TomDougherty Posted August 9, 2024 Report Posted August 9, 2024 (edited) Photos of the Iron Shipwright's kit of the USS Glenard P. Lipscomb, SSN 685. The Lipscomb was a modified design Sturgeon class submarine, which had turbo-electric drive in place of steam turbines. This was another effort (along with the previous Tullibee) to produce a quieter running submarine using turbo-electric drive. Steam was provided by the S5W reactor to drive turbo-generators. To accommodate the large DC electric drive, the SCB302.68 design resulted in a displacement of 6,400 tons and a length of 365 feet. Much more displacement and length than the contemporary steam turbine Sturgeon class of 302 feet and 4640 displacement. As a result of the longer hull and increased wetted surface, the Lipscomb, while quiet, was notably slower than the Sturgeons (Lipscomb submerged 23 knots, Sturgeon 26 knots, top speeds). As with other Sturgeon class submarines, a towed array deployment system was added subsequent to launch, with the reel in the forward ballast tanks and a curved cover running down the hull to a supported deployment tube on the port stern fin. Lipscomb was in active service as an SSN, but was retired after only 18 years of service. The Iron Shipwright's kit features a resin hull and 3-D printed sail, planes, rudders, accurate J-screw and masts. It is one of a number of new IS kits of postwar submarines recently released. Edited August 9, 2024 by TomDougherty
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