Description
4 Gato class Submarines TheGatoclassofsubmarineswas built for theUnited States Navyand launched in 19411943; they were the first mass-production U.S. submarine class ofWorld War II. Together with their near-sisters theBalaoandTenchclasses, their design formed the majority of the United States Navy's World War II submarine fleet.[5]Named after thelead shipof the class,USSGato, theGatos and their successors formed the core of the submarine service that was largely responsible for the destruction of the Japanese merchant marine and a large portion of the Imperial Japanese Navy inWorld War II.Gato's name comes from a species of smallcatshark. Like most other U.S. Navy submarines of the period, boats of theGatoclass were given the names of marine creatures. In some references, theGatos are combined with their successors, especially theBalaoclass.[6][7] USSGatooff Mare Island Navy Yard, on 29 November 1944 Class overviewNameGatoclassBuildersElectric Boat Company,Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,Mare Island Naval Shipyard,Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company[2]Operators United States Navy Italian Navy Turkish Naval Forces Hellenic Navy Brazilian Navy Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Preceded byMackerelclassSucceededbyBalaoclassCostUS.85 million(1940)Built19401944[1]In commission19411969[1]Completed77[2]Lost20[2]Retired57[2]Preserved6[2]General characteristicsTypeDiesel-electricsubmarineDisplacement 1,525tons(1,549t) surfaced[2] 2,424tons (2463t) submerged[2] Length311ft 8in (95.00m) 311ft 10in (95.05m)[2]Beam27ft 3in (8.31m)[2]Draft17ft (5.2m) maximum[2]Propulsion 4 diesel enginesdrivingelectrical generators(Fairbanks-Morse,General Motors, orHooven-Owens-Rentschler)[2] 2 126-cellSargobatteries[3] 4 high-speedelectric motorswithreduction gears(Elliott Company,General Electric, orAllis-Chalmers)[2] two shafts[2] 5,400shp(4,000kW) surfaced[2] 2,740shp (2,040kW) submerged[2] Speed 21knots(39km/h) surfaced[3] 9 knots (17km/h) submerged[3] Range11,000 nautical miles (20,000km) surfaced at 10 knots (19km/h)[3]Endurance 48 hours at 2 knots (3.7km/h) submerged[3] 75 days on patrol Test depth300ft (90m)[3]Complement6 officers, 54 enlisted men[3]Armament 10 21-inch (533mm)torpedotubes 6 forward, 4 aft 24 torpedoes[4] 1 3-inch (76mm) / 50caliberdeck gun[4] Bofors 40mmandOerlikon 20mmcannon
