List of Balao-class submarines

One hundred twentyBalao-class submarineswere built during and after World War II, commissioned from February 1943 through September 1948, with 12 commissioned postwar.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 theFalklands Warof 1982, and one in Peruvian service in 1988.Also,Lancetfishflooded and sank while fitting out at theBoston Naval Shipyardon 15 March 1945. She was raised but not repaired, and was listed with thereserve fleetpostwar until struck in 1958. Some of the class served actively in the US Navy through the middle 1970s, and one (Hai Paoex-Tusk) is still active in Taiwan'sRepublic of China Navy.
The primary improvement of theBalaoclass over the precedingGatoclasswas an increase intest depthfrom 300 feet (91 m) to 400 feet (120 m), which was shared with the subsequentTenchclass. This, combined with generally less wartime service than previous classes, led to theBalaoandTenchclasses being preferred for modernization programs and active postwar service. 36Balaos were modernized under variousGUPPYconversion programs, plus 19 received the more austere "Fleet Snorkel" modernization, often in connection with foreign transfers.
SS-361 through SS-364 were initially ordered asBalao-class, and were assigned hull numbers that fall in the middle of the range of numbers for theBalaoclass (SS-285 through SS-416 & SS-425–426).Thus, in some references they are listed with this class. However, they were completed byManitowocasGatos, due to an unavoidable delay inElectric Boat's development ofBalao-class drawings. Manitowoc was a follow yard to Electric Boat, and was dependent on them for designs and drawings.
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 wereUSSWahoo(SS-516),USSUnicorn(SS-436), andUSSWalrus(SS-437), cancelled 7 January 1946. References vary considerably as to how many of these wereBalaos and how many wereTenches. Some references simply assume all submarines numbered after SS-416 wereTenchclass; however,USSTrumpetfish(SS-425)andUSSTusk(SS-426)were completed asBalaos.This yields 10 cancelledBalao-class, SS-353-360 and 379-380. TheRegister of Ships of the U. S. Navydiffers, considering every submarine not specifically ordered as aTenchto be aBalao, and further projecting SS-551-562 as a future class.This yields 62 cancelledBalaoclass, 51 cancelledTenchclass, and 12 cancelled SS-551 class. This article follows the information in the "Register". Two of the cancelledBalao-class submarines,TurbotandUlua, were launched incomplete and served for years as experimental hulks atAnnapolisandNorfolk, Virginia. Two of the cancelledTench-class boats,UnicornandWalrus, were also launched incomplete, never commissioned, but listed with theReserve fleetuntil 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).
Abbreviations andhull classification symbolsfor postwar redesignations/conversions: