The Skipjack class of United States Navy nuclear attack submarine was the replacement for the Skate class. A new design from the keel up, they were the first submarines to use a nuclear reactor in an Albacore hull: a round hull with a single shaft. Placement of the bow planes on the sail greatly reduced flow noise at the bow-mounted sonar. Deep-diving and high speed capabilities were the result of HY-80 construction and the new S5W reactor.

The Skipjacks were the fastest submarines in the United States Navy until the Los Angeles class was launched.

General characteristics

• Displacement: 3070 tons surfaced, 3513 tons submerged
• Length: ~80 meters (252 feet)
• Beam: ~10 meters (31 feet)
• Speed: 27.75 km/h surfaced (15 knots), 53.65 km/h submerged (29 knots)
• Test Depth: 700 feet
• Power Plant: one nuclear reactor, two steam turbines, one shaft

Ships

• USS Skipjack (SSN-585)
• USS Scamp (SSN-588)
• USS Scorpion (SSN-589)
• USS Sculpin (SSN-590)
• USS Shark (SSN-591)
• USS Snook (SSN-592)