Skip the large majority of modern Nuke subs today as well as older subs going way back  have bowplains and for very good reason.Naturaly a vessel will have its rudder at the stern but we are not talking about  rudders,they are for a totaly different dimention!

Bow plains where removed from the Albacore probably because in the persuit of more speed and sream lineing it was thaught that it would be better,but the sub suffered imensly with preciese verticle manuvers and that idea was not made a general practice.
The reason bow plains are made to retract is that they can get damaged at port side and at high flank speed retracted to decrease drag and are not necessary at hight speed ,like a torpedoe,only aft plains will due ,once slowed down or a fast change in direction is needed the forward plains are extendid.


Dave