USS Caiman

Caiman (SS-323), Spring 1951 following GUPPY upgrade.
Caiman (SS-323), spring 1951, following GUPPY upgrade.
History
United States
NameUSS Caiman (SS-323)
NamesakeThe caiman, a salt-water latiloid fish of Florida and the West Indies, and caiman, a genus of crocodilians of Central America and South America
BuilderElectric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut[1]
Laid down24 June 1943[1]
Launched30 March 1944[1]
Commissioned17 July 1944[1]
Decommissioned30 June 1972[1]
Stricken30 June 1972[2]
FateTransferred to Turkey, 30 June 1972[1]
Turkey
NameTCG Dumlupınar (S 339)
Commissioned24 August 1972
Decommissioned6 February 1983
RenamedCeryan Botu (Y-1247) 6 February 1983
ReclassifiedCharging boat 6 February 1983
In service6 February 1983
Out of service15 September 1986
FateRetired 15 September 1986
General characteristics (As completed)
Class and typeBalao-class diesel-electric submarine[2]
Displacement
  • 1,526 tons (1,550 t) surfaced[2]
  • 2,424 tons (2,463 t) submerged[2]
Length311 ft 9 in (95.02 m)[2]
Beam27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)[2]
Draft16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum[2]
Propulsion
Speed
  • 20.25 knots (38 km/h) surfaced[3]
  • 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged[3]
Range11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)[3]
Endurance
  • 48 hours at 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged[3]
  • 75 days on patrol
Test depth400 ft (120 m)[3]
Complement10 officers, 70–71 enlisted[3]
Armament
General characteristics (Guppy IA)
Class and typenone
Displacement
  • 1,830 tons (1,859 t) surfaced[6]
  • 2,440 tons (2,479 t) submerged[6]
Length307 ft 7 in (93.8 m)[5]
Beam27 ft 4 in (8.3 m)[5]
Draft17 ft (5.2 m)[5]
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced:
  • 17.3 knots (32.0 km/h) maximum
  • 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h) cruising
  • Submerged:
  • 15.0 knots (27.8 km/h) for ½ hour
  • 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h) snorkeling
  • 3.0 knots (5.6 km/h) cruising[6]
Range17,000 nm (28,000 km) surfaced at 11 knots (20 km/h)[5]
Endurance36 hours at 3 knots (6 km/h) submerged[5]
Complement
  • 10 officers
  • 5 petty officers
  • 64–69 enlisted men
Armament

USS Caiman (SS-323), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy that was later transferred to the Turkish Naval Forces in 1972 under the Security Assistance Program, where she was recommissioned as the third TCG Dumlupınar. She was retired in 1986.

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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.
  3. ^ a b c d e f U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305-311
  4. ^ a b U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
  5. ^ a b c d e f U.S. Submarines Since 1945 pp. 242
  6. ^ a b c d e f Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. pp. 11–43. ISBN 1-55750-260-9.