SSN-685 Glenard P. Lipscomb  

Overview

The USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN 685) was the US Navy’s second prototype design using a turbo-electric power plant similar to the Tullibee. The Glenard P. Lipscomb was generally similar to the SSN-637 Sturgeon class, apart from the use of submarine turbo-electric drive [TEDS] rather than the standard geared drive. Intended to test the potential advantages of this propulsion system for providing quieter submarine operations, the substantially larger and heavier machinery also resulted in slower speeds. Those disadvantages, along with reliability issues, led to the decision not to utilize this design on the follow-on SSN-688 Los Angeles class of submarines. Although serving as a test platform, the "Lipscomb Fish" was a fully combat-capable attack submarine.

Sources and Resources  Return to Top

• USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN 685) - navysite.de - Unofficial US Navy Site 
• GLENARD P. LIPSCOMB (SSN 685) - Naval Vessel Register