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USS Barracuda (SSK-1)
Encyclopedia
USS Barracuda (SSK-1/SST-3/SS-550), the lead ship
of her class, was the second ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the barracuda
, a voracious, pike-like fish. Her keel was laid down on 1 July 1949 by the Electric Boat
Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
. She was launched
on 2 March 1951 as K-1 sponsored by Mrs. Willis Manning Thomas, and commissioned
on 10 November 1951 with Lieutenant Commander F. A. Andrews in command. Notably, United States President Jimmy Carter
served as an officer on the SSK-1 during its first year.
The three SSK boats, Barracuda (SSK-1), Bass (SSK-2)
, and Bonita (SSK-3)
, were built around the large BQR-4 bow-mounted sonar
array as part of Project Kayo, which experimented the use of passive acoustics with low-frequency, bow sonar arrays. When the boat was rigged for silent running
, these arrays gave greatly improved convergence zone detection ranges against snorkeling submarines. The SSKs themselves were limited in their anti-submarine warfare abilities by their low speed and their need to snorkel periodically, but the advances in sonar technology they pioneered were invaluable to later nuclear-powered submarines.
Barracuda joined Submarine Development Group 2 with her home port at New London, Connecticut
. She cruised along the Atlantic coast of the United States
and Canada
, in the Caribbean Sea
, and made a voyage to Greenock
and Rothesay
, Scotland
, in June 1955. On 16 December 1956 her name was changed from K-1 to Barracuda (SSK-1). During intervals between and after these cruises, Barracuda operated along the eastern seaboard carrying out training and experimental exercises.
Barracuda was redesignated SST-3 on 3 July 1959 and on 15 August 1959 was changed to SS-550, the same day she was decommissioned. She was scrapped between 8 April and 8 July 1974 near Charleston, South Carolina
, possibly at the Braswell Shipyards.
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of her class, was the second ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for the barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
, a voracious, pike-like fish. Her keel was laid down on 1 July 1949 by the Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 2 March 1951 as K-1 sponsored by Mrs. Willis Manning Thomas, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 10 November 1951 with Lieutenant Commander F. A. Andrews in command. Notably, United States President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
served as an officer on the SSK-1 during its first year.
The three SSK boats, Barracuda (SSK-1), Bass (SSK-2)
USS Bass (SSK-2)
USS Bass , a Barracuda-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bass, an edible, spiny-finned fish....
, and Bonita (SSK-3)
USS Bonita (SSK-3)
USS Bonita , a Barracuda-class submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bonito, any of several types of fish, including the skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, the Atlantic bonito , the lesser amberjack , or the cobia .The original contract for construction of...
, were built around the large BQR-4 bow-mounted sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
array as part of Project Kayo, which experimented the use of passive acoustics with low-frequency, bow sonar arrays. When the boat was rigged for silent running
Silent running (submarine)
Silent running is a stealth mode of operation for naval submarines. The aim is to evade discovery by passive sonar by eliminating superfluous noise: nonessential systems are shut down, the crew is urged to rest and refrain from making any unnecessary sound, and speed is greatly reduced to minimize...
, these arrays gave greatly improved convergence zone detection ranges against snorkeling submarines. The SSKs themselves were limited in their anti-submarine warfare abilities by their low speed and their need to snorkel periodically, but the advances in sonar technology they pioneered were invaluable to later nuclear-powered submarines.
Barracuda joined Submarine Development Group 2 with her home port at New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. She cruised along the Atlantic coast of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, and made a voyage to Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
and Rothesay
Rothesay, Argyll and Bute
The town of Rothesay is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay which offers an onward rail link to Glasgow. At the centre of the town is Rothesay Castle, a ruined castle which dates back to the 13th...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in June 1955. On 16 December 1956 her name was changed from K-1 to Barracuda (SSK-1). During intervals between and after these cruises, Barracuda operated along the eastern seaboard carrying out training and experimental exercises.
Barracuda was redesignated SST-3 on 3 July 1959 and on 15 August 1959 was changed to SS-550, the same day she was decommissioned. She was scrapped between 8 April and 8 July 1974 near Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, possibly at the Braswell Shipyards.