect carrier battlegroups by targeting enemy subs.

Los Angeles-class subs are also capable of a variety of other missions, such as deploying Special Forces (cross-military divisions formed to accomplish especially difficult tasks) and attacking land targets. Some Los Angeles-class subs are modified for improved under-ice operations.

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Length: 360 ft (109 m)

Beam: 33 ft (10 m)

Draft: 31 ft (9 m)

Displacement: approx. 6,000 tons

Propulsion: 1 pressurized-water nuclear reactor, 1 propeller

Crew: 129

Armament: Tomahawk cruise missiles, 4 21-inch (533-mm) torpedo tubes, mines

First Sub Commissioned: November 13, 1976

Maximum Speed: Approx. 20+ knots (23+ mph/37+ kph)