Grayback-class submarine


The Grayback-class submarine was a class of two guided missile-carrying submarines of the United States Navy. They carried the Regulus I and Regulus II nuclear cruise missiles, deployed 1957–64, that were phased out by Polaris Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles. They and were the sole submarines designed specifically to carry Regulus missiles, and the only submarines capable of carrying Regulus II. However, and were modified earlier to carry two Regulus I missiles per boat.

Design

On the Graybacks, two missile hangars allowed for a total of two Regulus II or four Regulus I missiles each. Since Regulus II was cancelled in December 1958 except for test firings, the class deployed with four Regulus I missiles. They were originally ordered as sisters of, similar to the last s, but were converted to missile submarines during construction. Torpedo armament was the same as the Tangs, with six bow and two stern tubes. The stern tubes were for "swim-out" weapons only, such as the Mark 37 ASW homing torpedo.
In Grayback's later role as an amphibious transport submarine, the former missile hangars were used to store SEAL Swimmer Delivery Vehicles and other equipment used by the SEALs and Marine Force Recon units.

Ships in class

NameHull numberBuilderLaid DownLaunchedCommissionedFate
SSG-574Mare Island Naval Shipyard1 July 19542 July 19577 March 1958Decommissioned 25 May 1964, converted to an amphibious transport submarine and recommissioned 1968, decommissioned 16 June 1984, expended as a target 1986
SSG-577Portsmouth Naval Shipyard15 February 19555 April 195830 August 1958Decommissioned 25 May 1964, struck 30 September 1980, museum ship at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City from 29 September 1988.