OVERVIEW: The SSN 671 *Narwhal* is a submarine of the United States Navy, commissioned in 1994.

DETAILS: The *Narwhal* represents a significant development in US Navy submarine design, though further details of the class and initial construction remain unavailable within open-source resources. Commissioned in the mid-1990s, she would have benefited from technological advancements in sonar, fire control, and propulsion systems prevalent during that era. Design philosophies of the time emphasized stealth, long-range endurance, and enhanced acoustic performance to effectively counter evolving Soviet and post-Soviet submarine threats. These later builds emphasized improvements across the board based on lessons learned and sensor technologies developed since earlier iterations of the platform.

Primarily an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform, the *Narwhal* likely possesses secondary anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities. Her sensor suite is tailored to detect, track, and engage both submarine and surface targets. The 533mm torpedo tubes provide the capacity to employ a variety of torpedoes and possibly submarine-launched cruise missiles, enhancing her offensive capabilities against both maritime and land-based targets. She is likely involved in intelligence gathering missions, utilizing her advanced sensor suite to monitor adversary naval activities.

The *Narwhal's* extensive sensor array is crucial for her operational effectiveness. The AN/WLR-9A likely serves as a radar warning receiver, providing situational awareness of potential air or surface threats emitting radar signals. The AN/WLQ-4 Sea Nymph electronic support measures (ESM) system facilitates the identification and analysis of electronic emissions, aiding in target identification and threat assessment. The AN/TB-23/BQ and AN/TB-16B towed arrays provide long-range passive acoustic detection capabilities, crucial for detecting quiet submarines. The AN/BQS-14 is an active sonar system, useful for close-range detection and target classification. The AN/BPS-14 radar would enable surface navigation and target detection when surfaced or at periscope depth. The inclusion of NA-25X radar/IR suggests a more advanced surface detection and tracking capability, possibly used in conjunction with the optical and low-light television periscopes. The AN/BRD-6 direction finder likely provides precise bearing information on radio transmissions, assisting in intelligence gathering.

SPECIFICATION: Length: 96.0 m || Beam: 9.7 m || Draft: 8.8 m || Disp: 5027 t

SENSORS: AN/WLR-9A || AN/WLQ-4 Sea Nymph || AN/TB-23/BQ || AN/BQS-14 || AN/BPS-14 || AN/TB-16B || NA-25X [Radar/IR] || AN/BRD-6 || Generic Submarine Periscope, Optical || Generic Submarine Periscope, LLTV

ARMAMENT: 533mm Mk67 TT || 3-inch Signal Ejector