User Guide

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P-Class
Displacement (in tons): . . . . 1330 when surfaced; 2005 when submerged
Dimensions (in feet): . . . . . . 300 x 25 x 13
Machinery: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 diesel engines; 2 electric motors
Max. Power (in hp): . . . . . . . 4300 surfaced; 2336 submerged
Max. Speed (in knots): . . . . . 19 surfaced, 8 submerged
Test Depth (in feet): . . . . . . . 250
Range (in miles): . . . . . . . . . 10000 at 10 knots surfaced
Torpedo Tubes: . . . . . . . . . . 4 forward; 2 aft; 16 torpedoes
Guns: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 – 4 inch
P-class submarines, represented by the Pike, Pickerel, and Permit, were the
earliest pre-cursor to the Gato class. They were innovative in that they were
welded rather than riveted, had air-conditioning, and used diesel engines to
drive generators which powered electric motors. This allowed the subma-
rine to cruise on the surface with one engine while using the other to
charge the batteries used during submerged operation.
Welded construction permitted the submarines to dive deeper and with-
stand attacks from depth charges better. Most of the subs in this class were
divided into nine watertight compartments. A few had additional external
torpedo tubes added fore and aft to increase their firepower.
SILENT
HUNTER
44 SUBMARINES: P-Class
♦
Narwhal
Displacement (in tons): . . . . 2915 when surfaced; 4050 when submerged
Dimensions (in feet): . . . . . . 371 x 33 x 15
Machinery: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 diesel engines; 2 electric motors
Max. Power (in hp): . . . . . . . 6000 surfaced; 2450 submerged
Max. Speed (in knots): . . . . . 17 surfaced, 8 submerged
Test Depth (in feet): . . . . . . . 328
Range (in miles): . . . . . . . . . 18000 at 8 knots surfaced
Torpedo Tubes: . . . . . . . . . . 4 forward; 2 aft; 26 torpedoes
Guns: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 – 6 inch
The Narwhal and Nautilus were submarine cruisers, large enough to
accommodate two 6-inch deck guns and capable of higher surface speeds
than the older S-class. They were derived from an earlier mine-laying
design, the Argonaut. In practice, the greater size needed to accommodate
the second deck gun made the submarine easier to detect and did not make
up for poor handling characteristics. The original diesel engines never deliv-
ered horsepower adequate to the task of maneuvering such a large vessel
and were replaced in 1940. Both submarines were used to deliver supplies to
guerrillas, transport commandos and coast watchers. Between them, they
managed to sink eleven Japanese ships including the destroyer Yamakaze.
SILENT
HUNTER
43 SUBMARINES: Narwhal