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Attack Submarinesback to Breakdown of a Battlegroup Attack submarines, designed to seek and destroy enemy subs and surface ships, are the stealthy members of the battle group. They boast cutting edge technology—the concept of technical prowess over numerical superiority is still the driving force in U.S. submarine development. Other uses range from intelligence collection and the delivery of Special Forces, to anti-ship and strike warfare. The Navy began construction of Seawolf class submarines in 1989. Seawolf is exceptionally quiet, fast and well armed. Far more common today are the Los Angeles-Class submarines. For more information about these nuclear-powered subs, take a virtual tour of the USS Springfield. General Characteristics, Seawolf class Power Plant: One nuclear reactor, one shaft Length: 353 feet (107.6 meters) Draft: 35 feet (10.67 meters) Beam: 40 feet (12.2 meters) Displacement: 8,060 tons surfaced; 9,150 tons submerged Speed: 25+ knots (28+ miles per hour) Cost: about $2.1 billion each Crew: 12 Officers; 121 Enlisted Armament: Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles, VLS tubes, MK-48 torpedoes, four torpedo tubes. General Characteristics, Los Angeles class Power Plant: One nuclear reactor, one shaft Length: 360 feet (109.73 meters) Beam: 33 feet (10.06 meters) Displacement: Approx. 6,900 tons submerged Speed: 20+ knots (23+ miles per hour) Crew: 13 Officers, 116 Enlisted Armament: Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles, VLS tubes, MK-48 torpedoes, four torpedo tubes Date deployed: November 13, 1976 (USS Los Angeles) Breakdown of a Battle Group | Women on the Carrier | Behind the Scenes Resources | Transcript | Site Map | Battle Alert Home Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated October 2000 |