Quote:
The 598 Boomer class were all Skipjacks cut in half w/missle silos attached etc.
Yep, you can find this "fact" all over the internet, and like many internet "facts", it has become an urban myth. The truth is less dramatic.
The original attack submarine Scorpion was laid down at Electric Boat on Nov. 1, 1957. Just 8 weeks later, Dec. 31, 1957, it was reordered as the SSBN 598 George Washington. Many long lead items intended for the original Scorpion found their way onto the Washington, so it was possible to find parts engraved with "SSN589" on the GW. Other Skipjack class SSN subs "donated" items to the higher priority Polaris program, so in some cases the first five boats (Washington class) had Skipjack class sub components with markings as such. But the idea that almost complete submarine hulls were cut in half on the ways to insert missile sections just isn't true. The Scorpion was later reordered as a Skipjack SSN to be built at EB, and tragically lost in 1968.
Here's a reference (Cold Wars Submarines- Norman Polmar & K.J. Moore) to that effect (right hand part of the page):
http://books.google.com/books?id=U86giz-cluoC&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119&dq=SSBN+598+cut+in+half&source=bl&ots=uIwAa2X1Q_&sig=3LSv0bUQvbbh7LJSnDTxhjOaub8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ewVAT-uhDKbB0QGJz6isBw&ved=0CG8Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=SSBN%20598%20cut%20in%20half&f=falseThe Washington class was hurried into production when in 1957, in light of the new Soviet R-7 (and the launch of Sputnik by that booster), the Polaris program was accelerated and a 1200 nm range for the initial A-1 missile was deemed acceptable (the original goal had been 1500 nm). The IOC date went from the mid-1960's to 1960, and submarines to carry the missile were needed on short notice. The Washington class design underwent modifications (sail, rudder and planes, hydraulic actuators, stabilizing gyroscope, etc.) from the Skipjack design. The missile compartment was slightly larger in diameter than the hull, and was faired in assymetrically, with the "bulge" at the top of the missile compartment, hidden and streamlined by the turtleback. The five GWs shared the noise characteristics and 700 ft test depth of the Skipjack class. On her first patrol, the SOSUS network tracked the Washington across the Atlantic.
The next class of SSBNs, designated SCB 180 (and there were several subsequent improved classes) were larger, took full advantage of HY-80 steel for a 400 meter test depth, and had rafted propulsion spaces to reduce radiated propulsion train noise. They had 4 torpedo tubes vs. the 6 of the Washington class. These were designed as SSBNs from the beginning, and were much more suited to the mission role.
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