USSBalao in 1944
Class overview
Name	Balao class
Builders	Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Cramp Shipbuilding Company Mare Island Naval Shipyard Electric Boat Company Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company[1]
Operators	United States Navy  Italian Navy  Turkish Navy  Hellenic Navy  Peruvian Navy  Argentine Navy  Chilean Navy  Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela  Republic of China Navy  Royal Canadian Navy  Brazilian Navy  Royal Netherlands Navy  Spanish Navy
Preceded by	Gato class
Succeeded by	Tench class
Built	1942–1946[2]
In commission	1943–present[2]
Completed	120[1]
Cancelled	62[1]
Active	1
Lost	14 (11 in United States service, 3 in foreign service)[1]
Retired	105[1]
Preserved	8[1]
General characteristics
Type	Diesel-electricsubmarine
Displacement	1,526tons (1,550t) surfaced,[1] 2,391–2,424 tons (2,429–2463 t) submerged[1]
Length	311 ft 6 in–311 ft 10 in (94.9–95.0 m)[1]
Beam	27 ft 3 in–27 ft 4 in (8.3 m)[1]
Draft	16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum[1]
Propulsion	4 ×diesel engines drivingelectrical generators (Fairbanks-Morse orGeneral Motors);[1] 2 × 126-cellSargobatteries;[3] 4 × high-speedelectric motors with reduction gears or 2 × low-speed electric motors (Elliott Company orGeneral Electric)[1] two shafts;[1] 5,400 shp (4,000 kW) surfaced,[1] 2,740 shp (2,040 kW) submerged[1]
Speed	20.25knots (38 km/h) surfaced,[3] 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged[3]
Range	11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced @ 10 knots (19 km/h)[3]
Endurance	48 hours @ 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged,[3] 75 days on patrol
Test depth	400 ft (120 m)[3]
Complement	10 officers, 70–71 enlisted men[3]
Armament	10 × 21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes 6 forward, 4 aft 24 torpedoes[4] 1 ×5-inch (127 mm) / 25 caliber deck gun[4] Bofors 40 mm andOerlikon 20 mm cannon

TheBalao class is a design ofUnited States Navysubmarines that was used duringWorld War II, and with 120^[1] boats completed, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlierGato class, the boats had slight internal differences. The most significant improvement was the use of thicker, higheryield-strength steel in thepressure hull skins and frames,^[5] which increased theirtest depth to 400 feet (120 m). ABalao-class submarine, theUSSTang actually achieved a depth of 612 ft (187 m) during a test dive,^[6]and exceeded that test depth when taking on water in the forward torpedo room while evading a destroyer.^[7]

TheBalaos were similar to theGatos, except they were modified to increase test depth from 300 ft (90 m) to 400 ft (120 m). In late 1941, two of the Navy's leading submarine designers, CaptainAndrew McKee and Commander Armand Morgan, met to explore increasing diving depth in a redesignedGato. A switch to a newhigh-tensile steel alloy, combined with an increase in hull thickness from9⁄16 inch (14.3 mm) to7⁄8 inch (22.2 mm), would result in a test depth of 450 ft (140 m) and a collapse depth of 900 ft (270 m). However, the limited capacity of the trim pump at deep depths, and lack of time to design a new pump, caused Rear Admiral E. L. Cochrane, chief of theBureau of Ships, to limit test depth to 400 ft (120 m). Fortunately in 1944, a redesigned Gould centrifugal pump replaced the noisy early-war pump, and effective diving depth was increased.^[8]

TheBalao boats incorporated thefairwater,conning tower, and periscope shears reduction efforts that were being retrofitted to theGatos and the preceding classes in the original design, refining the reductions and reducing the sail to the smallest practical size. By the time the boats began to be launched, lessons learned from patrol reports had been worked into the design and the bridge and sail proved to be efficiently laid out, well equipped, and well-liked by the crews.^[9]

For the masts and periscope shears, the original arrangement for both the Government and Electric Boat designs had (forward to aft) the two tapered cone-shaped periscope support shears, followed by a thin mast for the SJ surface search radar, and then by a thin mast for the SD air search radar. Minor differences existed in how the periscopes were braced against vibration, but both designs were nearly identical. About halfway through their production run, Electric Boat altered their design, moving the SJ radar mast forward of the periscopes, then altered it again a few boats later by enlarging the SD radar mast. Late in the war, manyBalaos built with the original design had the SD air search radar moved slightly aft onto a thickened and taller mast. These mast arrangements, along with the tremendous variation in the gun layout as the war progressed, account for the numerous exterior detail differences among the boats, to the point that at any given time, no twoBalaos looked exactly alike.^[10]

The propulsion of theBalao-class submarines was generally similar to that of the precedingGato class. Like their predecessors, they were truediesel-electric submarines; their fourdiesel engines poweredelectrical generators, andelectric motors drove the shafts. No direct connection was made between the main engines and the shafts.

Balao-class submarines received main engines from one of two manufacturers.General MotorsCleveland Model 16-278A V-type diesels orFairbanks-Morse38D 8-1/8 nine-cylinderopposed-piston engine. TheGeneral MotorsCleveland Model 16-248 V-type as original installations, while boats fromSand Lance onward received 10-cylinder engines. Earlier General Motors boats received Model 16-248 engines, but beginning withPerch Model 16-278A engines were used. In each case, the newer engines had greaterdisplacement than the old, but were rated at the same power; they operated at lowermean effective pressure for greater reliability.^[11] Both the Fairbanks-Morse and General Motors engines weretwo-stroke cycle types.^[12]

Unicorn andVendace were to receiveHooven-Owens-Rentschler diesels, which proved unreliable on previous classes, but both boats were cancelled.

Two manufacturers supplied electric motors for theBalao class.Elliott Company motors were fitted primarily to boats with Fairbanks-Morse engines.General Electric motors were fitted primarily to boats with General Motors engines, but some Fairbanks-Morse boats received General Electric motors.Allis-Chalmers motors were to be used in SS-530 through SS-536, but those seven boats were cancelled before even receiving names.^[13]

Most Balao class submarines carried four high-speedelectric motors (two per shaft), which had to be fitted with reduction gears to slow their outputs down to an appropriate speed for the shafts. This reduction gearing was very noisy, and made the submarine easier to detect withhydrophones. Nineteen^[14][15][a] lateBalao-class submarines were constructed with low-speed doublearmature motors, which drove the shafts directly and were much quieter, and this improvement was universally fitted on the succeedingTench class. The newdirect-drive electric motors were designed by theBureau of Ships' electrical division under CaptainHyman G. Rickover, and were first equipped onSea Owl.^[16] Many of the earlier Balao class submarines would be re-fit with the new gearless motor scheme during the GUPPY programs after the war. On all US World War II-built boats, as the diesel engines were not directly connected to the shafts, the electric motors drove the shafts all the time.

At the beginning of World War II the standard torpedo for US fleet submarines was the 21-inch,Mark 14 torpedo. Due to a shortage of this torpedo, several substitutions were authorized, including using the shorterBliss-Leavitt Mark 9 torpedo andMark 10 torpedo, and the surface-firedBliss–Leavitt Mark 8 torpedo,Mark 11 torpedo,Mark 12 torpedo, andMark 15 torpedo. The surface-fired torpedoes required minor modifications. Due to their excessive length, Marks 11, 12, and 15 torpedoes were limited to the aft torpedo tubes only.^[17][b]As torpedo production ramped up and the bugs were worked out of the Mark 14, substitutions were less common. As the war progressed, the Navy introduced the electric wakelessMark 18 Torpedo and theMark 23 torpedo, a simplified high-speed-only version of the Mark 14. Additionally, a small 19" swim-out acoustic homingMark 27 torpedo supplemented the armament in fleet boats for defense against escorts. Near the end of the war, the offensiveMark 28 torpedo acoustic homing torpedo was introduced. Well after the war theMark 37 Torpedo was introduced.^[18]

Many targets in thePacific War weresampans or otherwise not worth a torpedo, so thedeck gun was an important weapon. EarlyBalaos began their service with a4-inch (102 mm)/50 caliber Mk. 9 gun. Due to war experience, most were rearmed with a5-inch (127 mm)/25 caliber Mk. 17 gun, similar to mounts on battleships and cruisers, but built as a "wet" mount with corrosion-resistant materials, and with power-operated loading and aiming features removed. This conversion started in late 1943, and some boats had two of these weapons beginning in late 1944.Spadefish, commissioned in March 1944, was the first newly built submarine with the purpose-built 5-inch (130 mm)/25 submarine mount. Additionalantiaircraft guns included single40 mm Bofors and twin20 mm Oerlikon mounts, usually one of each.^[19][20]

Like the previousTambor/Gar andGato classes, theBalao class could substitute mines in place of torpedoes. For the Mk 10 and Mk 12 type mines used in World War II, each torpedo could be replaced by as many as two mines, giving the submarine a true maximum capacity of 48 mines. The doctrine, though, was to retain at least four torpedoes on mine-laying missions, which further limits the capacity to 40 mines, and this is often stated as the maximum in various publications. In practice during the war, submarines went out with at least eight torpedoes, and the largest minefields laid were 32 mines. After the war, the Mk 49 mine replaced the Mk 12, while the larger Mk 27 mine was also carried, which only allowed one mine replacing one torpedo. This mine could be set to travel 1000 to 5000 yards from the sub before deploying. (not to be confused with the Mk 27 homing torpedo)^[21][22]

This was the most numerous US submarine class; 120 of these boats were commissioned from February 1943 through September 1948, with 12 commissioned postwar. Nine of the 52 US submarines lost in World War II were of this class, along with five lost postwar, including one in Turkish service in 1953, one in Argentine service in theFalklands War of 1982, and one in Peruvian service in 1988.^[1][23] Also,Lancetfish flooded and sank while fitting out at theBoston Naval Shipyard on 15 March 1945. She was raised but not repaired, and was listed with thereserve fleet postwar until struck in 1958. Some of the class served actively in the US Navy through the middle 1970s, and one (Hai Pao ex-Tusk) is still active in Taiwan'sRepublic of China Navy.

SS-361 through SS-364 were initially ordered asBalao-class, and were assigned hull numbers that fall in the middle of the range of numbers for theBalao class (SS-285 to SS-416 and 425–426).^[24] Thus in some references, they are listed with that class.^[25] However, they were completed byManitowoc asGatos, due to an unavoidable delay inElectric Boat's development ofBalao-class drawings. Manitowoc was a follow yard to Electric Boat, and was dependent on them for designs and drawings.^[26][1] Also, the Balao classUSS Trumpetfish (SS-425) andUSS Tusk (SS-426) are listed with theTench class in some references, as their hull numbers fall in the range of that class.^[27][28] These were built by Cramp Shipbuilding, a follow yard for Portsmouth Navy Yard and waited for Government plans.

In total, 125 U.S. submarines were cancelled during World War II, all but three between 29 July 1944 and 12 August 1945. The exceptions were threeTench-class boats, cancelled 7 January 1946. References vary considerably as to how many of these wereBalao and how many wereTench boats. Some references simply assume all submarines numbered after SS-416 wereTench class; however,Trumpetfish (SS-425) andTusk (SS-426) were completed asBalaos.^[29][30] This yields 10 cancelledBalao-class, SS-353-360 and 379–380. TheRegister of Ships of the U. S. Navy differs, considering every submarine not specifically ordered as aTench to be aBalao, and further projecting SS-551-562 as a future class.^[1] This yields 62 cancelledBalao class, 51 cancelledTench class, and 12 cancelled future class. Two of the cancelledBalao-class submarines,Turbot (SS-427) andUlua (SS-428), were launched incomplete and served for years as experimental hulks atAnnapolis andNorfolk, Virginia. 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 (future).^[1]

TheBalaos began to enter service in mid-1943, as the many problems with theMark 14 torpedo were being solved. They were instrumental in the Submarine Force's near-destruction of theJapanese merchant fleet and significant attrition of theImperial Japanese Navy. One of the class,Archerfish, brought down what remains the largest warship sunk by a submarine, theShinano (59,000 tons).Tang, the highest-scoring of the class, sank 33 ships totaling 116,454 tons, as officially revised upward in 1980.^[31]

NineBalaos were lost in World War II, while two US boats were lost in postwar accidents. In foreign service, one in Turkish service was lost in a collision in 1953, one in Peruvian service was lost in a collision in 1988, andCatfish was sold to the Argentinian Navy. She was renamed the ARASanta Fe (S-21) and was lost in the 1982Falklands War after being damaged, when she sank while moored pierside.Santa Fe was refloated and disposed of a few years after the war by being taken out to deep water and scuttled.

Additionally,Lancetfish, commissioned but incomplete and still under construction, flooded and sank pierside at theBoston Navy Yard on 15 March 1945, after a yard worker mistakenly opened the inner door of an afttorpedo tube that already had the outer door open. No personnel were lost in the accident and she was raised, decommissioned, and never completed or repaired.^[1][32][33] Her 42 days in commission is the record for the shortest commissioned service of any USN submarine. Postwar, she was laid up in theReserve Fleet until stricken in 1958 and scrapped in 1959.

• Tang was second on the list of number of ships sunk with 33 and first on the list of tonnage with 116,454. Her third war patrol was the most successful of any U.S. submarine with 10 ships for 39,100 tons. Sunk in theTaiwan Strait by a circular run of her own torpedo, her skipperRichard O'Kane and eight others escaped; some escaped the submerged wreck with the only known successful use of theMomsen Lung.Tang's survivors were imprisoned by the Japanese for the rest of the war. After his release following the Japanese surrender, Richard O'Kane was awarded theMedal of Honor for his actions commandingTang during the convoy battles of 24 and 25 October 1944.
• Archerfish sank the aircraft carrierShinano.Shinano is the largest ship sunk by a submarine. Commander Enright was awarded theNavy Cross.
• Batfish is preserved as a museum ship inOklahoma. She is famous for sinking three Japanese submarines,RO-55,RO-112, andRO-113 in a 3 day time span. She is the only US submarine to have sunk 3 ships in a 72 hour period. She also sank the destroyerSamidare.^[34]
• Redfish participated in the destruction of two Japanese aircraft carriers. On December 9th, she was part of asubmarine wolfpack which damaged the aircraft carrierJunyō beyond repair, then just 10 days later she torpedoed and sank the aircraft carrierUnryū. After the war,Redfish became something of a movie star, playing the role ofJules Verne'sNautilus in theWalt Disney film20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, then played the part of the fictional submarine USSNerka in the 1958 motion pictureRun Silent, Run Deep. She capped her film career by making several appearances in the popular black-and-white television seriesThe Silent Service.
• Sealion launched a torpedo attack which sank the Japanese battleshipKongō and the destroyerUrakaze.^[35]
• Blackfin sank the Japanese destroyerShigure. Up to that point,Shigure was seen as a fortune ship, having survived the entirety of theSolomon Islands campaign without losing a single man in combat, and in turn served in several naval battles, which included helping to sink the submarineUSSGrowler and being the only Japanese ship of her formation to survive the battles ofVella Gulf andSurigao Strait. Her actions were heavily publicized, and her sinking was a huge blow to Japanese morale.^[36]

Postwar, 55Balaos were modernized under the Fleet Snorkel and Greater Underwater Propulsion Power (GUPPY) programs, with some continuing in US service into the early 1970s. The lastBalao-class submarine in United States service wasUSS Clamagore (SS-343), which was decommissioned in June 1975.^[37] Seven were converted to roles as diverse as guided-missile submarines (SSG) and amphibious transport submarines (SSP). 46 were transferred to foreign navies for years of additional service, some into the 1990s, andTusk remains active inTaiwan'sRepublic of China Navy asHai Pao.

Interested in maintaining a ready pool of trainedreservists, the Navy assigned at least 58 submarines from 1946 to 1971 to various coastal and inland ports (even inGreat Lakes ports likeCleveland,Chicago, andDetroit), where they served as training platforms during the Reservists' weekend drills. At least 20Balao-class boats served in this capacity. In this role, the boats were rendered incapable of diving and had their propellers removed. They were used strictly as pierside trainers. These were in commission but classed as "in service in reserve", thus some were decommissioned and recommissioned on the same day to reflect the change in status.^[38][39][40]

The large numbers of relatively modern, but surplus U.S. fleet submarines proved to be popular in sales, loans, or leases to allied foreign navies. 46Balao-class submarines were transferred to foreign navies, some shortly after World War II, others after serving nearly 30 years in the US Navy. These included 17 to Turkey, 2 to Greece, 3 to Italy, 2 to the Netherlands, 5 to Spain, 2 to Venezuela, 4 to Argentina, 5 to Brazil, 2 to Chile, 2 to Peru, 1 to Canada and 1 to Taiwan.^[40] One of the Venezuelan boats,ARV Carite (S-11) formerlyUSSTilefish (SS-307), featured in the 1971 filmMurphy's War with some cosmetic modification.

At the end ofWorld War II, the US submarine force found itself in an awkward position. The 111 remainingBalao-class submarines, designed to fight an enemy that no longer existed, were obsolete despite the fact they were only one to three years old. TheGermanType XXI U-boat, with a large battery capacity, streamlining to maximize underwater speed, and a snorkel, was the submarine of the immediate future. TheGreater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) conversion program was developed to give someBalao- andTench-class submarines similar capabilities to the Type XXI. When the cost of upgrading numerous submarines to GUPPY standard became apparent, the austere "Fleet Snorkel" conversion was developed to add snorkels and partial streamlining to some boats. A total of 36Balao-class submarines were converted to one of the GUPPY configurations, with 19 additional boats receiving Fleet Snorkel modifications. Two of the GUPPY boats and six of the Fleet Snorkel boats were converted immediately prior to transfer to a foreign navy. Most of the 47 remaining converted submarines were active into the early 1970s, when many were transferred to foreign navies for further service and others were decommissioned and disposed of.^[37]

Although there was some variation in the GUPPY conversion programs, generally the original two Sargo batteries were replaced by four more compact Guppy (GUPPY I and II only) or Sargo II batteries via significant re-utilization of below-deck space, usually including removal of auxiliary diesels. All of these battery designs were of thelead-acid type. This increased the total number of battery cells from 252 to 504; the downside was the compact batteries had to be replaced every 18 months instead of every 5 years. The Sargo II battery was developed as a lower-cost alternative to the expensive Guppy battery.^[41] All GUPPYs received a snorkel, with a streamlined sail and bow. Also, the electric motors were upgraded to thedirect drive double-armature type, along with modernized electrical and air conditioning systems. All except the austere GUPPY IB conversions for foreign transfer received sonar,fire control, andElectronic Support Measures (ESM) upgrades.^[42]

The Fleet Snorkel program was much more austere than the GUPPY modernizations, but is included here as it occurred during the GUPPY era. The GUPPY and Fleet Snorkel programs are listed in chronological order: GUPPY I, GUPPY II, GUPPY IA, Fleet Snorkel, GUPPY IIA, GUPPY IB, and GUPPY III.

TwoTench-class boats were converted as prototypes for the GUPPY program in 1947. Their configuration lacked a snorkel and was not repeated, so noBalaos received this conversion.

This was the first production GUPPY conversion, with most conversions occurring in 1947–49. ThirteenBalao-class boats (Catfish,Clamagore,Cobbler,Cochino,Corporal,Cubera,Diodon,Dogfish,Greenfish,Halfbeak,Tiru,Trumpetfish, andTusk) received GUPPY II upgrades. This was the only production conversion with Guppy batteries.

This was developed as a more cost-effective alternative to GUPPY II. NineBalao-class boats (Atule,Becuna,Blackfin,Blenny,Caiman,Chivo,Chopper,Sea Poacher, andSea Robin) were converted in 1951–52. The less expensive Sargo II battery was introduced, along with other cost-saving measures.

The Fleet Snorkel program was developed as an austere, cost-effective alternative to full GUPPY conversions, with significantly less improvement in submerged performance. Twenty-threeBalao-class boats (Bergall,Besugo,Brill,Bugara,Carbonero,Carp,Charr,Chub,Cusk,Guitarro,Kraken,Lizardfish,Mapiro,Mero,Piper,Sabalo,Sablefish,Scabbardfish,Sea Cat,Sea Owl,Segundo,Sennet, andSterlet) received this upgrade, six immediately prior to foreign transfer. Most Fleet Snorkel conversions occurred 1951–52. Unlike the GUPPY conversions, the original pair of Sargo batteries were not upgraded. Each boat received a streamlined sail with a snorkel, along with upgraded sonar, air conditioning, and ESM. The original bow was left in place, except on three boats (Piper,Sea Owl, andSterlet) that received additional upper bow sonar equipment.^[43] A few boats initially retained the 5"/25 deck gun, but this was removed in the early 1950s.

This was generally similar to GUPPY IA, except one of the forward diesel engines was removed to relieve machinery overcrowding. ThirteenBalao-class boats (Bang,Diodon,Entemedor,Hardhead,Jallao,Menhaden,Picuda,Pomfret,Razorback,Ronquil,Sea Fox,Stickleback, andThreadfin) received GUPPY IIA upgrades in 1952–54. One of these,Diodon, had previously been upgraded to GUPPY II.

This was developed as an austere upgrade for twoGato-class and twoBalao-class boats (Hawkbill andIcefish) prior to transfer to foreign navies in 1953–55. They lacked the sonar and electronics upgrades of other GUPPY conversions.

Nine submarines, six of themBalaos (Clamagore,Cobbler,Corporal,Greenfish,Tiru, andTrumpetfish), were upgraded from GUPPY II to GUPPY III in 1959-63 as part of theFleet Rehabilitation and Modernization II (FRAM II) program. All exceptTiru, the pilot conversion, were lengthened by 15 feet in the forward part of the control room to provide a new sonar space, berthing, electronics space, and storerooms.Tiru was lengthened only 12.5 feet, and both forward diesel engines were removed.^[44] The other GUPPY IIIs retained all four engines. A taller "Northern" sail was included, to allow improved surfaced operations in rough seas; this was also backfitted to some other GUPPYs. The BQG-4Passive Underwater Fire Control Feasibility Study (PUFFS) sonar system, with its three tall domes topside, was fitted. Additionally, fire control upgrades allowed theMark 45 nuclear torpedo to be used.^[45]

The advent of thekamikaze demonstrated the need for a long range radar umbrella around the fleet.Radar picket destroyers and destroyer escorts were put into service, but they proved vulnerable in this role as they could be attacked as well, leaving the fleet blind. A submarine, though, could dive and escape aerial attack. Four submarines including theBalao-class boatThreadfin prototyped the concept at the end of World War II but were not used in this role.^[46] Ten fleet submarines were converted for this role 1946-53 and redesignated SSR as radar picket submarines.Burrfish was the onlyBalao-class SSR. Experiments on the first two SSR submarines under the appropriately namedProject Migraine I showed that placement of the radars on the deck was inadequate and that more room was needed for electronics. ThusBurrfish was given the Migraine II (projectSCB 12) conversion, which placed aCombat Information Center (CIC) in the space formerly occupied as the aft battery room. The after torpedo room was stripped and converted into berthing, and the boat lost two of her forward torpedo tubes to make room for additional berthing and electronics. The radars were raised up off the deck and put on masts, giving them a greater range and hopefully greater reliability.^[42]

The SSRs proved only moderately successful, as the radars themselves proved troublesome and somewhat unreliable, and the boats' surface speed was insufficient to protect a fast-moving carrier group. The radars were removed and the boats reverted to general purpose submarines after 1959.Burrfish was decommissioned in 1956 and, with her radar equipment removed, transferred to Canada as HMCSGrilse (SS-71) in 1961.^[47]

TheRegulus nuclearcruise missile program of the 1950s provided the US Navy with its first strategic strike capability. It was preceded by experiments with theJB-2 Loon missile, a close derivative of theGermanV-1 flying bomb, beginning in the last year ofWorld War II. Submarine testing of Loon was performed 1947–53, withCusk andCarbonero converted in toguided-missile submarines as test platforms in 1947 and 1948 respectively. Initially the missile was carried on the launch rail unprotected, thus the submarine was unable to submerge until after launch.Cusk was eventually fitted with a watertight hangar for one missile and redesignated as an SSG. Following a brief stint as a cargo submarine,Barbero was converted in 1955 to carry two surface-launched Regulus missiles and was redesignated as an SSG, joining theGato-classTunny in this role. She madestrategic deterrent patrols with Regulus until 1964, when the program was discontinued in favor ofPolaris.^[48] A number of fleet boats were equipped with Regulus guidance equipment 1953–64, includingCusk andCarbonero following the Loon tests.

Sealion andPerch were converted to amphibious transport submarines in 1948 and redesignated as SSPs. Initially, they were equipped with a watertight hangar capable of housing aLanding Vehicle Tracked (LVT), and retained one 5-inch (130 mm)/25 caliber deck gun for shore bombardment. Both torpedo rooms and one engine room were gutted to provide space for embarkedSpecial Operations Forces (SOF) and their equipment. Snorkels were fitted. Due to the extra personnel, to avoid excessive snorkeling they were equipped with aCO₂ scrubber and extra oxygen storage. Initially, a squadron of 12 SSPs was considered, capable of landing a reinforced Marine battalion, but only twoBalao-class SSPs (out of four overall) were actually converted.Perch landedBritish commandos on one raid in theKorean War, and operated in theVietnam War from 1965 until assignment toNaval Reserve training in 1967 and decommissioning in 1971, followed by scrapping in 1973.Perch was replaced in the Pacific Fleet transport submarine role byTunny in 1967 andGrayback in 1968.Sealion operated in the Atlantic, deploying for theCuban Missile Crisis and numerous SOF-related exercises. She was decommissioned in 1970 and expended as a target in 1978. The LVT hangar and 5-inch (130 mm) gun were removed from both boats by the late 1950s. They went through several changes of designation in their careers: ASSP in 1950, APSS in 1956, and LPSS in 1968.^[49][1]

Baya was redesignated as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS) in 1949 and converted to a sonar test submarine in 1958–59 to test a system known as LORAD. This included a 12-foot (3.7 m) extension aft of the forward torpedo room, with 40-foot (12 m) swing-out arrays near the bow. Later, three large domes were installed topside for a wide aperture array.^[50]

Barbero was converted to a cargo submarine and redesignated as anSSA in 1948. The forward engine room, aft torpedo room, and all reload torpedo racks were gutted to provide cargo space. From October 1948 until March 1950, she took part in an experimental program to evaluate her capabilities as a cargo carrier. Experimentation ended in early 1950, and she was decommissioned into the reserve on 30 June 1950. In 1955, she was converted to a Regulus missile submarine and redesignated as an SSG.^[51]

As of 2007Tusk, aBalao-class submarine, was one of the last two operational submarines in the world built during World War II. The boat was transferred toTaiwan'sRepublic of China Navy in the early 1970s. TheTench-class ex-Cutlass is the other one. They are namedHai Pao andHai Shih, respectively, in Taiwanese service.^[52][53]

SixBalao-class submarines are open to public viewing. They primarily depend on revenue generated by visitors to keep them operational and up to U.S. Navy standards; each boat gets a yearly inspection and a "report card". Some boats, likeBatfish andPampanito, encourage youth functions and allow a group of volunteers to sleep overnight in the crew's quarters.

The following is a complete list ofBalao-class museum boats:

• USS Batfish (SS-310) at War Memorial Park inMuskogee, Oklahoma^[54]
• USS Becuna (SS-319) atIndependence Seaport Museum inPhiladelphia^[55]
• USS Bowfin (SS-287) atUSS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park inHonolulu^[56]
• USS Lionfish (SS-298) atBattleship Cove inFall River, Massachusetts^[57]
• USS Pampanito (SS-383) atSan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park inSan Francisco^[58]
• USS Razorback (SS-394) atArkansas Inland Maritime Museum inNorth Little Rock, Arkansas^[59]

USS Clamagore (SS-343) served as a museum boat atPatriots Point inCharleston, South Carolina until being closed in 2021 and scrapped two years later. Additionally theUSS Ling (SS-297) is aground in the Hackensack River at the site of the formerNew Jersey Naval Museum. As of 2022, efforts to find a new home for this vessel have been unsuccessful.

• USSLing (SS-297) atNew Jersey Naval Museum inHackensack, New Jersey (Sail)
• USSBaya (SS-318) atVallejo Naval and Historical Museum inVallejo, California (Periscope)
• USSPintado (SS-387) atNational Museum of the Pacific War inFredericksburg, Texas (Conning Tower)
• USSParche (SS-384) atUSS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park inHonolulu (Conning Tower)
• USSBalao (SS-285) atWashington Navy Yard inWashington D.C. (Conning Tower)

• List of most successful American submarines in World War II
• List of lost United States submarines
• Allied submarines in the Pacific War
• List of ship classes of the Second World War
• List ofBalao-class Submarines

• Alden, John D. (1979).The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History.Annapolis, Maryland:United States Naval Institute.ISBN 9780870211874.
• Friedman, Norman (1995).U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History.Annapolis, Maryland:United States Naval Institute.ISBN 1-55750-263-3.
• Friedman, Norman (1994).U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History.Annapolis, Maryland:United States Naval Institute.ISBN 1-55750-260-9.
• Lenton, H. T. (1973).American Submarines. New York: Doubleday.ISBN 0-385-04761-4.
• Silverstone, Paul H. (1989) [1965].U.S. Warships of World War II. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-773-9.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN 0-83170-303-2.
• O'Kane, Richard H. (1989).Clear the Bridge!: The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang. Novato, CA: Presidio Press.ISBN 978-0-89141-346-2. Different pagination than 1977 edition.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toBalao class submarines.

• On Eternal Patrol, website for lost US subs
• A Visual Guide to the U.S. Fleet Submarines Part Five: Balao and Tench Classes 1942-1950
• Fleet Type Submarine Training Manual San Francisco Maritime Museum
• Description of GUPPY conversions at RNSubs.co.uk
• GUPPY and other diesel boat conversions page (partial archive)
• Navsource fleet submarines photo index page
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140322093118/http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/sublist.html
• DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com later 3"/50 caliber gun
• DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 4"/50 caliber gun
• DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 5"/25 caliber gun

• Submarine classes
• Balao-class submarines
• World War II submarines of the United States
• Cold War submarines of the United States
• Korean War submarines of the United States
• Vietnam War submarines of the United States

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use American English from March 2018
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English
• Use dmy dates from March 2018
• Commons category link is on Wikidata