Los Angeles class submarines carry about 25 torpedo tube-launched weapons, as well as Mark 67 and Mark 60 CAPTOR mines and were designed to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Harpoon missiles horizontally (from the torpedo tubes). The last 31 boats of this class also have 12 dedicated vertical launching system (VLS) tubes for launching Tomahawks.

Two watertight compartments are used in the Los Angeles class submarines. The forward compartment contains crew living spaces, weapons-handling spaces, and control spaces not critical to recovering propulsion. The aft compartment contains the bulk of the submarine's engineering systems, power generation turbines, and water-making equipment. Some submarines in the class are capable of delivering SEALs through either the dry deck shelter system or the advanced SEAL delivery system (program canceled in 2006 and rendered unusable in 2009). A variety of atmospheric control devices are used to allow the vessel to remain submerged for long periods of time without ventilating, including an electrolytic oxygen generator nicknamed "the bomb". It is called "the bomb" because it electrically removes the bonds of hydrogen and oxygen which make up water. This produces oxygen for the crew and hydrogen. The hydrogen is pumped overboard but there is always a risk of fire or explosion from this process.

While on the surface or at snorkel depth, the submarine may use the submarine's auxiliary or emergency diesel generator for power or ventilation (e.g., following a fire). The diesel engine in a 688 class can be quickly started by compressed air during emergencies or to evacuate noxious (nonvolatile) gases from the boat, although 'ventilation' requires raising a snorkel mast. During nonemergency situations, design constraints call for operators to allow the engine to reach normal operating temperatures before it is capable of producing full power, a process that may take from 20 to 30 minutes. However, the diesel generator can be immediately loaded to 100% power output, despite design criteria cautions, at the discretion of the submarine commander on the recommendation of the submarine's engineer, if necessity dictates such actions to a) restore electrical power to the submarine, b) prevent a reactor incident from occurring or escalating, or c) to protect the lives of the crew or others as determined necessary by the commanding officer.

Normally, steam power is generated by the submarine's nuclear reactor delivering pressurized hot water to the steam generator, which generates steam to drive the steam-driven turbines and generators. While the emergency diesel generator is starting up, power can be provided from the submarine's battery through the ship service motor generators. Likewise, propulsion is normally delivered through the submarine's steam-driven main turbines that drive the submarine's propeller through a reduction gear system. The submarine has no main drive shaft, unlike conventional diesel electric submarines.

The boat is equipped with a 26MW nuclear pressure water reactor, model GE PWR S6G generating 35,000 shp, developed and supplied by General Electric. The auxiliary prop motor by Magnatek supplies 242kW. The life of the fuel cells is approximately ten years. Part of the improved 688 program included the improved Performance Machinery Program Phase I.

The S6G reactor plant was originally designed to use the D1G-2 core, similar to the D2G reactor used on the Bainbridge class guided missile cruiser, which is rated at 148 MW. All Los Angeles class submarines from USS Providence (SSN-719) on were built with a D2W core rated at 165 MW, as opposed to the older 150 MW cores found on older boats. The D1G-2 cores are being replaced with D2W cores when the boats are refueled.

source: wikipedia

class & detail images

los angeles class attack submarine flight 1

Flight I (SSN 690)

los angeles class attack submarine us navy

Flight I (SSN 691)

Flight I (SSN 698)

Flight I (SSN 698)

Flight I (SSN 700) with dry-deck shelter

los angeles class attack submarine ssn dry deck shelter

Flight I (SSN 700) with dry-deck shelter

los angeles class attack submarine flight 2 vls mk-45 vertical launching system for ugm-109 tomahawk tlam missile

los angeles class attack submarine flight 2 vls mk-45 vertical launching system for ugm-109 tomahawk tlam missile

Flight II (SSN 723) with 12-cell Mk-45 VLS

los angeles class attack submarine flight 2 mk-45 vertical launching system vls ugm-109 tomahawk missile

Flight II (SSN 723) with 12-cell Mk-45 VLS

Flight III (SSN 755) improved Los Angeles class (688i)

Flight III (SSN 758) improved Los Angeles class (688i)

Flight III (SSN 758) improved Los Angeles class (688i)

Flight III (SSN 762) improved Los Angeles class (688i)

los angeles class attack submarine flight 3 688i improved

Flight III (SSN 769) improved Los Angeles class (688i)

los angeles class attack submarine ssn advanced seal delivery system asds

Flight III (SSN 772) improved Los Angeles class (688i) with Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS)

Flight III (SSN 773) improved Los Angeles class (688i)

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