Steve Skubinna said:

“This speed is naturally classified, but one criterion the Seawolf (SSN-21) class was designed to was a tactical speed three times that of the Los Angeles (SSN-688) class.”

It’s my understanding that Los Angeles class subs were ridiculously fast. If the Seawolf is three times as fast then it must be beyond ridiculous. How do they keep the water flowing past the sub from cavitating? There must be an amazing amount of “devil in the detail” behind the Seawolf.

I’m reminded of another random question about submarines. A million years ago I was touring the U.S.S Patrick Henry SSBN-599. It was at Mare Island and just about to be decomissioned. While I was outside the Patrick Henry, I noticed an unusual submarine docked nearby that I recognized as the much older USS Seawolf (SSN-575). I asked an ensign standing next to me if that was the Seawolf and he said it was. Then he mentioned something that was quite strange. He said the Seawolf was the “most classified submarine in the US Navy”. Now even back then the Seawolf was a very old submarine. It had an experimental liquid sodium reactor that apparently was not a successful concept. Maybe the ensign was having some fun with me. Has anyone heard of why the old Seawolf was so classified?

Charles,

That Wall Street Journal article was interesting and informative. Where do you think the market is going? When do you think it’ll hit bottom?