This illustrated book covers the complete history of the United States' Los Angeles class attack submarines from initial design and construction, through testing and trials, to its current operations. The nuclear-powered USS Los Angeles (SSN-668) class attack submarine represented the lead ship of the largest group of vessels constructed for the US Navy during the Cold War, and was purposefully designed for anti-submarine operations against the Soviets. Sixty-two boats were built and launched between 1976 and 1996, and the class continues to serve in force to this day. The exclusive and extensive photographic coverage of the boat's interior is featured here for the first time. Details of the boats' armament includes: four 21"" bow-mounted torpedo tubes supporting the Mk 48 ADCAP torpedo series; Tomahawk (BGM-109) cruise missile; and Harpoon (UGM-84) anti-ship missile capability. The author's unprecedented access allows the reader a first time view of these submarines. AUTHOR: Over the past thirty-five years, Jim Goodall has authored over two dozen books and articles on military aircraft, naval ships and submarines. This book on the Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit is his twenty-first published work.
Goodall is an expert on Lockheed's family of Blackbirds with multiple books on the subject. He also co-authored and published the very first book on the F-117A Stealth fighter with long time friend, Bill Sweetman. He's written multiple books on Stealth aircraft, photo essays on the US Navy's fleet of Ballistic Missile and Attack Submarines, and on the Nimitz Class CVNs. 470 colour images.