About this Unit
USS Tullibee (SSN-597) was a unique United States Navy submarine, commissioned in 1960 as the first submarine designed specifically for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Incorporating innovative features such as a bow-mounted spherical sonar array and turbo-electric drive, Tullibee set the standard for future ASW submarine designs. The vessel served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, conducting numerous patrols, exercises, and research missions during the Cold War. After a distinguished career spanning over 28 years, USS Tullibee was decommissioned in 1988.
Historical Facts
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Unique Design: USS Tullibee (SSN-597) was the first U.S. Navy submarine built specifically as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) hunter-killer, pioneering a new design focused on quiet operation and advanced sonar systems.
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Small Size: Unlike other nuclear submarines of her era, Tullibee was much smaller, displacing about 2,300 tons, making her the smallest operational nuclear submarine ever built by the United States.
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Turbo-Electric Drive: Tullibee was the first U.S. nuclear submarine to use a turbo-electric propulsion system, which was quieter but less powerful than traditional direct-drive systems.
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Bow-Mounted Sonar Sphere: She was the first submarine in the world to feature a large spherical sonar array in the bow, which became standard for later U.S. attack submarines.
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Construction Milestone: Her keel was laid down at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut on 26 May 1958, and she was launched on 27 April 1960.
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First of Her Name: USS Tullibee (SSN-597) was the second U.S. Navy vessel named after the tullibee, a freshwater whitefish found in North America.
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Experimental Platform: Tullibee served as an experimental platform for many new submarine technologies, including the "teardrop" hull design and advanced noise reduction techniques.
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Operational History: She participated in several Atlantic Fleet exercises, NATO operations, and was among the first submarines assigned to Submarine Development Group 2 for advanced undersea warfare tactics.
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Legacy: Although her design was not adopted for further classes due to cost and performance limitations, many of her innovations influenced future submarine design, especially the Los Angeles and Seawolf classes.
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Decommissioning: After 26 years of service, USS Tullibee was decommissioned at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on 28 June 1988 and later recycled through the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.
