Tench class submarine
|
|
Tench class submarines were an evolutionary improvement over the Gato and Balao classes, only about 35 to 40 tons larger, but more strongly built and with a slightly improved internal layout. Further improvements were made to SS-435 and subsequent boats, so those advanced Tenches are sometimes referred to as the Corsair class.
Initial plans called for 146 hulls to be built, but 115 of those orders were cancelled in 1944 and 1945 when it became apparent that they would not be needed to defeat Japan. The remaining 31 were commissioned between October 1944 (Tench) and February 1951 (Grenadier).
General Characteristics
- Displacement: 1826 tons surfaced, 2391 tons submerged
- Length: 312 feet
- Beam: 27 feet
- Draft: 15 feet
- Test Depth: 400 feet
- Speed: 20.75 knots surfaced, 8.75 knots submerged
- Armament: one five-inch/25-caliber gun, two 40mm cannon, six 21-inch torpedo tubes forward, four aft
- Crew: 75 - 80 officers and men
- Powerplant: four 6500 hp Diesel engines/four 2740 hp electric motors
- Range: 12,000 nautical miles at 10 knots surfaced