Tench-class submarine

USS Toro (SS-422) shown post-war, after removal of her deck guns.
USS Toro shown post-war, after removal of her deck guns, c. 1947.[1]
Class overview
Builders
Operators
Preceded byBalao class
Succeeded byBarracuda class
SubclassesCorsair class
Built1944–1951[3]
In commission1944–present[3]
Completed29[2]
Cancelled51[2]
Active1[2][needs update]
Lost1[2]
Retired27[2]
Preserved3
General characteristics
TypeDiesel-electric submarine
Displacement
  • 1,570 tons (1,595 t) surfaced[2]
  • 2,416–2,429 tons (2,455–2468 t) submerged[2]
Length311 ft 8 in – 311 ft 9 in (95.0 m)[2]
Beam27 ft 3 in – 27 ft 4 in (8.3 m)[2]
Draft17 ft (5.2 m) maximum[2]
Propulsion
Speed
  • 20.25 knots (38 km/h) surfaced[4]
  • 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged[4]
Range11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)[5]
Endurance
  • 48 hours at 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged[4]
  • 75 days on patrol
Test depth400 ft (120 m)[4]
Complement10 officers, 71 enlisted[4]
Armament

Tench-class submarines were a type of submarine built for the United States Navy (USN) between 1944 and 1951. They were an improvement over the Gato and Balao classes, only about 35 to 40 tons larger, but more strongly built and with a slightly improved internal layout. One of the ballast tanks was converted to carry fuel, increasing range from 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) to 16,000 nautical miles (30,000 km; 18,000 mi). This improvement was also made on some boats of the previous two classes.[5] Further improvements were made beginning with SS-435, which are sometimes referred to as the Corsair class. Initial plans called for 80 to be built, but 51 were cancelled in 1944 and 1945 when it became apparent that they would not be needed to defeat Japan. The remaining 29 were commissioned between October 1944 (Tench) and February 1951 (Grenadier). The last submarine of the Tench class, as well as the last submarine which served during World War II, remaining in service with the U.S. Navy was USS Tigrone (AGSS-419) which was decommissioned on 27 June 1975.

  1. ^ A Visual Guide to the U.S. Fleet Submarines Part Three: Balao and Tench Classes 1942–1950 pp. 14 & 17, Johnston, David (2012) PigBoats.COM
  2. ^ 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. 280–282. ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
  3. ^ a b Friedman, Norman (1995). U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. pp. 285–304. ISBN 1-55750-263-3.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
  5. ^ a b Friedman through 1945, pp. 209, 351
  6. ^ a b U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
  7. ^ Lenton, H. T. American Submarines (Doubleday, 1973), p.101.