Simon Lake (AS 33) Class

Quick Links Menu.

USS Simon Lake (AS 33).
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class: SIMON LAKE (AS 33)
Design: SCB Project Nos. 238 and 714.65
Displacement (tons): 13,797 light, 20,088 full
Dimensions (feet): 644' oa, 620' wl x 85' e/wl x 27' max nav
Armament: 2-3"/50T; (1983) 4-40mmS
Accommodations: 64 officers, 1133 enlisted
Speed (kts.): 18
Propulsion (HP): 20,000
Machinery: Steam turbines, 2 boilers (650psi), 1 screw

Construction:

AS	Name	Ord	Builder	Keel	Launch	Comm
33	SIMON LAKE	8 Aug 1962	NSY Puget Sound	7 Jan 1963	8 Feb 1964	7 Nov 1964
34	CANOPUS	19 Sep 1963	Ingalls SB	2 Mar 1964	12 Feb 1965	4 Nov 1965
35	unnamed	--	(GD Quincy)	--	--	--

Disposition:

AS	Name	T	Decomm	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale/Depart
33	SIMON LAKE		31 Jul 1999	25 Apr 2006	1 Apr 2016	MA/T	6 Dec 2018
34	CANOPUS		30 Nov 1994	3 May 1995	1 May 1999	MA/T	25 Jul 2003
35	unnamed		--	--	3 Dec 1964	Canc	--

Class Notes:
With limited operating experience with the converted PROTEUS (AS 19) and prior to the delivery of the first new design SSBN tender (AS 31), the tender in FY 1963 (AS 33) involved new characteristics and a complete new design. Preliminary SCB discussions began in early July 1961. New requirements developed were:

1. Increase in storerooms (about 15%).
2. Increased accommodations
3. Substitution of standard vice troop accommodations for relief crews (partially offset by reduction from three to two relief crews).
4. Greater reentry body stowage requirements.
5. Improved stores handling.
6. Large helicopter platform.
7. More generating capacity.
8. Steam plant in lieu of diesel, moved from amidships to aft.
9. Increased missile handling loads.

In response to requests from Adm. Raborn (Special Projects), missile stowages were sized for the POLARIS A3a developmental missile, which was larger than the A3 then entering production. Missile handling cranes were upped to 80,000 pound capacity and two cranes in lieu of one were supplied. The original BUSHIPS design division plans to install a diesel propulsion plant were reversed by the SCB so that a steam plant to "facilitate training" was incorporated. This involved some increases in volume and cost.

Approved characteristics for a new construction Submarine Tender (AS), SCB Project No. 238, were promulgated on 5 January 1962 and updated as SCB Project No. 714.65 (AS-FBM) on 4 May 1964 with a final change to SCB 238 on 13 May 1964. The break in the superstructure amidships housed twenty vertical SLBM storage tubes served by two large cranes. This break was absent in the SSN tenders, which had only a single large crane with a longer reach.

On 23 June 1965 SECNAV Nitze reminded SECDEF that the decision to construct a sixth POLARIS submarine tender (AS 35) had been deferred pending a review of SSBN support requirements. He reported that the Navy had now implemented an employment schedule for SSBNs which could be supported by five tenders. There was a loss in flexibility of deployment options. Also there was some risk involved, i.e. possible disruptions of patrol schedules in the event a tender was disabled while one of the five was in overhaul. Should this occur, it would be necessary to double up at one or more sites undil the disabled tender was restored to duty. This risk was considered acceptable. In view of this SECNAV reported that he had decided to cancel plans for a sixth POLARIS submarine tender.

Approved characteristics for a POSEIDON conversion for AS 33-34, SCB Project No. 733.68, were promulgated on 12 Feb 1969. AS 33 and 34 were decommissioned in 1999 and 1994 after the Navy abandoned the use of forward deployable tenders to support operating forces.

Ship Notes:

AS	Name	MA	Notes
33	SIMON LAKE		FY 1963. Poseidon overhaul, SCB Project 733.69, ord. 1 Jul 1968 at NSY Puget Sound, begun 7 Jul 1970, completed 9 Mar 1971. To reserve at Philadelphia 1999, moved to Portsmouth, Va., 2008. To MA custody 3 Dec 2015. Departed MA custody 5 Feb 2019 under sales contract with HRP Brownville.
34	CANOPUS		FY 1964. Poseidon overhaul, SCB Project 733.68, ord. 27 Aug 1967 at NSY Puget Sound, begun 3 Jun 1969, completed 3 Feb 1970. To MA custody in JRRF 29 Jan 1997. Towed out of the James River reserve fleet on 16 October 2003 to Able UK in Hartlepool, Teeside, UK and arrived 27 Nov 2003, but local protests delayed BU of the four "Ghost Ships of Hartlepool" until Able UK secured waste management licensing in August 2008. (The others were CALOOSAHATCHEE, CANISTEO, and COMPASS ISLAND.) CANOPUS was removed from the MA inventory on 29 Sep 2010 indicating that BU was complete.
35	unnamed		FY 1965. Designated SCB Project 714.65 and planned for General Dynamics, Quincy along with AS 36. AS 35 was cancelled when the requirement for a fifth FBM submarine tender was dropped.