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List of Tench-class submarines

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List of Tench-class submarines and their dispositions. 29 of these boats were built during and after World War II, commissioned from October 1944 through February 1951, with 11 commissioned postwar.[1][2] None of this class were lost in World War II. Ghazi (ex-Diablo (SS-479)) was lost in Pakistani service on 4 December 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971, possibly due to an accident[3] Some of the class served actively in the US Navy through the middle 1970s, others served into the 1990s with foreign navies, and one (Hai Shih ex-Cutlass) is still active in Taiwan's Republic of China Navy.


The primary improvement of the Tench and Balao classes over the preceding Gato class was an increase in test depth from 300 feet (91 m) to 400 feet (120 m). This, combined with less wartime service than previous classes, led to these classes being preferred for modernization programs and active postwar service. 16 Tenches were modernized under various GUPPY conversion programs, plus 8 received the more austere "Fleet Snorkel" modernization.[4]

Cancellations

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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.[5][6] 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

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Abbreviations and hull classification symbols for postwar redesignations/conversions:

  • AGSS — auxiliary submarine (various roles including sonar testing and some pierside trainers)
  • FS — "fleet snorkel" conversion, including a snorkel and streamlined sail
  • G IA, G II, etc. — various GUPPY conversions, usually including a snorkel, streamlined sail, improved batteries, and upgraded sonar and electronics
  • IXSS — unclassified submarine
  • PT — pierside trainer for naval reservists, reportedly immobilized by removing the propellers[7][8][9]
  • SSR — radar picket submarine
  • Struck — Struck (deleted) from the Naval Vessel Register, usually followed by scrapping or other final disposal, or sale to a foreign navy

Ships in class

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Construction data
Ship Name Hull no. Builder Laid down Launched Comm./Recomm. Decomm. Fate
Tench SS-417 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine 1 Apr 1944 7 Jul 1944 6 Oct 1944 January 1947 G IA 1951, AGSS 1 Oct 1969, SS 30 Jun 1971; struck 15 Aug 1973, sold to Peru for spares 16 Sep 1976[10]
October 1950 8 May 1970
Thornback SS-418 5 Apr 1944 13 Oct 1944 6 Apr 1946 G IIA 1953; transferred to Turkey as Uluçalireis 1 Jul 1971; struck and sold to Turkey 1 Aug 1973, decommissioned 7 Aug 2000, memorial at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum in Istanbul, Turkey[10][11][12]
2 Oct 1953 1 Jul 1971
Tigrone SS-419 8 May 1944 20 Jul 1944 25 Oct 1944 30 Mar 1946 SSR 5 Apr 1948, SS 1 Mar 1961, AGSS (sonar test boat) 1 Dec 1963; struck 27 Jun 1975, sunk as target 25 Oct 1976[10][13]
1 Nov 1948 1 Nov 1957
10 Mar 1962 27 Jun 1975
Tirante SS-420 28 Apr 1944 9 Aug 1944 6 Nov 1944 20 Jul 1946 G IIA 1953; struck 1 Oct 1973, sold for scrap 21 Mar 1974[1][10]
26 Nov 1952 1 Oct 1973
Trutta SS-421 22 May 1944 18 Aug 1944 16 Nov 1944 March 1946 G IIA 1953; struck and sold to Turkey as Cerbe 1 Jul 1972; decommissioned 23 Jul 1999, sold for scrap on unknown date[10][14]
1 Mar 1951 14 May 1952
2 Jan 1953 1 Jul 1972
Toro SS-422 27 May 1944 23 Aug 1944 8 Dec 1944 2 Feb 1946 AGSS 1 Jul 1962; struck 1 Apr 1963, sold for scrap April 1965[1][10]
13 May 1947 11 Mar 1963
Torsk SS-423 7 Jun 1944 6 Sep 1944 16 Dec 1944 4 Mar 1968 FS 1952, AGSS 1 May 1968, PT 1968-1971, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 15 Dec 1971, memorial in Baltimore, Maryland[10][15][16]
4 Mar 1968 15 Dec 1971
Quillback SS-424 27 Jun 1944 1 Oct 1944 29 Dec 1944 April 1952 G IIA 1953; struck 23 Mar 1973, sold for scrap 21 Mar 1974[10]
27 Feb 1953 23 Mar 1973
Corsair SS-435 Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut 1 Mar 1945 3 May 1946 8 Nov 1946 1 Feb 1963 AGSS 1 Apr 1960; struck 1 Feb 1963, sold for scrap 21 Oct 1963[17][18]
Unicorn SS-436 21 Jun 1945 1 Aug 1946 — — Cancelled 7 Jan 1946, suspended 30 Jan 1946, reinstated 26 Feb 1946, accepted but never commissioned 3 Sep 1946, placed in reserve fleet; struck 9 Jun 1958, sold for scrap 10 Jul 1959[1][17][19]
Walrus SS-437 20 Sep 1946 Cancelled 7 Jan 1946, suspended 30 Jan 1946, reinstated 26 Feb 1946, accepted but never commissioned 2 Oct 1946, placed in reserve fleet; struck 9 Jun 1958, sold for scrap 7 Oct 1959[1][17][20]
Argonaut SS-475 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine 28 Jun 1944 1 Oct 1944 15 Jan 1945 2 Dec 1968 FS 1952; struck and sold to Canada as Rainbow 2 Dec 1968; decommissioned by Canada 31 Dec 1974, sold for scrap 24 Mar 1977[17][21]
Runner SS-476 10 Jul 1945 17 Oct 1944 6 Feb 1945 29 Jun 1970 FS 1952, AGSS 1 Feb 1969, PT 1970-1971, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 15 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 19 Jun 1973[17]
29 Jun 1970 15 Dec 1971
Conger SS-477 11 Jul 1944 14 Feb 1945 29 Jul 1963 AGSS 9 Mar 1962; struck 1 Aug 1963, sold for scrap 9 Jul 1964[17]
Cutlass SS-478 22 Jul 1944 5 Nov 1944 17 Mar 1945 12 Apr 1973 G II 1948; struck and sold to Taiwan as Hai Shih 12 Apr 1973, reportedly still in service[17][22]
Diablo SS-479 11 Aug 1944 1 Dec 1944 31 Mar 1945 1 Jun 1964 AGSS 19 Jul 1962, FS 1964; struck and transferred to Pakistan as Ghazi 1 Jun 1964, lost due to accident on 4 Dec 1971[23]
Medregal SS-480 21 Aug 1944 15 Dec 1944 14 Apr 1945 1 Aug 1970 FS 1952, AGSS 1 May 1967, SS 1 Oct 1969; struck 1 Aug 1970, sold for scrap 13 Jun 1972[17]
Requin SS-481 24 Aug 1944 1 Jan 1945 28 Apr 1945 2 Dec 1968 Radar picket 1946, redesignated as SSR 20 Jan 1948, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 29 Jun 1968, PT 1969-1971, IXSS 30 Jun 1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, memorial in Pittsburgh, PA[17][24]
2 Dec 1968 20 Dec 1971
Irex SS-482 2 Oct 1944 26 Jan 1945 14 May 1945 17 Nov 1969 Prototype FS 1947, AGSS 30 Jun 1969; struck 17 Nov 1969, sold for scrap 13 Sep 1971[17]
Sea Leopard SS-483 7 Nov 1944 2 Mar 1945 11 Jun 1945 27 Mar 1973 G II 1949; struck and sold to Brazil as Bahia 27 Mar 1973; decommissioned and scrapped 1998[17][25]
Odax SS-484 4 Dec 1944 10 Apr 1945 11 Jul 1945 8 Jul 1972 G I 1947, G II 1951; struck and sold to Brazil as Rio de Janeiro 8 Jul 1972; decommissioned 16 Nov 1978, sold for scrap 18 Jun 1981[17][26]
Sirago SS-485 3 Jan 1945 11 May 1945 13 Aug 1945 1 Jun 1972 G II 1949; struck 1 Jun 1972, sold for scrap 2 May 1973[17][27]
Pomodon SS-486 29 Jan 1945 12 Jun 1945 11 Sep 1945 1 Apr 1955 G I 1947, G II 1951; struck 1 Aug 1970, sold for scrap 26 Jan 1972[17]
2 Jul 1955 1 Aug 1970
Remora SS-487 5 Mar 1945 12 Jul 1945 3 Jan 1946 29 Oct 1973 G II 1947, G III 1962; struck and sold to Greece as Katsonis 29 Oct 1973; decommissioned 30 Mar 1993, sold for scrap on unknown date[17][28]
Sarda SS-488 12 Apr 1945 24 Aug 1945 19 Apr 1946 1 Jun 1964 AGSS 19 Jul 1962; struck 1 Jun 1964, sold for scrap 14 May 1965[17]
Spinax SS-489 14 May 1945 20 Nov 1945 20 Sep 1946 11 Oct 1969 Completed as radar picket, redesignated as SSR 20 Jan 1948, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 30 Jun 1969; struck 11 Oct 1969, sold for scrap 13 Jun 1972[17]
Volador SS-490 15 Jun 1945 21 May 1948 1 Oct 1948 18 Aug 1972 Suspended 30 Jan 1946, completed as G II 1948, G III 1963; transferred to Italy as Gianfranco Gazzana Priaroggia 18 Aug 1972, struck and sold to Italy 5 Dec 1977; struck by Italy 31 May 1981, fate unknown[17][29]
Pompano SS-491 16 Jul 1945 — — — Cancelled 12 Aug 1945, broken up on slip[1][17]
Grayling SS-492 — Cancelled 12 Aug 1945[1]
Needlefish SS-493
Sculpin SS-494
— SS-495 – SS-515 Cancelled 29 Jul 1944[1]
Wahoo SS-516 Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California 15 May 1944 Cancelled 7 Jan 1946, broken up on slip[1][17]
— SS-517 29 Jun 1944 Cancelled 29 Jul 1944, broken up on slip[1][30]
Wahoo SS-518 — Cancelled 29 Jul 1944[1]
— SS-519 – SS-521
Amberjack SS-522 Boston Naval Shipyard, Charlestown, Massachusetts 8 Feb 1944 15 Dec 1944 4 Mar 1946 17 Oct 1973 G II 1947; struck and sold to Brazil as Ceará 17 Oct 1973, fate unknown[30][31]
Grampus SS-523 26 Oct 1949 13 May 1972 Suspended 17 Jan 1946, completed as G II; struck and sold to Brazil as Rio Grande do Sul 13 May 1972, sold for scrap 18 Jun 1981[30][32]
Pickerel SS-524 4 Apr 1949 18 Aug 1972 Suspended 17 Jan 1946, completed as G II, G III 1962; struck and transferred to Italy as Primo Longobordo 18 Aug 1972, sold to Italy 5 Dec 1977; decommissioned by Italy 31 Jan 1980, sold for scrap 31 May 1981[30][33]
Grenadier SS-525 10 Feb 1951 15 May 1973 Suspended 17 Jan 1946, completed as G II; struck and sold to Venezuela as Picua 15 May 1973; decommissioned by Venezuela 16 Nov 1978, struck 1 Jan 1980, sold for scrap 18 Jun 1981[30][34]
Dorado SS-526 — — — — Cancelled 29 Jul 1944[1]
Comber SS-527
Sea Panther SS-528
Tiburon SS-529
— SS-537 – SS-544
— SS-545 – SS-547 Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut Cancelled 28 Mar 1945[1]
— SS-548 – SS-550 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine Cancelled 27 Mar 1945[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Bauer and Roberts, pp. 280-282
  2. ^ This includes USS Sirago (SS-485), commissioned on 13 August 1945, the day hostilities ceased, as postwar.
  3. ^ Cardozo, Ian (2019). 1971 - Stories of Grit and Glory from the Indo-Pak War.
  4. ^ GUPPY and other diesel boat conversions page
  5. ^ Silverstone, pp. 203-204
  6. ^ Gardiner and Chesneau, pp. 145-147
  7. ^ These were in commission but classed as "in commission, in reserve", thus some were decommissioned and recommissioned on the same day to reflect the change in status
  8. ^ Friedman 1995, p. 285
  9. ^ "Guavina (SS-362)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Friedman 1995, p. 302
  11. ^ Thornback (SS-418) at Navsource.org
  12. ^ "Marine exhibits at Rahmi M. Koç Museum website". Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  13. ^ Tigrone (SS-419) at Navsource.org
  14. ^ Trutta (SS-421) at Navsource.org
  15. ^ Torsk (SS-423) at Navsource.org
  16. ^ "USS Torsk at Historic Ships in Baltimore website". Archived from the original on 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Friedman 1995, p. 303
  18. ^ Corsair (SS-435) at Navsource.org
  19. ^ Unicorn (SS-436) at Navsource.org
  20. ^ Walrus (SS-437) at Navsource.org
  21. ^ Argonaut (SS-475) at Navsource.org
  22. ^ Cutlass (SS-478) at Navsource.org
  23. ^ Diablo (SS-479) at Navsource.org
  24. ^ USS Requin website at Carnegie Science Center
  25. ^ Sea Leopard (SS-483) at Navsource.org
  26. ^ Odax (SS-484) at Navsource.org
  27. ^ Sirago (SS-485) at Navsource.org
  28. ^ Remora (SS-487) at Navsource.org
  29. ^ Volador (SS-490) at Navsource.org
  30. ^ a b c d e Friedman 1995, p. 304
  31. ^ Amberjack (SS-522) at Navsource.org
  32. ^ Grampus (SS-523) at Navsource.org
  33. ^ Pickerel (SS-524) at Navsource.org
  34. ^ Grenadier (SS-525) at Navsource.org

Further reading

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