Balao Class Submarine Specifications
During World War 2, the Balao class of diesel-electric submarine used for attack missions. There were 120 completed and were involved with a total of 10 patrols from July 1943 to August 1945. The Balao Class Submarines were superior to the previous generation Gato class submarine, both of which were the primary ships used by the United States Navy in WW2. The Balao class subs were able to dive deeper due to a thicker and stronger steel in the hull.
Lead Boat: SS-385, USS Balao
Length: 312′
Beam: 27′
Draft: 17′ (Surface trim)
Displacement: 1,800 tons (surfaced); 2,400 tons (submerged)
Speed: 20-1/4 knots (surfaced); 8-3/4 knots (submerged)
Diving Depth: 400′ (test depth); 600′ (emergency)
Range: 20,000 miles
Endurance: 75 days
Crew: 10 (officers); 70 (enlisted)
Deck Gun: 1 3″/50-calibre, or 1 4″/50-calibre, or 1 5″/25-caliber
Anti-Aircraft Weapons: 1 or 2-20mm Oerlikons, or 2-40mm Bofors, or 1-20mm and 1-40mm
Light Weaponry: 6-mounting points for 30-caliber, 50-caliber, or combination
Torpedoes: 10-21″ torpedo tubes (6 bow, 4 stern); 24 Mark-14 torpedoes; Mark III Torpedo Data Computer
Engines: 4 GM-Winton V-16, or 4 Fairbanks-Morse 9 or 10-cylinder opposed-piston diesel/generator sets.
Motors: 4 DC high-speed electric motors, reduction gear drive, two per shaft, or 4 variable speed DC direct drive motors
Radar: Short range SD air detection radar; SJ surface search radar; ST periscope radar
Sonar: JP hydrophone, upper deck; JK/QC, QB Sonar under bow
Wartime Modifications: Enhanced electronics suites, radar, sonar.
Hull Number | Name | Commission Date | Fate | Class |
---|---|---|---|---|
SS-285 | Balao | 1943 | Target 1963, fairwater at Navy Memorial, Washington, DC | Balao-Class |
SS-286 | Billfish | 1943 | Scrapped 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-287 | Bowfin | 1943 | Museum, Honolulu | Balao-Class |
SS-288 | Cabrilla | 1943 | Scrapped 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-289 | Capelin | 1943 | Lost December 1943 | Balao-Class |
SS-290 | Cisco | 1943 | Lost September 1943 | Balao-Class |
SS-291 | Crevalle | 1043 | Scrapped 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-292 | Devilfish | 1944 | Scrapped 1968 | Balao-Class |
SS-293 | Dragonet | 1944 | Sunk as target 1961 | Balao-Class |
SS-294 | Escolar | 1944 | Lost October 1944 | Balao-Class |
SS-295 | Hackleback | 1944 | Scrapped 1968 | Balao-Class |
SS-298 | Lionfish | 1944 | Museum, Fall River, MA | Balao-Class |
SS-299 | Manta | 1944 | Sunk as target 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-300 | Moray | 1945 | Scrapped 1970 | Balao-Class |
SS-304 | Seahorse | 1943 | Scrapped 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-305 | Skate | 1943 | Sunk as target 1948 | Balao-Class |
SS-306 | Tang | 1943 | Lost October 1944 | Balao-Class |
SS-307 | Tilefish | 1943 | Venezuela 1960 as Carite | Balao-Class |
SS-308 | Apogon | 1943 | Sunk at Bikini bomb test 1948 | Balao-Class |
SS-309 | Aspro | 1943 | Sunk as target November 16, 1962 | Balao-Class |
SS-310 | Baitfish | 1943 | Museum, Muskogee, OK | Balao-Class |
SS-311 | Archer-Fish | 1943 | Sunk as target 1968 | Balao-Class |
SS-312 | Burrfish | 1943 | Sunk as target 1968 | Balao-Class |
SS-313 | Perch (2) | 1944 | Scrapped 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-314 | Shark (2) | 1944 | Lost October 24, 1944 | Balao-Class |
SS-315 | Sealion (2) | 1944 | Sunk as target 1978 | Balao-Class |
SS-316 | Barbel | 1944 | Lost February 1945 | Balao-Class |
SS-317 | Barbero | 1944 | Sunk as target 1964 | Balao-Class |
SS-318 | Baya | 1944 | Scrapped 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-319 | Becuna | 1944 | Museum, Philadelphia | Balao-Class |
SS-320 | Bergall | 1944 | Turkey 1958 | Balao-Class |
SS-321 | Besugo | 1944 | Scrapped 1977 | Balao-Class |
SS-322 | Blackfin | 1944 | Sunk as target 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-323 | Caiman | 1944 | Turkey 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-324 | Blenny | 1944 | Sunk as target 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-325 | Blower | 1944 | Turkey 1953 | Balao-Class |
SS-326 | Blueback | 1944 | Turkey 1953 | Balao-Class |
SS-327 | Boarfish | 1944 | Turkey 1953, sold 1974 | Balao-Class |
SS-328 | Charr | 1944 | Scrapped 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-329 | Chub | 1944 | Turkey 1948, scrapped 1974 | Balao-Class |
SS-330 | Brill | 1944 | Turkey 1948 | Balao-Class |
SS-331 | Bugara | 1944 | Lost under tow 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-332 | Bullhead | 1944 | Lost August 1945 | Balao-Class |
SS-333 | Bumper | 1944 | Turkey 1950 | Balao-Class |
SS-334 | Cabezon | 1944 | Scrapped 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-335 | Dentuda | 1944 | Scrapped 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-336 | Capitaine | 1945 | Italy 1977 | Balao-Class |
SS-337 | Carbonero | 1945 | Sunk as target 1975 | Balao-Class |
SS-338 | Carp | 1945 | Scrapped 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-339 | Catfish | 1945 | Argentina 1971, lost 1982 | Balao-Class |
SS-340 | Entemedor | 1945 | Turkey | Balao-Class |
SS-342 | Chopper | 1945 | Sunk 1976 | Balao-Class |
SS-361 | Golet | 1943 | Lost October 1944 | Balao-Class |
SS-362 | Guavina | 1943 | Sunk as target 1967 | Balao-Class |
SS-363 | Guitaro | 1944 | Turkey 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-364 | Hammerhead | 1944 | Turkey 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-365 | Hardhead | 1944 | Greece 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-366 | Hawkbill | 1944 | Netherlands 1970 | Balao-Class |
SS-367 | Icefish | 1944 | Netherlands 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-368 | Jallao | 1944 | Spain 1974 | Balao-Class |
SS-369 | Kete | 1944 | Lost March 1945 | Balao-Class |
SS-370 | Kraken | 1944 | Spain 1974 | Balao-Class |
SS-371 | Lagarto | 1944 | Lost May 1945 | Balao-Class |
SS-372 | Lamprey | 1944 | Argentina 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-373 | Lizardfish | 1944 | Italy 1979 | Balao-Class |
SS-374 | Loggerhead | 1945 | Scrapped 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-375 | Macabi | 1945 | Argentina 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-381 | Sand Lance | 1943 | Brazil 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-382 | Picuda | 1943 | Scrapped 1974 | Balao-Class |
SS-383 | Pampanito | 1943 | Museum, San Francisco, CA | Balao-Class |
SS-384 | Parche | 1943 | Scrapped 1970 | Balao-Class |
SS-385 | Bang | 1943 | Spain, 1974, renamed Cosme Garcia | Balao-Class |
SS-386 | Pilotfish | 1943 | Sunk as target 1948 | Balao-Class |
SS-387 | Pintado | 1944 | Scrapped 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-388 | Pipefish | 1944 | Scrapped 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-389 | Piranha | 1944 | Scrapped 1970 | Balao-Class |
SS-390 | Plaice | 1944 | Brazil, memorial Santos | Balao-Class |
SS-391 | Pomfret | 1944 | Turkey 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-392 | Sterlet | 1944 | Sunk as target 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-393 | Queenfish | 1944 | Sunk as target 1963 | Balao-Class |
SS-394 | Razorback | 1944 | Turkey 1970: Museum N. Little Rock, AR 2004 | Balao-Class |
SS-395 | Redfish | 1944 | Sunk as target 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-396 | Ronquil | 1944 | Spain 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-397 | Scabardfish | 1944 | Greece 1965, sold 1976 | Balao-Class |
SS-398 | Segundo | 1944 | Sunk as target 1970 | Balao-Class |
SS-399 | Sea Cat | 1944 | Scrapped 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-400 | Sea Devil | 1944 | Sunk as target 1964 | Balao-Class |
SS-401 | Sea Dog | 1944 | Sunk as target 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-402 | Sea Fox | 1944 | Turkey 1970 | Balao-Class |
SS-403 | Atule | 1944 | Lost in collision 1990, raised for parts | Balao-Class |
SS-404 | Spikefish | 1944 | Sunk as target 1964 | Balao-Class |
SS-405 | Sea Owl | 1944 | Scrapped 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-406 | Sea Poacher | 1944 | Peru 1974 | Balao-Class |
SS-407 | Sea Robin | 1944 | Scrapped 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-408 | Sennet | 1944 | Scrapped 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-409 | Piper | 1944 | Scrapped 1971 | Balao-Class |
SS-410 | Threadfin | 1944 | Turkey 1973 | Balao-Class |
SS-411 | Spadefish | 1944 | Scrapped 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-412 | Trepang | 1944 | Sunk as target 1969 | Balao-Class |
SS-413 | Spot | 1944 | Chile | Balao-Class |
SS-414 | Springer | 1944 | Scrapped 1972 | Balao-Class |
SS-415 | Stickleback | 1945 | Lost 1958, rammed | Balao-Class |