USS Albacore (AGSS-569) facts for kids

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USS Albacore off the coast of Rhode Island
United States
Name	Albacore
Namesake	Albacore
Ordered	24 November 1950
Builder	Portsmouth Naval Shipyard of Kittery, Maine
Laid down	15 March 1952
Launched	1 August 1953
Sponsored by	Mrs. J. E. Jowers, the widow of Chief Motor Machinist's Mate Arthur L. Stanton, lost with the second Albacore (SS-218)
Commissioned	6 December 1953
Decommissioned	9 December 1972
Stricken	1 May 1980
Motto	Praenuntius Futuri ("Forerunner of the Future")
Status	Donated as a museum and memorial in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Badge
General characteristics - Final Phase 4 Configuration
Displacement	1606.62 tons surface 1823.51 tons submerged
Length	205 ft 4.75 in (62.6047 m) Length between perpendiculars 200 ft 0 in (60.96 m)
Beam	27 ft 3.75 in (8.3249 m)
Draft	Forward 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m) Aft 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)
Propulsion	Two 7,500 shp, counter-rotating electric motors, Two 1,000 bhp/817 kW diesel/electric generators
Speed	Surfaced: 25 knots Submerged: 33 knots
Range	Varied with configuration
Complement	5 officers, 49 men
Armament	None

The USS Albacore (AGSS-569) was a special research submarine for the United States Navy. It was built to test new ideas for submarine design. Its most important feature was its unique "teardrop hull" shape. This shape helped modern submarines become much faster and easier to steer underwater.

The Albacore was the third ship in the United States Navy to be named after the albacore fish. Its keel, which is the main support structure, was laid down on March 15, 1952. This happened at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The submarine was launched on August 1, 1953, and officially joined the Navy on December 6, 1953.

After World War II, both the Soviet Union and the United States realized how important submarines were. They wanted to build even better ones. The idea of nuclear power for ships made this goal seem possible. To achieve it, they needed to develop nuclear engines and design a new, smooth hull shape. This new shape would allow submarines to move very fast underwater.

Designing a Faster Submarine
Testing the New Design
More Experiments and Changes
Major Upgrades and Tests
Retirement of a Pioneer
Phases of Testing
Albacore's Lasting Impact
Image gallery
- Exterior views
- Interior views
See also

Designing a Faster Submarine

After World War II, experts on both sides of the "Iron Curtain" (a term for the divide between the Soviet Union and Western countries) looked into using atomic energy for ships. They suggested using nuclear power for submarines. Nuclear engines don't need oxygen from the air, unlike regular engines. This meant submarines could stay underwater for a very long time.

Submarine designers started thinking about vessels that could operate mostly underwater. They wanted a new type of submarine that was super fast and agile underwater, even if it wasn't as good on the surface. In 1949, a special team began studying different shapes to find the best hull for underwater travel.

The David Taylor Model Basin in Maryland tested many designs. The two best ones were then tested in a wind tunnel at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. To avoid problems, Admiral Momsen suggested building the submarine as a practice target for aircraft carriers. This way, the Navy could test new anti-submarine warfare methods. The design with a single propeller was chosen. Construction of this experimental submarine began on November 25, 1950.

The Albacore's hull was made from a strong steel called HY-80. This steel was very tough, but it wasn't used to make the submarine dive deeper at first. HY-80 steel became a standard for many US submarines that followed. The Albacore was classified as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS-569).

Testing the New Design

Launching at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, August 1953

After its first tests, the Albacore left Portsmouth on April 8, 1954, for training. Its job was to try out new designs and then return to Portsmouth for changes. This helped the Navy create better hull shapes for future submarines.

During its early trips, the Albacore operated near New London, Connecticut, and Key West, Florida. It then returned to Portsmouth for over a year of tests. These tests were done with the David Taylor Model Basin. They found that the Albacore could go as fast as older, upgraded submarines using only half the engine power!

On October 12, 1955, the submarine sailed to Key West to help with anti-submarine warfare tests. On November 4, 1955, Admiral Arleigh Burke, the head of Naval Operations, took a short trip on the Albacore. Lord Mountbatten from the British Navy also joined him.

From December 1955 to March 1956, the Albacore got a new stern (the back part). Before this, its propeller was surrounded by the rudder and control fins. With its new look, it looked more like a blimp, with the propeller behind all the control surfaces.

The Albacore started operating with its new stern in April 1956. In May, it visited New York City and was part of a TV show called Wide, Wide World. It even submerged on live television, with a camera on its front! This was the first time a submarine dive was shown live on TV.

More Experiments and Changes

Tests using a model of the Albacore, March 1956

In November 1956, the Albacore went back to the shipyard for engine changes. It then sailed for operations in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The submarine returned to Boston, Massachusetts, in April 1957. It then had a major overhaul in 1958.

The next tests focused on making the submarine quieter. They even removed its bow (front) planes in October 1958 to reduce noise more. The Albacore also served as a target for Canadian warships in Nova Scotia.

In 1959, a new, larger propeller was installed and tested. The Albacore also tested a special curved sonar dome at its front. The lessons learned from the Albacore helped design the Barbel-class submarines. These three submarines looked similar to the Albacore, but they were longer. Only one, the USS Blueback (SS-581), still exists today.

Major Upgrades and Tests

USS Albacore's final tail with contra-rotating propellers

On November 21, 1960, the ship entered Portsmouth for a big overhaul. It received a new, experimental X-shaped tail for better control. It also got 10 dive brakes around its hull, a new bow, and new sonar systems. After these changes in August 1961, it tested its new features along the East Coast.

In 1962, the Albacore received a new sonar system. On December 7, 1962, work began on its fourth major upgrade. This included installing special contra-rotating propellers (two propellers spinning in opposite directions). It also got a powerful new battery and a larger main motor. New radio and sonar equipment were added too.

After this work was finished in March 1965, the Albacore went to Florida to study the results of its changes. This was the second time it set a world record for submerged submarine speed. It returned to Portsmouth on October 8, 1965, and continued to test its new setup. In 1966, it went back to the shipyard to replace the battery and adjust the propellers.

In 1968, the submarine returned to Portsmouth for more changes to its propulsion system. It then tested new systems in the Gulf of Maine and the Tongue of the Ocean (a deep channel in the Bahama Islands).

The Albacore was mostly inactive until February 2, 1970. Then, it began an overhaul to prepare for Project SURPASS. This project researched using a special liquid (polymer mixed with fresh water) to reduce drag and make the submarine move through water more easily. The ship left drydock on April 16, 1971, and completed its sea trials in August 1971.

Retirement of a Pioneer

Significant dates

USS Albacore (Submarine)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

USS Albacore on display in April 2018
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Location	Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Built	1953
Architect	Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
NRHP reference No.	89001077
Added to NRHP	11 April 1989
Designated NHL	11 April 1989

The Albacore had many problems with its diesel engines, which caused delays in its operations. Its mission for Project SURPASS was canceled. The engines it used were special "pancake" engines, which were lightweight but also unreliable. Other submarines had replaced these engines, but the Albacore couldn't due to lack of space. Because of the engine problems and no spare parts, the Albacore had to be retired.

A ceremony was held at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on September 1, 1972. Rear Adm. J. Edward Snyder spoke, calling the Albacore "the submarine that gave its body to science." The Albacore was officially taken out of service on December 9, 1972. Its name was removed from the Naval Vessel Register on May 1, 1980.

Phases of Testing

The Albacore's time as a research submarine can be divided into five main phases, each with different tests and changes:

Phase I (December 1953 to December 1955): This was its original setup. It had bow planes, control surfaces behind the propeller, and an 11-foot propeller.
Phase II (March 1956 to November 1960): The control surfaces were moved in front of the propeller, and it got a larger 14-foot propeller.
Phase III (August 1961 to December 1962): It received an X-shaped tail and dive brakes.
Phase IV (March 1965 to February 1970): The back part of the hull was made bigger to fit two main engines and contra-rotating propellers. It also got a new silver-zinc battery.
Phase V (April 1971 to September 1972): This phase involved equipment for Project SURPASS, which tested reducing drag with a special polymer.

There was also a planned Phase VI where the hull would be lengthened to fit larger, more reliable diesel engines, but this never happened.

Albacore's Lasting Impact

A group called the Portsmouth Submarine Memorial Association worked to bring the Albacore back to Portsmouth. They wanted to display it on dry land so everyone could see the entire submarine. The Albacore was towed back to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in April 1984.

Moving it to its final display spot in May 1985 was very difficult. A railway bridge had to be removed, and a temporary cut was made across a four-lane road to float it through. The Albacore got stuck three times and the temporary railway broke. It was left stuck in mud. Months later, a temporary dam was built, it was refloated, and on October 3, 1985, it was finally placed in its permanent display cradle. After a lot of volunteer work, the Albacore opened to the public on August 30, 1986.

The Albacore's more than two decades of testing greatly helped the Navy. It taught them a lot about how water affects submarines. This knowledge was used to design faster, quieter, easier-to-steer, and safer submarines. The ideas from the Albacore were combined with nuclear power in the submarine Skipjack, which was built in 1956. These two concepts have been used in the design of all US Navy submarines since then.

Today, the Albacore is located at Albacore Park, 600 Market Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is open to the public as a museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was named a National Historic Landmark on April 11, 1989. In 2005, the United States Submarine Veterans of World War II added the Albacore to the Submarine Hall of Fame. In 2016, the area around the submarine at Albacore Park was rebuilt.