The Lafayette class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the Ethan Allen class of fleet ballistic missile submarine, slightly larger and generally improved. This class, together with the George Washington, Ethan Allen, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin classes, composed the "41 for Freedom," the Navy's primary contribution to the nuclear deterrent force through the late 1980s. The James Madison and Benjamin Franklin classes are combined with the Lafayettes in some references.

Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics ...

Lafayette-class submarine USS Woodrow Wilson
Class overview
Name	Lafayette class
Builders	General Dynamics Electric Boat[1] Mare Island Naval Shipyard[1] Portsmouth Naval Shipyard[1] Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company[1]
Operators	United States Navy
Preceded by	Ethan Allen class
Succeeded by	James Madison class
Built	1961–1964 [1]
In commission	1963–1994 [1]
Completed	9
Retired	9
Preserved	1 (As Training Vessel)
General characteristics
Type	Nuclear-powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
Displacement	Surfaced: 7,325 long tons (7,443 t) Submerged: 8,251 long tons (8,383 t)[2]
Length	425 ft (130 m) [1]
Beam	33 ft (10 m) [1]
Draft	28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Propulsion	1 × S5W PWR[1] 2 geared steam turbines (15,000 shp (11,000 kW)), 1 shaft[2]
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h) surfaced 21 knots (39 km/h) submerged[2]
Test depth	1,300 feet (400 m)[2]
Complement	Two crews of 14 officers and 126 enlisted[2]
Armament	16 Polaris A2/A3 or Poseidon C3 missiles, 4 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 12 torpedoes[2]

Close

The first eight submarines initially deployed with the Polaris A-2 missile, later being refitted with the longer ranged Polaris A-3, with USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) having the A-3 missile from the start.^[3] In the mid-1970s all were upgraded to carry the Poseidon C3 missile; their missile tubes were slightly larger than the Ethan Allen and George Washington classes and Poseidon was designed to take advantage of this.^[2] Unlike twelve of the similar James Madison and Benjamin Franklin classes, none of the Lafayette-class submarines were refitted with Trident I (C4) missiles.

The Lafayettes and their successors were equipped with a hovering system to manage trim more effectively when firing missiles; this increased the missile rate of fire from one per minute to four per minute.^[2]

Daniel Webster was originally built with diving planes mounted on a "mini-sail" near the bow, leading to her nickname "Old Funny Fins". This configuration, unique to US submarines, was an attempt to reduce the effect of porpoising. While successful, the "mini-sail" required to contain the operating mechanism reduced hydrodynamic efficiency and lowered her overall speed. During a mid-1970s overhaul these unusual planes were removed and standard fairwater planes were installed.^[4] Here is a rare 1964 16mm Silent Film of USS Daniel Webster testing the unique "Funny Fins" diving planes off Cape Canaveral.

The Lafayettes were decommissioned between 1986 and 1992, due to a combination of SALT II treaty limitations as the Ohio class SSBNs entered service, age, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. One (Daniel Webster) remains out of commission but converted to a Moored Training Ship (MTS-626) with the missile compartment removed. She is stationed at Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston, South Carolina, along with USS La Jolla (MTS-701) and USS San Francisco (MTS-711).

Submarines of the Lafayette class:^[5][6]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lafayette class submarines.

• 41 for Freedom Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines
• Fleet Ballistic Missile
• List of submarines of the United States Navy
• List of submarine classes of the United States Navy