Unknown (to me) Sonar Feature

[QuarterMaster]

In this photo of the SHARK circa 1983, I spy with my little eye this sonar(?) appendage.



Any idea? Similar to the AN/WLR-9 Acoustic Intercept I was familiar with on the GRANT?

Also, would asking approximate dimensions and location on the hull be too much? Seems to be outbd stbd of the centerline just aft of the surface waterline demarcation. Wish to place it on my DeBoer SHARK to bring her in line when I toured her back in '79 during Subschool in Groton. It was the first boat I ever stepped aboard hence the tribute. Google is skunking me BIG time!

Thanks in advance for ANY assistance!

[SSN SonarTech]

augmenter dome- g nats dome. On a 637 they were centerline aft. Larger than a WLR-9 Dome

[QuarterMaster]

augmenter dome- g nats dome. On a 637 they were centerline aft. Larger than a WLR-9 Dome

Thanks!!!
Saw it on 'em,wasn't sure. Close enough for Government work on the DeBoer Skipjack. I tend to swat dink's with a dirty fly swatter when they take tape measures to my models. I got enough gut pains just hoping to get the model back after a sail! lol

[SSN SonarTech]

About 2 and 1/2 feet long and foot high from what I remember. stands for " general noise and tonal system"

[greenman407]

Heres another view. There is one on the front as well and also some sort of thingamajig on the starboard side of the sail.

[QuarterMaster]

Thanks for the response. I thought I saw the rectangular hump in another photo as well. I also see another dome fwd/port.
You serve on her?

[SSN SonarTech]

Fwd port and small one forward of the bridge are WLR-9 domes . No idea what the one just after of sail is.

[greenman407]

I had heard that it was a add on towed array setup. But......that's just here say

[QuarterMaster]

I do see something that appears to be trailing off to starboard along the hull and entering the water, possible housing tube for the towed array? Need to really scour post 1980 photos. But to be honest, I'm not sure now if I want to all the extra gear. I see from my photo, the WLR-9 had yet to be added. I could live with the GNATS, but willing to leave off the rest as I do want her to reflect as she was in '79. Wikipedia states she moved to NLON in '78 after a yard period, so I'm thinking the GNATS was added during that 2 year yard refueling period. My photo source is dated 1983 NAVSOURCE, your's in my source dates 1989. So I'm thinking it was added after I toured her. I may reach out to a former crew member.

[trout]

Are we talking about this area?

It looks like to me, I am not a submariner, like a storage area. The triangular objet is a foam or sound dampener. The white item at their feet could be a bollard, but it is too far up. It may be a small pump and those are the hose(s) going to it. you can see some grating angled at the back of the storage.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n114927[/ATTACH] Are we talking about this area?

[BDFguy]

The mystery blob is nothing more than the OK-474 also known as self stream and retrieve for the BQR-25 array, the array and cable if on board was stored coiled up in a figure 8 and tied down to stanchions that could be installed on the trailing edge of the sail area, streaming/retrieving was a shaky op in any sea state but it worked for them. Install time frame was in the mid 80's. The OK-474 was also installed on the Skate class but you never saw it as it was under the superstructure aft of the sail Stbd side.These units replaced the clip on STASS tow point.
The other aft dome discussed here is more likely for GNAU vice GNATS based on the size of it the GNAU was a smaller projector for broadband noise generation only, it came about starting in the early 70's as the diesel boats (prime training target noise source) were all being decommed. GNATS was a slightly larger dome and covered 1 or both the GNAU projector and GNATS projector which generated tonals for narrow band tracking training. these systems were alluded to be sonar jammers in the book U. S. Submarines since 1945 a prime source of bum dope on sonar and fire control systems.

[bwi 971]

Are we talking about this area?

it is long and has a cable tray running fwd and aft

[trout]

BDFguy and Bart, thank you for the information and clarification.
Peace,
Tom

[QuarterMaster]

Thank you ALL for the input.

Again I'll stick with just the GNATS on the stern.