The radar horizon turned the SSRN into a doctrinal dead end. An airborne platform could see farther because it placed the radar much higher, while Triton's powerful AN/SPS-26 made the surfaced submarine an obvious target. The E-1 Tracer entered service in 1958, before Triton commissioned in November 1959. The same radar family also appeared in the two conventional Sailfish-class radar-picket submarines. Plans for nuclear carrier battle groups screened by about four Triton-like boats collapsed, leaving one Triton where the Navy had once considered dozens of radar-picket submarines.
Notable Point · 16:43-21:12
Airborne early warning overtakes the SSRN idea
The video explains why aircraft such as the E-1 Tracer undermined Triton's radar-picket mission before she was fully in service.