The Skate-class submarines were the United States Navy's first production run of nuclear-powered submarines. They were an evolution of the Tang class in everything except their propulsion plants, which were based on the operational prototype USS Nautilus. The four Skate class boats re-introduced stern torpedo tubes. Although among the smallest nuclear-powered attack submarines ever built, the Skate class served for many years, with the last being decommissioned in 1989. USS Skate was the first submarine to surface at the North Pole, on 17 March 1959.
USS Skate with an ice pack behind her
Ship Characteristics Board
The Ship Characteristics Board was a unit of the United States Navy.
Project SCB 1 result: the USS Norfolk (CLK-1/DL-1)
Thresher, the first result of project SCB 188, at sea on 24 July 1961