Sturgeon-class submarines – why they may have saved the free world during the Cold War

By Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons

Nuclear deterrence is one of the U.S. military’s top priorities, and submarines are critical components in maintaining it.

The U.S. would deploy these submarines in response to any nuclear attack. Underwater vessels complement nuclear-capable airframes and land-launched missiles to form what we call the nuclear triad — a three-pronged approach to ensuring mutual assured destruction.

This method has kept nuclear weapons silent in the decades since the second atomic bomb was dropped on Japan during World War II.

Introducing the Sturgeon-Class Submarines

While preventing nuclear war is a key mission for American submarines, some vessels were designed primarily to seek out and destroy enemy ships. Sturgeon-class submarines are remembered as America’s undersea workhorses during the Cold War. 

These fast attack submarines could do just about anything, from surveillance and reconnaissance, participating in battle and strike group operations, and providing ground support or precision strike capability. The Sturgeon class entered service with the Navy in the 1960s and fully retired by the early 2000s.

What Could These Attack Subs Do?

To hunt enemy ships, America’s submarine fleet used sensitive sonar devices mounted on the hull to listen for vessels. While the Sturgeon SSNs were basically enlarged and enhanced versions of their Thresher/Permit predecessors, the vessels featured newer stealth components and electronics systems.