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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

SUBMARINES

TANG submarines (1951 - 1952)

Trigger 1952

Tang 1963

Wahoo 1974

Gudgeon 1979

No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
SS563 Tang   Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery 18.4.1949 19.6.1951 25.10.1951 to Turkey 2.1980 (Piri Reis)
SS564 Trigger 131 Electric Boat, Groton 24.2.1949 14.6.1951 31.3.1952 to Italy 7.1973 (Livio Piomarta)
SS565 Wahoo   Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery 24.10.1949 16.10.1951 30.5.1952 stricken 7.1983
SS566 Trout 134 Electric Boat, Groton 1.12.1949 21.8.1951 27.6.1952 to Iran 12.1978 (کوسه [Kousseh])
SS567, 4.1979- AGSS567, 11.1979- SSAG567 Gudgeon   Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery 20.5.1950 11.6.1952 21.11.1952 to Turkey 9.1983 (Hızır Reis)
SS568 Harder 135 Electric Boat, Groton 30.6.1950 3.12.1951 19.8.1952 to Italy 2.1974 (Romeo Romei)

 

Displacement standard, t

 

Displacement normal, t

SS563 - 566: 1560 / 2260

SS567, 568: 1821 / 2500

Length, m

SS563 - 566: 82.0

SS567, 568: 84.8

Breadth, m

8.30

Draught, m

5.20

No of shafts

2

Machinery

SS563 - 566: 3 General Motors diesel-generators, 2 electric motors

SS567, 568: 3 Fairbank Morse diesel-generators, 2 electric motors

Power, h. p.

SS563 - 566: 3400 / 4700

SS567, 568: 4500 / 5600

Max speed, kts

SS563 - 566: 15.5 / 18.3

SS567, 568: 15.5 / 16

Fuel, t

diesel oil

Endurance, nm(kts) 11500(10) / 130 (3)

Armament

8 - 533 TT (6 bow Mk 43, 2 stern Mk 44, 26 torpedoes or 40 mines)

Electronic equipment

BPS-12 radar, BQS-4, BQR-2 sonars, APR-1 ECM suite

Complement

83

Diving depth operational, m

210

   

Project history: These ships, the US counterpart of the Soviet 'Whiskeys', were the US attempt to assimilate German Type XXI concepts. The first four also had a new compact radial ('pancake') diesels, which itself caused considerable problems in service, the first four units being lengthened and re-engined with the more conventional power plants of the last pair. Originally conceived almost as an experimental high-speed type (in contrast to the usual fleet boat), they became the basis for postwar development. Compared to wartime fleet submarines, they had much increased battery power for greater submerged speed. Compared to the GUPPY conversions, they benefited from a shorter hull form which in itself reduced resistance underwater. They also had streamlined superstructures, and improved sonars, although by no means in the SSK category; the new hull form reduced the torpedo tube battery to eight, with only two aft.

They were two competitive designs, SS563 by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and SS564 by Electric Boat, both to the same basic characteristics. The initial Ship Characteristics Board requirements included the the potential for re-engining with a closed cycle or nuclear power plant for an underwater speed of 25kts (17kts with a diesel-electric plant), and an increase in diving depth from the wartime 120m to 210m postwar.

Modernizations: early 1950s, Tang, Trigger, Wahoo, Trout: were lengthened and re-engined with data as SS567, 568 (1800/2500t, 84.8m oa, 4500/5600hp, 15.5/16kts)

1950s, all: - APR-1 ECM suite; + BLR-1 ECM suite

1964, Wahoo; 1967, Gudgeon: lengthened (2050/2700t, 87.5m); + BQG-4 PUFFS sonar

Naval service: No significant events.

Wahoo 1968

© Ivan Gogin, 2015