Gato class submarine

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Gato class attack submarine
Image:USS Paddle;0826305.jpg
Class Overview
Class Type Fast Attack Submarine
Class Name Gato (a species of Shark)
Preceded By Tambor-class submarine
Succeeded By Balao-class submarine
Ships of the Class: A complete list of Gato-class submarines is below.

The Gato-class of submarine was the state of the art in American design at the start of World War II. Using the previous Tambor-class submarine as the model standard, the Gatos incorporated improvements that increased their overall patrolling and combat abilities. Modifications to the diesel engines and batteries increased patrol duration over that of the Tambors, and internal alterations provided more amenities for the crew. The class is named after its lead ship, the USS Gato (SS-212).

Several Gato subs are on display in the United States. For instance, the USS Cobia (SS-245) is at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

General characteristics

  • Displacement: 1825 tons surfaced, 2410 tons submerged
  • Length: 312 ft (95 m)
  • Beam: 27 ft (8.2 m)
  • Draft: 15 ft (4.6 m)
  • Depth: 300 ft (90 m)
  • Speed: 20.75 knots (38 km/h) surfaced, 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged
  • Armament: 1 x 3 in (76 mm) 50 caliber gun, 2 x 20 mm cannon, 6 x 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes forward, four aft
  • Crew: 65 to 74 officers and men
  • Powerplant: 4 x 6500 hp (4.8 MW) diesel engines and 4 x 2740 hp (2.0 MW) electric motors
  • Range: 11,800 nautical miles (21,900 km) at 10 knots (18 km/h) surfaced

Boats

Image:USS Gato;0821235.jpg USS Gato (SS-212), December 1941. Image:USS Drum SS-228 in Mobile.jpg
USS Drum (SS-228), in Alabama.
Image:USS Wahoo.jpg
USS Wahoo (SS-238), 1943.


External link