 |
| Class overview |
| Builders: |
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Electric Boat Company, Boston Navy Yard[1] |
| Operators: |
 United States Navy |
| Preceded by: |
Balao class |
| Succeeded by: |
Tang class |
| Built: |
1944–1951[2] |
| In commission: |
1944–1975[2] |
| Completed: |
29[1] |
| Cancelled: |
51[1] |
| Active: |
0[1] |
| Lost: |
0[1] |
| Retired: |
29[1] |
| Preserved: |
2[1] |
| General characteristics |
| Type: |
Diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement: |
1,570 tons (1,595 t) surfaced[1]
2,416–2,429 tons (2,455–2468 t) submerged[1] |
| Length: |
311 ft 8 in – 311 ft 9 in (95.0 m)[1] |
| Beam: |
27 ft 3 in – 27 ft 4 in (8.3 m)[1] |
| Draft: |
17 ft (5.2 m) maximum[1] |
| Propulsion: |
4 × diesel engines driving electrical generators (Fairbanks-Morse or General Motors)[1]
2 × 126-cell Sargo batteries[3]
2 × low-speed electric motors (Elliott Company, General Electric, or Westinghouse)[1]
two propellors[1]
5,400 shp (4.0 MW) surfaced[1]
2,740 shp (2.0 MW) submerged[1] |
| Speed: |
20.25 knots (38 km/h) surfaced[3]
8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged[3] |
| Range: |
11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)[3] |
| Endurance: |
48 hours at 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged[3]
75 days on patrol |
| Test depth: |
400 ft (120 m)[3] |
| Complement: |
10 officers, 71 enlisted[3] |
| Armament: |
10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
(six forward, four aft)
28 torpedoes [3]
1 × 5-inch (127 mm) / 25 caliber deck gun [3]
four machine guns |
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 beginning with SS-435, which are sometimes referred to as Corsair class.
Initial plans called for 146 to be built, but 115 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).
Two Tench subs from the USN went to the Republic of China Navy and re-classed as Hai Shih class submarines and two went to the Italy and re-classed as Gianfranco Gazzana-Priaroggia class submarines.
Some of the class were updated through the (GUPPP The Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program). The difference is noticeable by the level foredeck and the rounded nose.[4]
Museums
Two Tench Class submarines are on display for the general public. One is the USS Requin (SS-481)Template:WP Ships USS instances at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The other is the USS Torsk (SS-423)Template:WP Ships USS instances, moored at Pier Three, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, (alongside the National Aquarium in Baltimore) in Maryland. Both of these are the original versions, which were similar to the Balao class.
References
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