User Guide

♦
Barracuda
Displacement (in tons): . . . . 2000 when surfaced; 2620 when submerged
Dimensions (in feet): . . . . . . 341 x 27 x 14
Machinery: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 diesel engines; 2 electric motors
Max. Power (in hp): . . . . . . . 6700 surfaced; 2400 submerged
Max. Speed (in knots): . . . . . 18 surfaced, 8 submerged
Test Depth (in feet): . . . . . . . 200
Range (in miles): . . . . . . . . . 12000 at 11 knots surfaced
Torpedo Tubes: . . . . . . . . . . 4 forward; 2 aft; 12 torpedoes
Guns: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 – 5 inch
The Barracuda class were an early attempt at what would later be called the
fleet-class submarine. They were not as fast as the S-class when submerged,
but were larger and capable of longer patrols. None of the B-class sub-
marines, Barracuda, Bass, or Bonita saw service during the war, except as
training vessels.
SILENT
HUNTER
42 SUBMARINES: Barracuda
♦
S-Class
Displacement (in tons): . . . . 903 when surfaced; 1230 when submerged
Dimensions (in feet): . . . . . . 265 x 21 x 13
Machinery: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 diesel engines; 2 electric motors
Max. Power (in hp): . . . . . . . 1800 surfaced; 1500 submerged
Max. Speed (in knots): . . . . . 14.5 surfaced, 11 submerged
Test Depth (in feet): . . . . . . . 200
Range (in miles): . . . . . . . . . 8000 at 10 knots surfaced
Torpedo Tubes: . . . . . . . . . . 4 forward; 1 aft; 12 torpedoes
Guns: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 – 4 inch
The oldest U.S. submarines to see combat in World War II were the S-class,
some of which had been launched as early as 1918. Six “sugar boats” were
stationed at Manila with the Asiatic Fleet and six with the Pacific Fleet at
Pearl Harbor. These submarines accounted for fourteen Japanese ships
including the destroyer Natsushio sunk by S-37 in February 1942 and the
cruiser Kako sunk by S-44 in August 1942.
Designed and built during the first World War, S-class submarines were
designed for a defensive role, to interdict other submarines along the
Atlantic coastline. When compared with the later fleet-type submarines,
they were more cramped, smaller, and had a shorter range. They featured
double hull construction with the ballast tanks on the outside of the pres-
sure hull. The hulls were riveted together, as were most ships constructed
prior to the war. Underwater speed was deemed an important feature at the
time of their design, to enable the submarine to evade escorts. Speed was
sacrificed later for more dependable surface performance and safety fea-
tures such as an enclosed bridge.
SILENT
HUNTER
41 SUBMARINES: S-Class