Key Points – The US Navy’s Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines, despite their 1970s origins, remain a critical backbone of the fleet, with 24 boats forming nearly half of the 50 attack submarine force.
-Their continued relevance is due to significant “Improved 688” (I688) upgrades, including all-digital combat control systems (Mk 1 CCS), advanced TAC-3 computers for network interoperability, and the ability to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles and modern Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes.
-Primarily tasked with Carrier Strike Group protection and anti-submarine warfare, the upcoming mass retirement of these capable submarines presents a “nightmare” scenario, exacerbating a looming submarine deficit.
Say Goodbye to the Los Angeles-Class
The United States Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines may have originated in the 1970s. Yet, they have remained relevant and performed critical protective functions in the service for decades.
There are as many as 24 Los Angeles-class boats in the service, and the group makes up almost one-half of the US Navy’s roughly 50 attack submarines fleet.
While the first boats date back to the early-to-mid-1970s, the Navy worked with its industry partners Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat to modernize the fleet of Los Angeles-class boats into a 688i configuration.
These upgraded boats utilized an upgraded all-digital combat command center called Mk 1 Combat Control System, a technology that enabled Los Angeles-class submarines to fire Tomahawk Block III cruise missiles, upgraded Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes, and Towed Array Target Motion Analysis, the FAS military network explains.
“The CSS (Combat Control System) internal tracker model provides processing for both towed array and spherical array trackers. Trackers are signal followers which generate bearing, arrival angle and frequency reports based on information received by an acoustic sensor. The CSS tracker model augments the sonar detection processing with corrections to detected SNRs (signal-to-noise-ratio) due to the beam pattern shapes and effects,” FAS explains.
The 688i Los Angeles-class boats also operate with a new generation of computing technology called Tactical Advanced Computer-3 (TAC-3), a faster processor with interfaces and IP protocol standards such that it can interoperate with critical on-board targeting technologies and data networks being built into modern Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines.
The more interoperable submarines and surface ships can be, provided they can share data amid stormy seas. The better positioned a Navy force is to attack.
Protect Aircraft Carriers
An article from the Federation of American Scientists describes the primary intent or mission of the Los Angeles-class boats as to conduct Carrier Battle Group protection and anti-submarine warfare operations against what was called the Soviet Surface Action Group.
Upgraded Los Angeles submarines, for instance, could fire Mk 48 heavyweight torpedoes, ADCAP Torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles.
“The new submarines showed another step improvement in quieting and an increase in operating speed to allow them to support the CVBG(Carrier Battle Group). Escort duties included conducting ASW sweeps hundreds of miles ahead of the CVBG and conducting attacks against the SAG,” the FAS report explains.
An ability to protect Carrier Battle Groups from several miles ahead undersea seems to be an extremely significant perimeter protection tactic, as it might be positioned to find and even destroy threats to surface ships at safer distances.
Los Angeles-class submarines now account for a large portion of the Navy’s current submarine fleet, yet they will reach the end of their service life as more Virginia-class boats arrive.
That One Word Nightmare: Retirement
The Navy and Congressional decision-makers have long expressed concern about a coming Navy submarine deficit in which the fleet size for attack submarines, according to service commanders, will drop low enough to increase the threat to the US massively.
In fact, the coming retirement of so many Los Angeles-class subs is a true nightmare for the U.S. Navy as one-for-one replacements in a timely manner are now impossible.
For many years, the US Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding Plan has detailed a concerning attack submarine deficit given that Los Angeles submarines will retire faster than new Virginias can be added.
For this reason, Congress and the Navy have been deeply immersed in a longstanding effort to “flex” the industrial base to “uptick” the number of Virginia-class boats being built yearly from 1 to as many as 3, depending upon budget.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 10, 2010) The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713) takes part in a photo exercise at the conclusion of exercise Keen Sword 2011. The exercise enhances the Japan-U.S. alliance which remains a key strategic relationship in the Northeast Asia Pacific region. Keen Sword caps the 50th anniversary of the Japan – U.S. alliance as an “alliance of equals.” (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl/Released)
PACIFIC OCEAN (July 31, 2018) – Sailors assigned to Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Olympia (SSN 717) participate in a swim call at sea, July 31 (U.S. Navy photo by Fire Control Technician Senior Chief Vien Nguyen)
Los Angeles-Class Attack Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Los Angeles-Class diagram. Image Credit: US Navy.
SOUDA BAY, Crete, Greece (Oct. 15, 2007) – Los Angeles-class submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) arrives in Souda Harbor for a port visit. The submarine was operating in the Central Command area of responsibility for the past five months since departing their homeport of Norfolk, Va. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Paul Farley (RELEASED)
In the meantime, Los Angeles-Class boats will likely remain in service for years, as they can bring upgraded weapons and sensors to the dangerous mission of Carrier Strike Group protection.
Even if they are detected by enemy sonar from the surface or undersea, they are known to present firepower sufficient to deter any large-scale potential enemy surface warfare attack.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the Military Technology Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
