User Guide

♦
Balao
Displacement (in tons): . . . . 1826 when surfaced; 2391 when submerged
Dimensions (in feet): . . . . . . 312 x 27 x 15
Machinery: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 diesel engines; 4 electric motors
Max. Power (in hp): . . . . . . . 5400 surfaced; 2740 submerged
Max. Speed (in knots): . . . . . 20.75 surfaced, 8.75 submerged
Test Depth (in feet): . . . . . . . 400
Range (in miles): . . . . . . . . . 11800 at 10 knots surfaced
95 at 5 knots submerged
Torpedo Tubes: . . . . . . . . . . 6 forward; 4 aft; 24 torpedoes
Guns: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 – 5 inch
See Gato, page 47.
SILENT
HUNTER
48 SUBMARINES: Balao
♦
Gato
Displacement (in tons): . . . . 1825 when surfaced; 2410 when submerged
Dimensions (in feet): . . . . . . 312 x 27 x 15
Machinery: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 diesel engines; 4 electric motors
Max. Power (in hp): . . . . . . . 5400 surfaced; 2740 submerged
Max. Speed (in knots): . . . . . 20.75 surfaced, 8.75 submerged
Test Depth (in feet): . . . . . . . 300
Range (in miles): . . . . . . . . . 11800 at 10 knots surfaced
95 at 5 knots submerged
Torpedo Tubes: . . . . . . . . . . 6 forward; 4 aft; 24 torpedoes
Guns: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 – 4 inch
The Gato, Balao (pronounced ba-ley’-o), and Tench classes were virtually
identical and formed the backbone of the U.S. submarine force from late
1942 through the end of the war. The fundamental “fleet” submarine, they
were all of welded construction and capable of operating at greater depths
than their predecessors— they had crush depths of up to 750 feet which
allowed operation at depths of between 300 and 400 feet. The displacement
of these fleet class submarines was increased again to more than 1800 tons
to accommodate even more batteries and improved diesel engines. The
crew complement for a war patrol was 80 officers and crewmen.
One hundred and eighty five submarines of these three classes saw war
service; 73 Gato, 101 Balao, and 11 Tench. Of the twenty highest scoring
submarines in both tonnage and number of ships sunk, two thirds were
either Gato or Balao class. The top three submarines in terms of tonnage
sunk were all Gato class, the Flasher, the Rasher and the Barb with nearly
300,000 tons sunk between them. The Skate, which was commanded by
Bud Gruner was a Balao class.
SILENT
HUNTER
47 SUBMARINES: Gato