How the Navy’s “target practice” project became a Cold War super-weapon

USS Albacore’s Revolutionary Teardrop Design Transforms Submarine Warfare

In 1953, the USS Albacore slipped into the water with a strange new shape. The Navy had built a sub like no other – a teardrop hull based on a WWI dirigible.

Vice Admiral Momsen had pitched it as mere “target practice” to dodge red tape.

For the next 19 years, Albacore served as a floating lab, testing five major design phases that changed everything about how subs move underwater.

By 1965, she hit a world record speed of 33 knots, faster than nuclear subs of her day. The sleek design soon became the model for every American submarine that followed.

Today, Albacore Park in New Hampshire lets you walk through the very vessel that revolutionized underwater warfare.

Navy Scientists Cooked Up a Submarine Revolution in 1949

After World War II, the US Navy started underwater research in 1949 to make submarines faster.

Engineers tested many hull designs at the David Taylor Model Basin in Maryland and sent the best ones to Langley Air Force Base for wind tunnel tests.

The winning design looked nothing like old submarines. It used a sleek teardrop shape from the WWI R101 airship to cut through water with less drag.

Admiral Momsen’s Clever "Target Practice" Trick

Vice Admiral Charles Momsen knew Navy officials would fight against new submarine designs. So he came up with a smart workaround.

Instead of calling it a combat vessel, he labeled his experimental submarine a “target practice” vessel for training.

This trick avoided the usual red tape and resistance from old-school submarine officers. The Navy approved construction on November 25, 1950.

Portsmouth Shipyard Built Something Never Seen Before

Workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard used new HY-80 high-strength steel to build this unusual submarine. They started construction on March 15, 1952, using new single-hull building methods.

The strange-looking vessel hit the water on August 1, 1953, and the Navy put USS Albacore into service on December 6, 1953.

Lieutenant Commander Kenneth C. Gummerson took charge, with the motto “Praenuntius Futuri” – Forerunner of the Future.

First Sea Trials Showed the Magic of the Teardrop Shape

During the first tests (1953-1955), Albacore tried out front planes and a huge 11-foot propeller. Crews quickly noticed something special – the submarine had “arrow stability.”

If knocked off course, the teardrop hull naturally went back to level without any control inputs. This self-correcting feature made the submarine easier to control and more stable than older models.

Engineers Moved the Propeller for Better Performance

In the second round of changes (1955-1957), they moved the propeller behind the control surfaces for cleaner water flow.

The team tested various control layouts to find the best handling. With each test run, Albacore got faster, clearly beating traditional cigar-shaped submarines.

The data backed up what the wind tunnel tests had shown – the teardrop hull moved through water with much less resistance.

X-Shaped Controls Let Albacore Hit Record Speeds

During the third phase (1957-1961), Albacore got X-shaped control surfaces and ten dive brakes for better turning. The submarine reached 32 knots during these tests, faster than any submarine around.

The boat stayed remarkably steady at these high speeds, something normal submarines couldn’t do. The Navy realized they had found the future of submarine design.

Twin Propellers and Special Batteries Made Her Even Faster

The fourth phase (1962-1968) added counter-rotating propellers to fix spinning problems and boost power.

The team also put in high-capacity silver zinc batteries that gave Albacore more power for underwater sprints.

During secret tests, the submarine reportedly hit speeds between 36-40 knots. These improvements later shaped both regular and nuclear submarine power systems.

Final Tests Focused on Reducing Water Friction

During the last phase (1969-1971), Albacore tested special hull coatings to cut drag. Engineers made final tweaks to control systems and handling.

The team gathered a huge amount of data from nearly twenty years of testing. This information became the foundation for all future American submarine designs.

Albacore Smashed the Underwater Speed Record in 1965

The Navy officially reported Albacore’s world record speed of 33 knots (38 mph) in 1965. This diesel-electric submarine outran nuclear submarines despite having less power.

The record showed the teardrop hull worked better because of smart design rather than raw power. Naval designers worldwide studied these results.

Every Modern Submarine Borrows Albacore’s Shape

The Navy wasted no time putting Albacore’s lessons to work. Every US submarine built since has used design principles tested on Albacore.

They immediately adopted the teardrop hull for the Barbel-class diesel submarines and the nuclear-powered Skipjack class.

The distinctive hull shape you see on modern submarines worldwide traces directly back to this experimental vessel, making it perhaps the most influential submarine design in naval history.

The Submarine That Gave Its Body to Science Lives On

The Navy decommissioned Albacore on December 9, 1972, after nearly 20 years of groundbreaking service.

Officials called her “the submarine that gave its body to science,” a fitting tribute to a vessel that never fired a torpedo in anger but transformed naval warfare forever.

Today, Albacore rests as a museum ship in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where visitors can see the revolutionary hull that changed submarine design for all time.

Visiting Albacore Park, New Hampshire

Albacore Park at 569 Submarine Way in Portsmouth showcases the USS Albacore, which revolutionized submarine design from 1953-1972.

You can explore the control room and look through the periscope on self-guided tours. Admission costs $14 for adults, $8 for kids 2-12, and $10 for seniors and veterans.

Active military gets free entry. The park opens daily 9:30am-4:30pm with longer summer hours.

Check out the memorial garden honoring lost submariners and browse submarine innovations in the gift shop.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• America’s kindest prison sat on this New Hampshire naval base for four years
• Robert Frost’s 10-year farm sentence that birthed a literary legend
• In 1656, New Hampshire locked up its first witch. She wouldn’t break for 24 years.