Originally planned to be succeeded by the Seawolf-class submarines, the end of the Cold War saw its successor truncated down to just 3 boats out of the planned 29. Like most US submarines, the Los Angeles-class have been subjected to numerous upgrades and enhancements, often with the goal of improving quietness and lethality beyond the baseline design. However most publications have speculated that its actual capabilities are in excess of its publicly stated characteristics. Built as a successor to the Sturgeon-class submarines, they were the backbone of the US Navy submarine force during the last two decades of the Cold War and serving well into the 21st century.ĭue to the sensitive nature of the duties performed and the fact that they are still front line combatants, the actual performance and capabilities of the Los Angeles-class submarines have remained secret. The Los Angeles-class submarines represent the largest number of nuclear powered attack submarines ever built by he US Navy. This class is an improved version of the original 688 design that adds improved quieting, the improved BSY-1 combat control system, under-ice capability and increased weapon storage in the form of 12 vertical launch (VLS) tubes in the forward ballast tank that can carry either TASM anti-ship or TLAM land strike cruise missiles.

Cold waters towed array