SS-285 Balao
The Balao (SS-285) class was conceived as an improved Gato (SS-212) class submarine. Improvements in hull construction increased the test depth of this class to 400-feet as opposed to 350-feet in the Gato class and fuel capacity was significantly increased which improved patrol radius. It would be impossible to characterize BALAO as just another fleet submarine - no such creature exists. Every submarine is unique, special, and remembered. As the lead boat in very large class of 1500-ton submarines, BALAO was bigger than life in many respects.
BALAO introduced several new concepts to the submarine force when she was commissioned in 1943. The most important of these being the thicker pressure hull, using 7/8" high tensile steel plates rather than the 5/8" plate used in the earlier Gato class. During their lifetime the Balao class introduced new sophisticated electronic gear for detecting targets, a Torpedo Data Computer (TDC) for working out and setting torpedo firing angles, new Mark 18 electric torpedoes, and a Bathythermograph for detecting cold water layers, or thermoclines, under which she could slip to deflect enemy sonar pings and make the boat hard to detect. These technological advances gave the BALAO class a level of reliability and battle survivability that had never been experienced by submarines of any nation to that time.
The pressure hull consisted of 7/8-in high tensile steel. There were eight waterproof compartments in addition to the conning tower. They were equipped with four engine rooms, diesel-electric reduction gear, one auxiliary generator, four electric motors generating 2,740 hp when submerged driven by two 126-cell batteries. Submerged endurance was 48 hours at 2 knots. Cruising range was 11,000 miles on the surface at 10 knots with 116,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Patrol duration was 75 days.
During the first half of the twentieth century, the mission of the submarine was one of strike, intelligence, reconnaissance, and covert operations. During World War II the BALAO and her sister ships waged war against the Axis powers, amassing a record of devastation and sheer killing power that was unmatched by any other land or sea assault platform. American submarines like BALAO supported deployment and recovery of raiding parties and the insertion and removal of intelligence assets as a matter of course - the submarine was the perfect platform for this mission.
These new fleet submarines were purpose built for taking the fight to the enemy - designed with food, fuel, and weapons sufficient for long-range independent patrols. BALAO and her sisters enabled the Navy to shift its submarine doctrine from coastal defense to open ocean attacks on enemy warships and convoys critical to enemy logistical support. This doctrine of forward presence and strike warfare by the submarine remains today.
A total of 256 boats of this class were ordered between 1942 and 1945; many of which were re-ordered to the Tench (SS-417) class specification. A total of 122 [119 ?]boats were actually completed to this specification by five shipyards, making the Balao Class is the largest class of submarines ever built.. They were built at Portsmouth, Manitowoc, Electric Boat, Mare Island, and Cramp Shipbuilding.
The first boat, Devilfish (SS-292) was laid down in March 1942; the last, Mero (SS-378) in July 1944. SS-353 to 360, 379, and 380 (10 boats) of this class were cancelled in October 1944. Balao (SS-285) was the first to commission in February 1943. 111 boats were commissioned before the end of World War II. The last to commission was Tiru (SS-416) whose construction was suspended. She was completed to the GUPPY specification and commissioned in September 1948.
The last of the GUPPY modernized boats in service were decommissioned 1968-75. Tiru (SS-416) was the last to decommission in July 1975. Eight Balao class submarines became museums.
