James Madison class submarine

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James Madison class ballistic missile submarine
Class Overview
Class Type	Ballistic Missile Submarine
Class Name	In honor of James Madison
Preceded By	Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine
Succeeded By	Chronologically Sturgeon-class attack submarine By Type: Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine
Ships of the Class:	James Madison, Tecumseh, Daniel Boone, John C. Calhoun, Ulysses S. Grant, Von Steuben, Casimir Pulaski, Stonewall Jackson, Sam Rayburn, Nathanael Greene

The James Madison class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the Lafayette class of fleet ballistic missile submarine. They were identical to the Lafayettes except for being designed to carry the Polaris A-3 missile instead of the earlier A-2. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, select units were further modified to carry Trident-I (C-4) missiles. Together with the George Washington, the Ethan Allen, the Lafayette, and the Benjamin Franklin classes, they comprised the "41 for Freedom."

[edit] Characteristics

• Builders: Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics
• Displacement: 8250 tons submerged
• Length: 425 feet (129.5 m)
• Beam: 33 feet (10.1 m)
• Power Plant: One S5W reactor, two geared steam turbines, one shaft
• Speed: 20+ knots
• Armament: 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes forward
• Complement: 13 officers, 107 men

James Madison-class submarine

James Madison | Tecumseh | Daniel Boone | John C. Calhoun | Ulysses S. Grant | Von Steuben | Casimir Pulaski | Stonewall Jackson | Sam Rayburn | Nathanael Greene

List of submarines of the United States Navy List of submarine classes of the United States Navy