USS Albacore – The Unsung Half of the Nuclear Submarine Equation

"Underway on nuclear power."  The USS Nautilus(Photo Courtesy John Kilgallon, USS Albacore at Port
(SSN-571) signaled that historic message at 11:00 hoursof Portsmouth Maritime Museum and Albacore Park)
on 17 January 1955 as she put to sea for the first timeThe USS Albacore was a ship that revolutionized
as the first nuclear powered submarine of the USsubmarine warfare for two reaasons:  speed and
Navy.  She went on to make headlines by surfacingmaneuverability.
at the North Pole and traveling submerged far longerUS Navy World War II submarines cruised beneath
than the diesel-electric submarines of her time.  Herthe sea at 8 to 10 knots.  They would often have to
power plant gave the US Navy a leap ahead inmaneuver ahead of their prey by runnning on the
submarine development towards the modern nuclearsurface at near 20 knots and then submerge to lie in
submarine of today!wait for the target.  The USS Albacore could chase
and catch a surface vessel while remaining hidden
(US Navy Photo, USS Nautilus, 1971)submerged.  She could circle most surface ships of
Yet there was another progenitor of the Navy'sthat era and fire at her convenience.  If she happened
modern nuclear submarines that received lessto miss, she could fire again
attention than the Nautilus.  She was the USSAlbacore was decommissioned on 9 December 1972
Albacore (AGSS-569).  USS Albacore was the firstand laid up at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her name was
submarine built on the experimental "teardrop"struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1980,
streamlined hull shape that is commonplace on nukeand she was towed back to Portsmouth late in April
boats now.1984. When being towed to her drydock, the Albacore
Albacore was conventionally powered, a diesel-electricbecame stuck in the mud of Portsmouth Harbor. In
boat, the diesel engines powered her motors on the1985, she was dedicated as a memorial.
surface and charged her batteries.  The batteriesAlbacore's service as an active experimental
powered her motors submerged, the same principlessubmersible for more than 20 years increased the
used since before World War I.  Yet she was fast!Navy's knowledge of both theoretical and applied
The outer hull shape of this 203 foot, 1800 ton marvel,hydrodynamics.  That knowledge has resulted in
allowed her to glide through the ocean like a porpoise!faster, quieter, more maneuverable and safer
 Back then in 1956, at 33 knots submerged, the USSsubmarines.  The Navy's effort to build hulls for
Albacore could "fly" rings around the 23 knot USSoptimum operation while submerged was combined
Nautilus!with its nuclear propulsion program in the submarine
There are two forces that impede a submarine'sSkipjack (SSN-585), commissioned into active service
speed underwater; skin friction and eddy-makingin May 1959.  These two concepts have
resistance.  To overcome skin friction the USScomplemented each other in the design of all of the
Albacore's hull was made as small in area and asNavy's submarines since and are still embodied in its
smooth as possible.   Overcoming the eddy-makinglatest design, the Virginia class.
resistance required the streamlining or removal of
protuberances from the hull.  Fins and control(US Navy Photo, USS Skipjack (SSN-585) Lead ship in
surfaces were streamlined.  The USS Albacore hadclass using nuclear propulsion and a teardrop hull.)
no flat deck and her conning tower was reduced toThe USS Albacore now resides at the Port of
the sail configuration that foreshadowed today's fastPortsmouth Maritime Museum and Albacore Park, 600
attack submarines.  The circular hull section offeredMarket Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She is
the greatest resistance to the pressure found in thelisted as reference number 89001077 on the National
ocean's great depths.Register of Historic Places and was designated a
National Historic Landmark on 11 April 1989.