Sturgeon Class Submarine - Noise Reduction

Noise Reduction

Several Sturgeon boats were modifications of the original designs to test ways to reduce noise.

• Narwhal, which was nearly a sub-class of its own, was completed with an S5G reactor which was cooled using natural convection rather than pumps and did not have reduction gears, but utilized a sophisticated multi-stage turbine in an attempt to reduce the noise footprint from the reduction gears. The turbine arrangement was not considered successful because of its complex warm-up and cooldown procedures.
• Glenard P. Lipscomb was completed using a large electric motor for main propulsion rather than direct drive from the steam turbines. The Lipscomb’s trial of electric propulsion was not considered successful due to lack of reliability and she was decommissioned in 1989.
• Puffer was outfitted with Raytheon Harmonic Power Conditioners (a.k.a. "the cloaking device") which eliminated an electrical bus noise problem that was inherent in the class. This successful feature was later outfitted on the entire class.
• Batfish was outfitted with SHT during a non-refueling overhaul, which reduced noise and the submarine sonar profile.