The Skipjack-class submarine, operational from the late 1950s to 1990, marked a significant evolution in submarine design for the U.S. Navy, introducing a high-speed teardrop hull and nuclear power.
For several decades, the U.S. Navy’s Ethan Allen-class of ballistic missile submarines represented a significant portion of America’s nuclear deterrent force. The USS Thomas Jefferson was one of the best of these SSBNs.
Advances in naval warfare during the Cold War were epitomized by the rapid advances in submarine technology. Here are seven of the best Cold War era submarines.