One hundred twenty Balao-class submarines were built during and after World War II, commissioned from February 1943 through September 1948, with 12 commissioned postwar. [1] This was the most numerous US submarine class. Nine of the 52 US submarines lost in World War II were of this class, along with five lost postwar, including one in Turkish service in 1953, one in Argentine service in the Falklands War of 1982, and one in Peruvian service in 1988. [1] [2] Also, Lancetfish flooded and sank while fitting out at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 15 March 1945. She was raised but not repaired, and was listed with the reserve fleet postwar until struck in 1958. Some of the class served actively in the US Navy through the middle 1970s, and one (Hai Pao ex-Tusk) is still active in Taiwan's Republic of China Navy.
The primary improvement of the Balao class over the preceding Gato class was an increase in test depth from 300 feet (91 m) to 400 feet (120 m), which was shared with the subsequent Tench class. This, combined with generally less wartime service than previous classes, led to the Balao and Tench classes being preferred for modernization programs and active postwar service. 36 Balaos were modernized under various GUPPY conversion programs, plus 19 received the more austere "Fleet Snorkel" modernization, often in connection with foreign transfers. [3]
SS-361 through SS-364 were initially ordered as Balao-class, and were assigned hull numbers that fall in the middle of the range of numbers for the Balao class (SS-285 through SS-416 & SS-425–426). [4] Thus, in some references they are listed with this class. However, they were completed by Manitowoc as Gatos, due to an unavoidable delay in Electric Boat's development of Balao-class drawings. Manitowoc was a follow yard to Electric Boat, and was dependent on them for designs and drawings. [1] [5]
A total of 125 U.S. submarines were cancelled during World War II, all but three between 29 July 1944 and 12 August 1945. The exceptions were USS Wahoo (SS-516), USS Unicorn (SS-436), and USS Walrus (SS-437), cancelled 7 January 1946. References vary considerably as to how many of these were Balaos and how many were Tenches. Some references simply assume all submarines numbered after SS-416 were Tench class; however, USS Trumpetfish (SS-425) and USS Tusk (SS-426) were completed as Balaos. [6] [7] This yields 10 cancelled Balao-class, SS-353-360 and 379-380. The Register of Ships of the U. S. Navy differs, considering every submarine not specifically ordered as a Tench to be a Balao, and further projecting SS-551-562 as a future class. [1] This yields 62 cancelled Balao class, 51 cancelled Tench class, and 12 cancelled SS-551 class. This article follows the information in the "Register". Two of the cancelled Balao-class submarines, Turbot and Ulua, were launched incomplete and served for years as experimental hulks at Annapolis and Norfolk, Virginia. Two of the cancelled Tench-class boats, Unicorn and Walrus, were also launched incomplete, never commissioned, but listed with the Reserve fleet until struck in 1958 and scrapped in 1959. The cancelled hull numbers, including those launched incomplete, were SS-353-360 (Balao), 379–380 (Balao), 427–434 (Balao), 436–437 (Tench), 438–474 (Balao), 491–521 (Tench), 526-529 (Tench), 530–536 (Balao), 537-550 (Tench), and 551-562 (SS-551 class). [1]
Abbreviations and hull classification symbols for postwar redesignations/conversions:
Ship Name | Hull no. | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm./ | Decomm. | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balao | SS-285 | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine | 26 Jun 1942 | 27 Oct 1942 | 4 Feb 1943 | 20 Aug 1946 | AGSS 1 Apr 1960; struck 1 Aug 1963, sunk as target 4 Sep 1963, conning tower preserved as memorial at US Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard, DC [11] [12] |
4 Mar 1952 | 11 Jul 1963 | ||||||
Billfish | SS-286 | 23 Jul 1942 | 12 Nov 1942 | 20 Apr 1943 | 1 Nov 1946 | PT 1960-1968, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Apr 1968, sold for scrap 17 Mar 1971 [11] | |
1 Jan 1960 | 1 Apr 1968 | ||||||
Bowfin | SS-287 | 23 Jul 1942 | 7 Dec 1942 | 1 May 1943 | 12 Feb 1947 | PT 1960-1971, AGSS 1 Dec 1962, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 1 Dec 1971, memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii [11] [13] | |
27 Jul 1951 | 22 Apr 1954 | ||||||
10 Jan 1960 | 1 Dec 1971 | ||||||
Cabrilla | SS-288 | 18 Aug 1942 | 24 Dec 1942 | 24 May 1943 | 7 Aug 1946 | PT 1960-1968, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1968, memorial at Galveston, Texas 1968-1971, sold for scrap 18 Apr 1972 [11] | |
May 1960 | 30 Jun 1968 | ||||||
Capelin | SS-289 | 14 Sep 1942 | 20 Jan 1943 | 4 Jun 1943 | — | Lost to unknown cause, c. 2 Dec 1943 [1] [11] | |
Cisco | SS-290 | 29 Oct 1942 | 24 Dec 1942 | 10 May 1943 | Lost to Japanese air and surface attack, 28 Sep 1943 [1] [11] | ||
Crevalle | SS-291 | 14 Nov 1942 | 22 Feb 1943 | 24 Jun 1943 | 29 Jul 1946 | AGSS 1 Apr 1960, PT 1962-1968; struck 15 Apr 1968, sold for scrap 17 Mar 1971 [11] | |
6 Sep 1951 | 19 Aug 1955 | ||||||
11 Apr 1957 | 9 Mar 1962 | ||||||
Devilfish | SS-292 | Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 31 Mar 1942 | 30 May 1943 | 1 Sep 1944 | 30 Sep 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Mar 1967, used for explosives tests, sunk as a target off San Francisco, California 14 Aug 1968 [1] [11] |
Dragonet | SS-293 | 28 Apr 1942 | 18 Apr 1943 | 6 Mar 1944 | 16 Apr 1946 | Struck 1 Jun 1961, scuttled in Chesapeake Bay [11] after tests 17 Sep 1961 | |
Escolar | SS-294 | 10 Jun 1942 | 18 Apr 1943 | 2 Jun 1944 | — | Lost to unknown cause, probably Japanese mine, 17 Oct 1944 [1] [11] | |
Hackleback | SS-295 | 15 Aug 1942 | 30 May 1943 | 7 Nov 1944 | 20 Mar 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Mar 1967, sold for scrap 4 Dec 1968 [11] | |
Lancetfish | SS-296 | Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Boston Naval Shipyard | 30 Sep 1942 | 15 Aug 1943 | 12 Feb 1945 | 24 Mar 1945 | Flooded and sank Boston Naval Shipyard 15 Mar 1945, raised but not repaired, listed with the reserve fleet; struck 9 Jun 1958, sold for scrap 20 Aug 1959 [11] [14] |
Ling | SS-297 | 2 Nov 1942 | 15 Aug 1943 | 8 Jun 1945 | 26 Oct 1946 | PT 1960-1971, AGSS 1 Dec 1962, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 1 Dec 1971, memorial at Hackensack, New Jersey [11] [15] | |
March 1960 | 1 Dec 1971 | ||||||
Lionfish | SS-298 | Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine | 15 Dec 1942 | 7 Nov 1943 | 1 Nov 1944 | 16 Jan 1946 | PT 1960-1971, AGSS 1 Dec 1962, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, memorial at Fall River, Massachusetts [11] [16] |
31 Jan 1951 | 15 Dec 1953 | ||||||
1 Mar 1960 | 20 Dec 1971 | ||||||
Manta | SS-299 | 15 Jan 1943 | 7 Nov 1943 | 18 Dec 1944 | 10 Jun 1946 | AGSS 16 Aug 1949, target ship 1949-1953, PT 1960-1967, hull tests 1967-1969; struck 30 Jun 1967, sunk as target 16 Jul 1969 [17] [18] | |
2 Aug 1949 | 6 Dec 1955 | ||||||
1 Apr 1960 | 30 Jun 1967 | ||||||
Moray | SS-300 | Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 21 Apr 1943 | 14 May 1944 | 26 Jan 1945 | 12 Apr 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Apr 1967, sunk as target 18 Jun 1970 [17] |
Roncador | SS-301 | 21 Apr 1943 | 14 May 1944 | 8 Jun 1945 | 26 Oct 1946 | PT 1960-1971, AGSS 1 Dec 1962, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 1 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 1 Feb 1973, conning tower internals preserved at US Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard, DC, external fairwater preserved at Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, California [12] [17] [19] | |
February 1960 | 1 Dec 1971 | ||||||
Sabalo | SS-302 | 5 Jun 1943 | 4 Jun 1944 | 19 Jun 1945 | 7 Aug 1946 | FS 1952; struck 1 Jul 1971, sunk as target 21 Feb 1973 [17] [20] | |
1 Jun 1951 | 1 Jul 1971 | ||||||
Sablefish | SS-303 | 5 Jun 1943 | 4 Jun 1944 | 18 Dec 1945 | 1 Nov 1969 | FS 1951, AGSS 30 Jun 1969; struck 1 Nov 1969, sold for scrap 29 Jul 1971 [17] | |
Seahorse | SS-304 | Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California | 1 Jul 1942 | 9 Jan 1943 | 31 Mar 1943 | 2 Mar 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Mar 1967, sold for scrap 4 Dec 1968 [17] |
Skate | SS-305 | 1 Aug 1942 | 4 Mar 1943 | 15 Apr 1943 | 11 Dec 1946 | Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons tests July 1946; sunk as target 5 Oct 1948, struck 21 Oct 1948 [1] [17] [21] | |
Tang | SS-306 | 15 Jan 1943 | 17 Aug 1943 | 15 Oct 1943 | — | Lost due to circular run of own torpedo, 24 Oct 1944 [17] | |
Tilefish | SS-307 | 10 Mar 1943 | 25 Oct 1943 | 15 Dec 1943 | 12 Oct 1959 | FS 1960, transferred to Venezuela as Carite 4 May 1960; struck 1 Dec 1960, decommissioned by Venezuela for spare parts 28 Jan 1977 [17] [22] | |
30 Jan 1960 | 4 May 1960 | ||||||
Apogon | SS-308 | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine | 9 Dec 1942 | 10 Mar 1943 | 16 Jul 1943 | — | Converted to remote control, sunk in Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons tests 25 Jul 1946; struck 25 Feb 1947 [1] [17] [23] |
Aspro | SS-309 | 27 Dec 1942 | 7 Apr 1943 | 31 Jul 1943 | 30 Jan 1946 | AGSS 1 Jul 1960; struck 7 Sep 1962, sunk as target 16 Nov 1962 [17] | |
23 Sep 1951 | 30 Apr 1954 | ||||||
4 May 1957 [24] | 7 Sep 1962 [25] | ||||||
Batfish | SS-310 | 27 Dec 1942 | 5 May 1943 | 21 Aug 1943 | 6 Apr 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962, PT 1960-1969; struck 1 Nov 1969, memorial at Muskogee, Oklahoma [17] [26] | |
7 Mar 1952 | January 1960 | ||||||
January 1960 | 1 Nov 1969 | ||||||
Archerfish | SS-311 | 22 Jan 1943 | 28 May 1943 | 4 Sep 1943 | 12 Jun 1946 | AGSS 22 Feb 1960; struck 1 May 1968, sunk as target 19 Oct 1968 [17] | |
7 Mar 1952 | 21 Oct 1955 | ||||||
1 Aug 1957 | 1 May 1968 | ||||||
Burrfish | SS-312 | 24 Feb 1943 | 18 Jun 1943 | 13 Sep 1943 | 10 Oct 1946 | SSR 1 Feb 1949, SS 15 Jan 1961, transferred to Canada as Grilse 11 May 1961; returned to US and struck 19 Jul 1969, sunk as target 19 Nov 1969 [17] [27] | |
2 Nov 1948 | 17 Dec 1956 | ||||||
17 Jan 1961 | 11 May 1961 | ||||||
Perch | SS-313 | Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut | 5 Jan 1943 | 12 Sep 1943 | 7 Jan 1944 | 15 Jan 1947 | SSP 20 Jan 1948, ASSP 31 Jan 1950, APSS 24 Oct 1956, PT 1967-1971, LPSS 1 Jan 1969, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 1 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 15 Jan 1973 [17] |
20 May 1948 | 31 Mar 1960 | ||||||
11 Nov 1961 | 27 May 1967 | ||||||
Shark | SS-314 | 28 Jan 1943 | 17 Oct 1943 | 14 Feb 1944 | — | Lost to Japanese surface attack, 24 Oct 1944 [1] [17] | |
Sealion | SS-315 | 25 Feb 1943 | 31 Oct 1943 | 8 Mar 1944 | 16 Feb 1946 | SSP 5 Apr 1948, ASSP 31 Jan 1950, APSS 24 Oct 1956, PT 1960-1961, LPSS 1 Jan 1969; struck 15 Mar 1977, test hulk, sunk as target 8 Jul 1978 [17] | |
2 Nov 1948 | 30 Jun 1960 | ||||||
20 Oct 1961 | 20 Feb 1970 | ||||||
Barbel | SS-316 | 11 Mar 1943 | 14 Nov 1943 | 3 Apr 1944 | — | Lost to Japanese air attack, 4 Feb 1945 [1] [17] | |
Barbero | SS-317 | 25 Mar 1943 | 12 Dec 1943 | 29 Apr 1944 | 30 Jun 1950 | SSA 5 Apr 1948, ASSA 31 Jan 1950, SSG 25 Oct 1955; struck 1 Jul 1964, sunk as target 7 Oct 1964 [17] | |
28 Oct 1955 | 30 Jun 1964 | ||||||
Baya | SS-318 | 8 Apr 1943 | 2 Jan 1944 | 20 May 1944 | 14 May 1946 | AGSS 16 Aug 1949 (sonar tests); struck 30 Oct 1972, sold for scrap October 1973 [17] | |
10 Feb 1948 | 30 Oct 1972 | ||||||
Becuna | SS-319 | 29 Apr 1943 | 30 Jan 1944 | 27 May 1944 | 7 Nov 1969 | G IA 1951, AGSS 1 Oct 1969, SS 30 Jun 1971; struck 15 Aug 1973, memorial at Philadelphia, PA [17] [28] | |
Bergall | SS-320 | 13 May 1943 | 16 Feb 1944 | 12 Jun 1944 | 18 Oct 1958 | FS 1952, transferred to Turkey 18 Oct 1958 as Turgutreis; sold to Turkey and struck 15 Feb 1973, decommissioned by Turkey 5 Apr 1983, renamed Ceryah Botu 6, receiving ship at Gölcük Naval Base until sold for scrap in 2000 [17] [29] | |
Besugo | SS-321 | 27 May 1943 | 27 Feb 1944 | 19 Jun 1944 | 21 Mar 1958 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962, FS 1966, transferred to Italy 31 Mar 1966 as Francesco Morosini; returned to US custody and struck 15 Nov 1975, sold for scrap 16 Apr 1976 [17] [30] | |
Blackfin | SS-322 | 10 Jun 1943 | 12 Mar 1944 | 4 Jul 1944 | 19 Nov 1948 | G IA 1951; struck 15 Sep 1972, sunk as target 13 May 1973 [1] [17] | |
15 May 1951 | 15 Sep 1972 | ||||||
Caiman | SS-323 | 24 Jun 1943 | 30 Mar 1944 | 17 Jul 1944 | 30 Jun 1972 | G IA 1951, sold to Turkey 30 Jun 1972 as Dumlupinar (S339); decommissioned by Turkey 6 Feb 1983, renamed Ceryan Botu (Y-1247), battery charging hulk at Gölcük Naval Base; sold for scrap 15 Sep 1986 [31] [32] | |
Blenny | SS-324 | 8 Jul 1943 | 9 Apr 1944 | 27 Jul 1944 | 7 Nov 1969 | G IA 1951, AGSS 1 Oct 1969, SS 30 Jun 1971; struck 15 Aug 1973, scuttled 7 Jun 1989 as part of artificial reef near Ocean City, Maryland [1] [31] | |
Blower | SS-325 | 15 Jul 1943 | 23 Apr 1944 | 10 Aug 1944 | 16 Nov 1950 | FS 1950, transferred to Turkey 16 Nov 1950 as Dumlupinar (D-6); struck 20 Dec 1950 (probably purchased by Turkey), [1] lost due to collision with MV Naboland 4 Apr 1953. [31] [33] | |
Blueback | SS-326 | 29 Jul 1943 | 7 May 1944 | 28 Aug 1944 | 23 May 1948 | Transferred to Turkey 23 May 1948 as Ikinci İnönü, struck 28 May 1948, [1] FS 1953; decommissioned by Turkey 30 Nov 1973 and returned to US custody, fate unknown [31] [34] | |
Boarfish | SS-327 | 12 Aug 1943 | 21 May 1944 | 23 Sep 1944 | 23 May 1948 | Transferred to Turkey 23 May 1948 as Sakarya, struck 28 May 1948, [1] FS 1953; decommissioned by Turkey 12 Dec 1975, returned to US custody and sold for scrap 1980 [31] [35] | |
Charr | SS-328 | 26 Aug 1943 | 28 May 1944 | 23 Sep 1944 | 28 Jun 1969 | FS 1951, AGSS 1 Jul 1966, PT 1969-1971, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 17 Aug 1972 [1] [31] | |
28 Jun 1969 | 20 Dec 1971 | ||||||
Chub | SS-329 | 16 Sep 1943 | 18 Jun 1944 | 21 Oct 1944 | 23 May 1948 | Transferred to Turkey 25 May 1948 as Gür, struck 28 May 1948, [1] FS 1953; decommissioned by Turkey 12 Dec 1975 and returned to US custody, sold for scrap 22 May 1976 [31] [36] | |
Brill | SS-330 | 23 Sep 1943 | 25 Jun 1944 | 26 Oct 1944 | 23 May 1948 | Transferred to Turkey 25 May 1948 as Birinci İnönü, struck 28 May 1948, [1] FS 1953; decommissioned by Turkey 29 Nov 1972 and returned to US custody, fate unknown [31] [37] | |
Bugara | SS-331 | 21 Oct 1943 | 2 Jul 1944 | 15 Nov 1944 | 1 Oct 1970 | FS 1951, AGSS 30 Jun 1969, SS 1 Oct 1969; struck 1 Oct 1970, slated to be sunk as target but sank under tow 1 Jun 1971 [31] | |
Bullhead | SS-332 | 21 Oct 1943 | 16 Jul 1944 | 4 Dec 1944 | — | Lost to Japanese air attack, 6 Aug 1945 [1] [31] | |
Bumper | SS-333 | 6 Nov 1943 | 6 Aug 1944 | 9 Dec 1944 | 16 Nov 1950 | FS 1950, transferred to Turkey 16 Nov 1950 as Çanakkale, struck 20 Dec 1950; [1] decommissioned by Turkey 8 Nov 1976, fate unknown [31] [38] | |
Cabezon | SS-334 | 18 Nov 1943 | 27 Aug 1944 | 30 Dec 1944 | 24 Oct 1953 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962, PT 1960-1970; struck 15 May 1970, sold for scrap 28 Dec 1971 [31] | |
April 1960 | 15 May 1970 | ||||||
Dentuda | SS-335 | 18 Nov 1943 | 10 Sep 1944 | 30 Dec 1944 | 11 Dec 1946 | Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons tests July 1946, PT 1946-1967, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1967, sold for scrap 12 Feb 1969 [31] | |
11 Dec 1946 | 30 Jun 1967 | ||||||
Capitaine | SS-336 | 2 Dec 1943 | 1 Oct 1944 | 26 Jan 1945 | 10 Feb 1950 | AGSS 1 Jul 1960, FS 1966, transferred to Italy 4 Mar 1966 as Alfredo Cappellini; struck and sold to Italy 5 Dec 1977, fate unknown [31] | |
23 Feb 1957 | 4 Mar 1966 | ||||||
Carbonero | SS-337 | 16 Dec 1943 | 15 Oct 1944 | 7 Feb 1945 | 1 Dec 1970 | Loon missile test launcher 1949, FS 1952, AGSS 30 Jun 1969, SS 1 Oct 1969, struck 1 Dec 1970, sunk as target 27 Apr 1975 [31] | |
Carp | SS-338 | 23 Dec 1943 | 12 Nov 1944 | 28 Feb 1945 | 18 Mar 1968 | FS 1952, AGSS 1 May 1968, PT 1968-1971, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 26 Jul 1973 [31] | |
18 Mar 1968 | 20 Dec 1971 | ||||||
Catfish | SS-339 | 6 Jan 1944 | 19 Nov 1944 | 19 Mar 1945 | 1 Jul 1971 | G II 1949, struck and sold to Argentina 1 Jul 1971 as Santa Fe (S-21); damaged, grounded, and abandoned following British air attack 25 Apr 1982, scuttled 10 Feb 1985 [31] [39] | |
Entemedor | SS-340 | 3 Feb 1944 | 17 Dec 1944 | 6 Apr 1945 | 10 Dec 1948 | G IIA 1952; struck and sold to Turkey 31 Jul 1972 as Preveze; decommissioned by Turkey 20 Mar 1986, fate unknown [31] [40] | |
24 Oct 1950 | 31 Jul 1972 | ||||||
Chivo | SS-341 | 21 Feb 1944 | 14 Jan 1945 | 28 Apr 1945 | 1 Jul 1971 | G IA 1951; struck and sold to Argentina 1 Jul 1971 as Santiago del Estero (S-22); decommissioned by Argentina January 1981, sold for scrap 1983 [31] [41] | |
Chopper | SS-342 | 2 Mar 1944 | 4 Feb 1945 | 25 May 1945 | 27 Aug 1969 | G IA 1951, AGSS 15 Sep 1969, PT 1969-1971, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 1 Oct 1971, salvage and rescue hulk, sunk 21 Jul 1976 while being rigged as underwater target [31] | |
Clamagore | SS-343 | 16 Mar 1944 | 25 Feb 1945 | 28 Jun 1945 | 12 Jun 1973 | G II 1948, G III 1962; struck 12 Jun 1975, memorial at Patriots' Point, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina [31] [42] | |
Cobbler | SS-344 | 3 Apr 1944 | 1 Apr 1945 | 8 Aug 1945 | 21 Nov 1973 | G II 1949, G III 1962; struck and sold to Turkey 21 Nov 1973 as Çanakkale; decommissioned by Turkey 22 Jan 1998, fate unknown [31] [43] | |
Cochino | SS-345 | 13 Apr 1944 | 20 Apr 1945 | 25 Aug 1945 | — | G II 1949; lost due to battery fire 26 Aug 1949 [31] | |
Corporal | SS-346 | 27 Apr 1944 | 10 Jun 1945 | 9 Nov 1945 | 21 Nov 1973 | G II 1948, G III 1962; struck and sold to Turkey 21 Nov 1973 as Ikinci İnönü; decommissioned by Turkey 2 Sep 1996, fate unknown [31] [44] | |
Cubera | SS-347 | 11 May 1944 | 17 Jun 1945 | 19 Dec 1945 | 5 Jan 1972 | G II 1948; struck and sold to Venezuela 5 Jan 1972 as Tiburon; decommissioned by Venezuela and sold for scrap February 1987 [31] [45] | |
Cusk | SS-348 | 25 May 1944 | 28 Jul 1945 | 5 Feb 1946 | 24 Sep 1969 | SSG (Loon missile test launcher) 20 Jan 1948, FS 1954, SS 1 Jul 1954, AGSS 30 Jun 1969; struck 24 Sep 1969, sold for scrap 26 Jun 1972 [46] | |
Diodon | SS-349 | 1 Jun 1944 | 10 Sep 1945 | 18 Mar 1946 | 15 Jan 1971 | G II 1948; struck 15 Jan 1971, sold for scrap 12 May 1972 [46] | |
Dogfish | SS-350 | 22 Jun 1944 | 27 Oct 1945 | 29 Apr 1946 | 28 Jul 1972 | G II 1948; struck and sold to Brazil 28 Jul 1972 as Guanabara, deleted by Brazil and sold for scrap 1983 [46] [47] | |
Greenfish | SS-351 | 29 Jun 1944 | 21 Dec 1945 | 7 Jun 1946 | 19 Dec 1973 | G II 1948, G III 1961; struck and sold to Brazil 19 Dec 1973 as Amazonas, struck by Brazil 15 Oct 1992, sold for scrap 30 Jan 2004 [46] [48] | |
Halfbeak | SS-352 | 6 Jul 1944 | 19 Feb 1946 | 22 Jul 1946 | 1 Jul 1971 | G II 1948; struck 1 Jul 1971, sold for scrap 13 Jun 1972 [46] | |
Dugong | SS-353 | — | — | — | — | Cancelled 23 Oct 1944 as of 29 Jul 1944 [1] | |
Eel | SS-354 | ||||||
Espada | SS-355 | ||||||
Jawfish (ex-Fanegal) [46] | SS-356 | Cancelled 29 Jul 1944 [1] | |||||
Ono (ex-Friar) [46] | SS-357 | ||||||
Garlopa | SS-358 | ||||||
Garrupa | SS-359 | ||||||
Goldring | SS-360 | ||||||
Hardhead | SS-365 | Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin | 7 Jul 1943 | 12 Dec 1943 | 18 Apr 1944 | 10 May 1946 | G IIA 1953; struck and sold to Greece 26 Jul 1972 as Papanikolis, decommissioned by Greece 31 Dec 1992, fate unknown [46] [49] |
6 Feb 1952 | 22 May 1952 | ||||||
24 Mar 1953 | 26 Jul 1972 | ||||||
Hawkbill | SS-366 | 7 Aug 1943 | 9 Jan 1944 | 17 May 1944 | 20 Sep 1946 | G IB 1952; transferred to the Netherlands 21 Apr 1953 as Zeeleeuw, struck and sold to the Netherlands 20 Feb 1970; decommissioned by the Netherlands and sold for scrap 24 Nov 1970 [46] [50] | |
10 Dec 1952 | 21 Apr 1953 | ||||||
Icefish | SS-367 | 4 Sep 1943 | 20 Feb 1944 | 10 Jun 1944 | 21 Jun 1946 | G IB 1952; transferred to the Netherlands 21 Feb 1953 as Walrus; returned to US custody and struck 15 Jul 1971, sold for scrap 15 Aug 1971 [46] [51] | |
5 May 1952 | 29 Jul 1952 | ||||||
10 Dec 1952 | 21 Feb 1953 | ||||||
Jallao | SS-368 | 29 Sep 1943 | 12 Mar 1944 | 8 Jul 1944 | 30 Sep 1946 | G IIA 1954; struck and sold to Spain 26 Jun 1974 as Narcíso Monturiol (S-35); decommissioned by Spain on unknown date, scuttled 31 Dec 1984 [46] [52] | |
4 Dec 1953 | 26 Jun 1974 | ||||||
Kete | SS-369 | 25 Oct 1943 | 9 Apr 1944 | 31 Jul 1944 | — | Lost, possibly to Japanese submarine attack or mine, c. 20 Mar 1945 [1] [46] | |
Kraken | SS-370 | 13 Dec 1943 | 30 Apr 1944 | 8 Sep 1944 | 4 May 1948 | FS 1959; transferred to Spain 24 Oct 1959 as Almirante García de los Reyes, decommissioned by Spain 16 Sep 1974, struck and sold to Spain 1 Nov 1974, recommissioned by Spain 1 Sep 1975 due to casualty to Narciso Monturiol (S-33), decommissioned by Spain April 1981, struck by Spain and sold for scrap 1 Apr 1982 [46] [53] | |
4 Jul 1959 | 24 Oct 1959 | ||||||
Lagarto | SS-371 | 12 Jan 1944 | 28 May 1944 | 14 Oct 1944 | — | Lost to Japanese surface attack 4 May 1945 [1] [46] | |
Lamprey | SS-372 | 28 Feb 1944 | 18 Jun 1944 | 17 Nov 1944 | 3 Jun 1946 | Transferred to Argentina 21 Aug 1960 as Santiago del Estero; struck and sold to Argentina 1 Sep 1971, scrapped for spare parts 1971 [46] [54] | |
1960 | 21 Aug 1960 | ||||||
Lizardfish | SS-373 | 14 Mar 1944 | 16 Jul 1944 | 30 Dec 1944 | 24 Jun 1946 | FS 1959; transferred to Italy 9 Jan 1960 as Evangelista Torricelli; struck 1 Jul 1976 (or 15 Jul 1978), fate unknown [1] [46] [55] | |
5 Sep 1959 | 9 Jan 1960 | ||||||
Loggerhead | SS-374 | 1 Apr 1944 | 13 Aug 1944 | 9 Feb 1945 | 16 Jun 1946 | PT 1960-1967, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1967, sold for scrap 29 Aug 1969 [46] [56] | |
1 Jun 1960 | 30 Jun 1967 | ||||||
Macabi | SS-375 | 1 May 1944 | 19 Sep 1944 | 29 Mar 1945 | 16 Jun 1946 | Transferred to Argentina 11 Aug 1960 as Santa Fe (S-11); struck and sold to Argentina 1 Sep 1971, scrapped for spare parts 1972 [46] [57] | |
6 May 1960 | 11 Aug 1960 | ||||||
Mapiro | SS-376 | 30 May 1944 | 9 Nov 1944 | 30 Apr 1945 | 16 Mar 1946 | FS 1960; transferred to Turkey 18 Mar 1960 as Pirireis, struck and sold to Turkey 1 Aug 1973; decommissioned by Turkey 20 Nov 1973, used as battery charging hulk through 1975, sold for scrap 1980 [46] [58] | |
14 Nov 1959 | 18 Mar 1960 | ||||||
Menhaden | SS-377 | 21 Jun 1944 | 20 Dec 1944 | 22 Jun 1945 | 31 May 1946 | G IIA 1953; struck 15 Aug 1973, underwater target 1976; sold for scrap 1988 [59] [60] | |
7 Aug 1951 | 13 Aug 1952 | ||||||
6 Mar 1953 | 13 Aug 1971 | ||||||
Mero | SS-378 | 22 Jul 1944 | 17 Jan 1945 | 17 Aug 1945 | 15 Jun 1946 | FS 1960 (references vary as to completion of this); transferred to Turkey 20 Apr 1960 as Hizireis, struck and sold to Turkey 1 Aug 1973; sold for scrap 9 Oct 1980 [59] [61] | |
29 Dec 1959 | 20 Apr 1960 | ||||||
Needlefish | SS-379 | — | — | — | — | Cancelled 29 Jul 1944 [1] | |
Nerka | SS-380 | ||||||
Sand Lance | SS-381 | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine | 12 Mar 1943 | 25 Jun 1943 | 9 Oct 1943 | 14 Feb 1946 | Transferred to Brazil 7 Sep 1963 as Rio Grande do Sul, struck 1 Sep 1972; returned to US control 12 Oct 1972, sold for scrap 1 Jun 1974 [59] [62] |
6 Apr 1963 | 7 Sep 1963 | ||||||
Picuda | SS-382 | 15 Mar 1943 | 12 Jul 1943 | 16 Oct 1943 | 25 Sep 1946 | Proposed for minelayer conversion that was cancelled 1952, G IIA 1953, transferred to Spain 1 Oct 1972 as Narcíso Monturiol, struck and sold to Spain 18 Nov 1974; decommissioned by Spain 30 Apr 1977, fate unknown [59] [63] | |
19 Jun 1953 | 1 Oct 1972 | ||||||
Pampanito | SS-383 | 6 Nov 1943 | 15 Dec 1945 | PT 1960-1971, AGSS 1 Dec 1962, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, memorial in San Francisco, CA [59] [64] | |||
April 1960 | 20 Dec 1971 | ||||||
Parche | SS-384 | 9 Apr 1943 | 24 Jul 1943 | 20 Nov 1943 | 11 Dec 1946 | Target in Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons tests July 1946, PT 1948-1969, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 8 Nov 1969, sold for scrap 18 Jun 1970 [59] | |
10 Feb 1948 | 8 Nov 1969 | ||||||
Bang | SS-385 | 30 Apr 1943 | 30 Aug 1943 | 4 Dec 1943 | 12 Feb 1947 | G IIA 1952; transferred to Spain 1 Oct 1972 as Cosme García, struck and sold to Spain 18 Nov 1974; decommissioned by Spain and sold for scrap 30 Dec 1982 [59] [65] | |
1 Feb 1951 | 15 May 1952 | ||||||
4 Oct 1952 | 1 Oct 1972 | ||||||
Pilotfish | SS-386 | 15 May 1943 | 30 Aug 1943 | 16 Dec 1943 | 29 Aug 1946 | Sunk in Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons tests 25 Jul 1946, later raised; struck 25 Feb 1947, sunk as target 16 Oct 1948 [1] [59] | |
Pintado | SS-387 | 7 May 1943 | 15 Sep 1943 | 1 Jan 1944 | 6 Mar 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Mar 1967, sold for scrap 19 Feb 1969 [59] | |
Pipefish | SS-388 | 31 May 1943 | 27 Oct 1943 | 22 Jan 1944 | 19 Mar 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Mar 1967, sold for scrap 4 Feb 1969 [59] | |
Piranha | SS-389 | 21 Jun 1943 | 5 Feb 1944 | 31 May 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Mar 1967, sold for scrap 11 Aug 1970 [59] | ||
Plaice | SS-390 | 28 Jun 1943 | 15 Nov 1943 | 12 Feb 1944 | November 1947 | Transferred to Brazil 7 Sep 1963 as Bahia, sold to Brazil 1972, struck 1 Apr 1973; sold for scrap 1978 when Brazilian preservation efforts failed [59] [66] | |
18 May 1963 | 7 Sep 1963 | ||||||
Pomfret | SS-391 | 14 Jul 1943 | 27 Oct 1943 | 19 Feb 1944 | April 1952 | G IIA 1953; transferred to Turkey 1 Jul 1971 as Oruçreis, struck and sold to Turkey 1 Aug 1973, decommissioned 15 Sep 1986, fate unknown [59] [67] | |
5 Dec 1952 | 1 Jul 1971 | ||||||
Sterlet | SS-392 | 4 Mar 1944 | 18 Sep 1948 | FS 1952, BQR-4 bow sonar 1955; struck 1 Oct 1968, sunk as target 31 Jan 1969 [59] | |||
26 Aug 1950 | 30 Sep 1968 | ||||||
Queenfish | SS-393 | 27 Jul 1943 | 30 Nov 1943 | 11 Mar 1944 | 1 Mar 1963 | AGSS 1 Jul 1960; struck 1 Mar 1963, sunk as target 14 Aug 1963 [59] | |
Razorback | SS-394 | 9 Sep 1943 | 27 Jan 1944 | 3 Apr 1944 | August 1952 | G IIA 1954; struck and sold to Turkey 30 Nov 1970 as Muratreis, decommissioned by Turkey 8 Aug 2001, memorial in North Little Rock, Arkansas [59] [68] [69] | |
January 1954 | 30 Nov 1970 | ||||||
Redfish | SS-395 | 12 Apr 1944 | 27 Jun 1968 | AGSS 1 Jul 1960; struck 30 Jun 1968, sunk as target 6 Feb 1969 [59] | |||
Ronquil | SS-396 | 22 Apr 1944 | 1 May 1952 | G IIA 1953; struck and transferred to Spain 1 Jul 1971 as Isaac Peral; struck by Spain 1982, fate unknown [59] [70] | |||
16 Jan 1953 | 1 Jul 1971 | ||||||
Scabbardfish | SS-397 | 27 Sep 1943 | 29 Apr 1944 | 5 Jan 1948 | FS 1965; transferred to Greece 26 Feb 1965 as Triaina, struck and sold to Greece 31 Jan 1976; decommissioned by Greece 12 Jan 1979, but used for training until at least 1982, fate unknown [59] [71] | ||
24 Oct 1964 | 26 Feb 1965 | ||||||
Segundo | SS-398 | 14 Oct 1943 | 5 Feb 1944 | 9 May 1944 | 1 Aug 1970 | FS 1951; struck 8 Aug 1970, sunk as target [59] | |
Sea Cat | SS-399 | 30 Oct 1943 | 21 Feb 1944 | 16 May 1944 | 2 Dec 1968 | AGSS 30 Sep 1949, SS 11 Dec 1951, FS 1952, AGSS 29 Jun 1968; struck 2 Dec 1968, test hulk 1968-1972, sold for scrap 18 May 1973 [59] | |
Sea Devil | SS-400 | 18 Nov 1943 | 28 Feb 1944 | 24 May 1944 | 9 Sep 1948 | AGSS 1 Jul 1960; struck 1 Apr 1964, sunk as target 24 Nov 1964 [59] | |
3 Mar 1951 | 19 Feb 1954 | ||||||
17 Aug 1957 | 17 Feb 1964 | ||||||
Sea Dog | SS-401 | 1 Nov 1943 | 28 Mar 1944 | 3 Jun 1944 | 27 Jun 1956 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962, PT 1960-1968; struck 2 Dec 1968, sold for scrap 2 Jan 1971, but sale cancelled and sunk as target 18 May 1973 [59] [72] | |
February 1960 | 2 Dec 1968 | ||||||
Sea Fox | SS-402 | 2 Nov 1943 | 13 Jun 1944 | 15 Oct 1952 | G IIA 1953; struck and sold to Turkey 14 Dec 1970 as Burakreis, decommissioned by Turkey 1 Jul 1996, battery charging hulk until sold for scrap in 2003 [59] [73] | ||
5 Jun 1953 | 14 Dec 1970 | ||||||
Atule | SS-403 | 2 Dec 1943 | 6 Mar 1944 | 21 Jun 1944 | 8 Sep 1947 | G IA 1951, AGSS 1 Oct 1969, SS 30 Jun 1971; struck 15 Aug 1973, sold to Peru 31 Jul 1974 as Pacocha; lost in a collision 26 Aug 1988, raised 23 Jul 1989, used for spare parts and presumably scrapped [74] [75] | |
8 Mar 1951 | 6 Apr 1970 | ||||||
Spikefish | SS-404 | 29 Jan 1944 | 26 Apr 1944 | 30 Jun 1944 | 2 Apr 1963 | AGSS 1 Jul 1962; struck 1 May 1963, sunk as target 4 Aug 1964 [74] | |
Sea Owl | SS-405 | 7 Feb 1944 | 7 May 1944 | 17 Jul 1944 | 15 Nov 1969 | FS 1951, BQR-4 bow sonar 1955, AGSS 30 Jun 1969; struck 15 Nov 1969, sold for scrap 3 Jun 1971 [74] | |
Sea Poacher | SS-406 | 23 Feb 1944 | 20 May 1944 | 31 Jul 1944 | 15 Nov 1969 | G IA 1952, BQR-4 bow sonar 1955, AGSS 1 Nov 1969, SS 30 Jun 1971; struck 15 Aug 1973, sold to Peru 1 Jul 1974 as Pabellion de Pica (later La Pedrera), removed from service for pierside training 1995, fate unknown [74] [76] | |
Sea Robin | SS-407 | 1 Mar 1944 | 25 May 1944 | 7 Aug 1944 | 1 Oct 1970 | G IA 1951; struck 1 Oct 1970, sold for scrap 3 Jun 1971 [74] | |
Sennet | SS-408 | 8 Mar 1944 | 6 Jun 1944 | 22 Aug 1944 | 2 Dec 1968 | FS 1952; struck 2 Dec 1968, sold for scrap 15 Jun 1973 [74] | |
Piper | SS-409 | 15 Mar 1944 | 26 Jun 1944 | 23 Aug 1944 | 16 Jun 1967 | FS 1951, BQR-4 bow sonar 1954, AGSS 15 Jun 1967, PT 1967-1970; struck 1 Jul 1970, sold for scrap June 1971 [74] | |
Threadfin | SS-410 | 18 Mar 1944 | 30 Aug 1944 | 10 Dec 1952 | G IIA 1953; transferred to Turkey 18 Aug 1972 as Birinci İnönü, struck 1 Aug 1973, sold to Turkey 18 Aug 1973; decommissioned by Turkey 11 Aug 1998, fate unknown [74] [77] | ||
7 Aug 1953 | 18 Aug 1972 | ||||||
Spadefish | SS-411 | Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California | 27 May 1943 | 8 Jan 1944 | 9 Mar 1944 | 3 May 1946 | AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Apr 1967, sold for scrap 17 Oct 1969 [74] |
Trepang | SS-412 | 25 Jun 1943 | 23 Mar 1944 | 22 May 1944 | 27 Jun 1946 | PT 1960-1967, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1967, sunk as target 16 Sep 1969 [74] | |
February 1960 | 30 Jun 1967 | ||||||
Spot | SS-413 | 24 Aug 1943 | 19 May 1944 | 3 Aug 1944 | 19 Jun 1946 | Transferred to Chile 12 Jan 1962 Simpson; struck and sold to Chile 1 Aug 1975, deleted by Chile 1982, fate unknown [74] [78] | |
19 Aug 1961 | 12 Jan 1962 | ||||||
Springer | SS-414 | 30 Oct 1943 | 3 Aug 1944 | 18 Oct 1944 | 26 Jun 1946 | Transferred to Chile 23 Jan 1962 as Thomson; struck and sold to Chile 1 Sep 1972, deleted by Chile on unknown date, sold for scrap [74] [79] | |
24 Sep 1960 | 23 Jan 1961 | ||||||
Stickleback | SS-415 | 1 Mar 1944 | 1 Jan 1945 | 29 Mar 1945 | 26 Jun 1946 | G IIA 1953; lost in a collision with USS Silverstein (DE-534) 28 May 1958 [74] [80] | |
6 Sep 1951 | 14 Nov 1952 | ||||||
26 Jun 1953 | — | ||||||
Tiru | SS-416 | 17 Apr 1944 | 16 Sep 1947 | 1 Sep 1948 | 1 Jul 1975 | Completed as G II, prototype G III 1959; struck 1 Jul 1975, sunk as target 19 Jul 1979 [1] [74] | |
Trumpetfish | SS-425 | Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 23 Aug 1943 | 13 May 1945 | 29 Jan 1946 | 15 Oct 1973 | G II 1948, G III 1962; struck and sold to Brazil 15 Oct 1973 as Goias, struck by Brazil 16 Apr 1990, fate unknown [74] [81] |
Tusk | SS-426 | 8 Jul 1945 | 11 Apr 1946 | 18 Oct 1973 | G II 1948; struck and sold to Taiwan 18 Oct 1973 as Hai Pao, still in service [74] [82] | ||
Turbot | SS-427 | 13 Nov 1943 | 12 Apr 1946 | — | — | Cancelled and construction suspended 12 Aug 1945, launched incomplete, machinery test hulk at Annapolis, MD, sold for scrap 24 Mar 1993 [74] [83] | |
Ulua | SS-428 | 23 Apr 1946 | — | — | Cancelled and construction suspended 12 Aug 1945, launched incomplete, ordnance test hulk at Norfolk, VA 1951-1958; struck 12 Jun 1958, sold for scrap 30 Sep 1958 [74] [84] | ||
Unicorn | SS-429 | — | — | — | — | Cancelled 29 Jul 1944 [1] | |
Vendace | SS-430 | ||||||
Walrus | SS-431 | ||||||
Whitefish | SS-432 | ||||||
Whiting | SS-433 | ||||||
Wolffish | SS-434 | ||||||
— | SS-438 –SS-457 | Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut | |||||
— | SS-458 –SS-463 | Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin | |||||
Chicolar | SS-464 | ||||||
— | SS-465 –SS-474 | ||||||
— | SS-530 –SS-536 | Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
The Gato class of submarines were built for the United States Navy and launched in 1941–1943. Named after the lead ship of the class, USS Gato, they were the first mass-production U.S. submarine class of World War II.
An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "multi-purpose submarines". They are also used to protect friendly surface combatants and missile submarines. Some attack subs are also armed with cruise missiles, increasing the scope of their potential missions to include land targets.
USS Grampus (SS-523), a Tench-class submarine, was the seventh ship of the United States Navy to be named for two members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae): Grampus griseus, also known as Risso's dolphin, and the orca, also known as the killer whale.
USS Stickleback (SS-415), a Balao-class submarine, was named for the stickleback, a small scaleless fish.
The Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) was initiated by the United States Navy after World War II to improve the submerged speed, maneuverability, and endurance of its submarines. (The "Y" in the acronym was added for pronounceability.)
The Balao class was a design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 120 boats completed, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlier Gato class, the boats had slight internal differences. The most significant improvement was the use of thicker, higher yield strength steel in the pressure hull skins and frames, which increased their test depth to 400 feet (120 m). Tang actually achieved a depth of 612 ft (187 m) during a test dive, and exceeded that test depth when taking on water in the forward torpedo room while evading a destroyer.
Tench-class submarines were a type of submarine built for the United States Navy (USN) between 1944 and 1951. They were an improvement over the Gato and Balao classes, only about 35 to 40 tons larger, but more strongly built and with a slightly improved internal layout. One of the ballast tanks was converted to carry fuel, increasing range from 11,000 nautical miles to 16,000 nautical miles. This improvement was also made on some boats of the previous two classes. Further improvements were made beginning with SS-435, which are sometimes referred to as the Corsair class. Initial plans called for 80 to be built, but 51 were cancelled in 1944 and 1945 when it became apparent that they would not be needed to defeat Japan. The remaining 29 were commissioned between October 1944 (Tench) and February 1951 (Grenadier). The last submarine of the Tench class, as well as the last submarine which served during World War II, remaining in service with the U.S. Navy was USS Tigrone (AGSS-419) which was decommissioned on 27 June 1975.
USS Pickerel (SS-524), a Tench-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for a young or small pike.
The Tang-class submarines were the first submarines designed and built by the United States Navy after World War II. They incorporated the best features of the high-speed German Type XXI U-boat and the venerable U.S. Navy fleet submarine. The Tang class, with the fleet submarines converted under the Greater Underwater Propulsion Power (GUPPY) program, had much higher submerged performance than their predecessors, but were quickly surpassed by the nuclear-propelled submarines that entered service beginning in 1954. Six units in total were built.
USS Clamagore (SS-343) was a Balao-class submarine, which operated as a museum ship at the Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime Museum outside Charleston, South Carolina from 1979 to 2022. Built in 1945 for the United States Navy, she was still in training when World War II ended. She was named for the clamagore. A National Historic Landmark, she was the last surviving example of a GUPPY III type submarine. On 15 October 2022, the USS Clamagore, stripped of sail and superstructure was removed from Patriots Point and towed to Norfolk VA to begin final recycling.
USS Grenadier (SS-525), a Tench-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the grenadier, a soft-finned deep sea fish of the Macrouridae with a long, tapering body and short, pointed tail family, also known as rattails.
USS Remora (SS-487), a Tench-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the remora, a fish with a suctorial disk on its head enabling it to cling to other fish and to ships.
USS Odax (SS-484), a Tench-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for odax, a brilliantly colored, red and green fish belonging to the family Scaridae, the parrot fishes.
USS Trumpetfish (SS-425), a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for trumpetfish, any of several fishes so-called for their deep, compressed body and long, tubular snout. Her keel was laid down on 23 August 1943 at Philadelphia by the Cramp Shipbuilding Company. She was launched on 13 May 1945 sponsored by Mrs. Oswald S. Colclough, and commissioned on 29 January 1946.
USS Sabalo (SS-302), a Balao-class submarine, was the first submarine and second ship of the United States Navy to be named sabalo, another name for the Atlantic tarpon, a large, silvery game fish of the herring group, found in the warmer parts of the Western Atlantic.
USS Becuna (SS/AGSS-319), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1969, was a submarine of the United States Navy named for the becuna, a pike-like fish of Europe. During World War II, she conducted five war patrols between August 23, 1944 and July 27, 1945, operating in the Philippine Islands, South China Sea, and Java Sea. She is credited with sinking two Japanese tankers totaling 3,888 gross register tons.
USS Guitarro (SS-363), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the guitarro.