USS Tang (SS-563)

USS Tang entering Pearl Harbor
USS Tang leaving Pearl Harbor
History
United States
NameUSS Tang
Awarded16 May 1947
BuilderPortsmouth Naval Shipyard
Laid down18 April 1949
Launched19 June 1951
Commissioned25 October 1951
Decommissioned8 February 1980
Fate
  • Leased to Turkey, 8 February 1980
  • Sold to Turkey, 1987
Stricken6 August 1987
Turkey
NamePirireis
Acquired8 February 1980
Commissioned8 February 1980
DecommissionedAugust 2004
IdentificationS343
FateMuseum ship
General characteristics
Class and typeTang-class submarine Attack submarine
Displacement
  • 1,616 long tons (1,642 t) surfaced
  • 2,100 long tons (2,134 t) submerged
Length
  • 269 ft (82 m) originally
  • 287 ft (87 m) after rebuild
Beam27 ft (8.2 m)
Draft17 ft (5.2 m)
Speed
  • 16.3 knots (18.8 mph; 30.2 km/h) surfaced
  • 17.4 knots (20.0 mph; 32.2 km/h) submerged
Complement87 officers and men
Armament

USS Tang (SS/AGSS-563), the lead ship of her class, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the tang.

She was the first American submarine designed (as opposed to modified) under the Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) for underwater performance rather than surfaced speed and handling. Key features included removing the deck guns, streamlining the outer hull, replacing the conning tower with a sail, installing new propellers designed for submerged operations, installing more air conditioning and a snorkel mast, and doubling the battery capacity.

The contract to build her was awarded to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on 16 May 1947. Her keel was laid down on 18 April 1949. She was launched on 19 June 1951 sponsored by Mrs. Ernestine O'Kane, the wife of Richard H. O'Kane, and commissioned on 25 October 1951 with Commander Enders P. Huey in command.[1]

  1. ^ Galantin, I. J. Submarine Admiral: From Battlewagons to Ballistic Missiles, p. 139. Google Books. His exec was William R. Anderson, who commanded Nautilus on her famous North Pole transit.