It was originally designed as the first in a class of Submarine Killer (SSK). The idea never gained traction as the idea of a nuclear powered multipurpose sub was found to be better suited fulfill the roles of ASW and ASuW being bigger, faster, and able to carry more weapons then a dedicated SSK. One of the major drawbacks to the Diesel-Electric SSK was it's slow speed for surface transit as well as lack of stores for food and fuel, relegating it to a reletively small AO.
Source: what I remember reading of the Cold War Submarines book by Norman Polmar and K.J. Moore.
|