 USS Balao in 1944
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Balao class |
| Builders | |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Gato class |
| Succeeded by | Tench class |
| Built | 1942–1946[2] |
| In commission | 1943–present[2] |
| Completed | 120[1] |
| Cancelled | 62[1] |
| Active | 1 |
| Lost | 14 (11 in United States service, 3 in foreign service)[1] |
| Retired | 105[1] |
| Preserved | 8[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement | 1,526 tons (1,550 t) surfaced,[1] 2,391–2,424 tons (2,429–2463 t) submerged[1] |
| Length | 311 ft 6 in–311 ft 10 in (94.9–95.0 m)[1] |
| Beam | 27 ft 3 in–27 ft 4 in (8.3 m)[1] |
| Draft | 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum[1] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 20.25 knots (38 km/h) surfaced,[3] 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged[3] |
| Range | 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced @ 10 knots (19 km/h)[3] |
| Endurance | 48 hours @ 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged,[3] 75 days on patrol |
| Test depth | 400 ft (120 m)[3] |
| Complement | 10 officers, 70–71 enlisted men[3] |
| Armament |
|
The Balao class was a design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 120[1] boats completed, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlier Gato class, the boats had slight internal differences. The most significant improvement was the use of thicker, higher yield strength steel in the pressure hull skins and frames,[5] which increased their test depth to 400 feet (120 m). Tang actually achieved a depth of 612 ft (187 m) during a test dive,[6] and exceeded that test depth when taking on water in the forward torpedo room while evading a destroyer.[7][8]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 275–280. ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
- ^ a b Friedman through 1945, pp. 285–304.
- ^ a b c d e f g Friedman through 1945, pp. 305–311.
- ^ a b U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
- ^ Peter T. Sasgen (2002). Red Scorpion: The War Patrols of the USS Rasher. Naval Institute Press. p. 17.
- ^ Richard H. O'Kane (1977). Clear the Bridge! The War Patrols of the USS Tang. Presidio Press. p. 40.
- ^ Richard H. O'Kane (1977). Clear the Bridge! The War Patrols of the USS Tang. Presidio Press. p. 111.
- ^ Farley, Robert (18 October 2014). "The Five Best Submarines of All Time". The National Interest.