List of Gato-class submarines explained

Seventy-seven Gato-class submarines were built during World War II, commissioned from November 1941 through April 1944.[1] The class was very successful in sinking Japanese merchant ships and naval vessels: the top three US submarines in tonnage sunk were Gatos, along with three of the top seven in number of ships sunk.[2] But success had a price: 20 of the 52 US submarines lost in that war were of this class, plus, a damaged boat that returned to the US but was considered a constructive total loss and not repaired.[1] [3] Although many of the class were in reserve postwar and scrapped in 1959-1960, some Gatos served actively with the US Navy into the late 1960s, and others served with foreign navies into the early 1970s.

SS-361 through SS-364 were initially ordered as Balao-class, and were assigned hull numbers that fall in the middle of the range of numbers for the Balao class (SS-285 through SS-416 & SS-425–426).[4] Thus, in some references they are listed with that class. However, they were completed by Manitowoc as Gatos, due to an unavoidable delay in Electric Boat's development of Balao-class drawings. Manitowoc was a follow yard to Electric Boat, and was dependent on them for designs and drawings.[1] [5]

Abbreviations

Abbreviations and hull classification symbols for postwar redesignations/conversions:

Ships in class

Construction data
Ship nameBuilderLaid downLaunched/Fate
SS-212Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut5 Oct 194021 Aug 194131 Dec 194116 Mar 1946PT 1952-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap[10]
19521 Mar 1960
SS-21312 Nov 194020 Sep 194121 Jan 194216 Oct 1946PT 1946-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap
December 19461 Mar 1960
SS-21428 Dec 194027 Oct 194112 Feb 19422 Dec 1968SSK Jan 1951; AGSS 21 Jun 1958; struck 2 Dec 1968, sold for scrap
SS-21510 Feb 194122 Nov 194120 Mar 1942Lost to Japanese surface attack, 8 Nov 1944[11]
SS-2161 Mar 194122 Dec 194111 Apr 1942Lost due likely to circular run of own torpedo, 30 Jul 1942[12] [13]
SS-2171 Apr 194120 Jan 19428 May 194225 May 1946PT 1948-1960; struck 1 Jun 1960, sold for scrap
18 Jun 19481 Jun 1960
SS-21821 Apr 194117 Feb 19421 Jun 1942Lost to Japanese mine, 7 Nov 1944[14]
SS-21915 May 19416 Mar 194219 Jun 1942Lost, possibly to Japanese surface attack, 16 Feb 1943[15]
SS-2207 Jun 19412 Apr 19428 Jul 194212 Feb 1947G IB 1954, transferred to Italy as Enrico Tazzoli 1954; returned to US and sold for scrap 15 Oct 1972
3 Dec 19515 Feb 1954
3 Aug 195413 Dec 1954
SS-2211 Jul 194118 Apr 194222 Jul 194211 May 1946PT 1949-1954; struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap
5 May 194919 May 1954
SS-2225 Jun 194221 Feb 194324 May 194312 Feb 1947Struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap 4 May 1959
7 Jan 195220 Nov 1953
SS-22325 Jun 19427 Mar 194331 May 1943Lost to Japanese surface attack, 18 Jun 1945
SS-22421 Jul 194221 Mar 194321 Jun 194322 Jun 1946PT 1960-1971, AGSS 1 Dec 1962, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, struck 15 Dec 1971. Museum ship currently moored in Cleveland, Ohio's North Coast Harbor at the USS Cod Submarine Memorial since 1 May 1976.[16]
1 May 196015 Dec 1971
SS-22524 Aug 19424 Apr 19434 Jul 19438 Jun 1946PT 1959-1967; struck 30 Jun 1967, sold for scrap October 1970
4 Feb 195223 Dec 1953
12 Sep 195930 Jun 1967
SS-22621 Sep 19429 May 19436 Aug 1943Lost to Japanese submarine attack, 16 Nov 1943
SS-22720 Oct 19426 Jun 19437 Sep 1943Lost to accidental grounding, 24 Oct 1944
SS-228Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine11 Sep 194012 May 19411 Nov 194116 Feb 1946PT 1947-1968, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1968, memorial in Mobile, Alabama[17]
18 Mar 194730 Jun 1968
SS-2296 Dec 19409 Jul 194110 Dec 194128 May 1954AGSS 29 Nov 1950; struck 1 Aug 1958, sold for scrap 1 May 1959
SS-2305 Feb 194125 Aug 194131 Jan 194221 Apr 1950Struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap 15 Jul 1959
SS-23131 Mar 194120 Oct 194114 Mar 194212 Feb 1947PT 1948-1952, 1956-1960; struck 1 Jun 1960, sold for scrap 23 Aug 1960
August 1948May 1952
June 19561 Jun 1960
SS-23216 May 19413 Dec 194110 Apr 194218 Jul 1945Constructive total loss following Japanese air attack 14 Nov 1944, returned to US but not repaired, struck 8 May 1946, sold for scrap 9 Dec 1946[18]
SS-23314 Jul 19415 Jan 19424 May 1942Lost to Japanese shore batteries, 1 Jun 1944
SS-23429 Aug 19412 Mar 194220 May 19429 Mar 1946PT 1947-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap 6 Oct 1960[19]
6 Oct 19471 Mar 1960
SS-23524 Oct 194115 Apr 194212 Jun 19421947PT 1948-1960; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 11 Jul 1960
October 19471 Apr 1960
SS-236Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California4 Nov 194026 Aug 194115 Dec 194117 Apr 1946PT 1947-1969, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1969, memorial in Chicago, Illinois 1973-1987, memorial in Muskegon, Michigan 1987-present[20]
15 Oct 194730 Jun 1969
SS-2371 Feb 194122 Oct 194131 Jan 1942Lost to Japanese surface attack, 28 Mar 1945
SS-23828 Jun 194114 Feb 194215 May 1942Lost to Japanese air attack, 11 Oct 1943
SS-23928 Jun 194114 Mar 19421 Jun 19421 Jun 1946PT 1957-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap 14 Oct 1960
22 Jan 19571 Mar 1960
SS-240Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut9 Nov 19424 Jul 19431 Oct 19432 Feb 1947SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Jul 1963, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, PT 1968-1971; struck 15 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 1 Feb 1974
2 Apr 195110 Nov 1952
10 Sep 19531 Apr 1968
1 Apr 196815 Dec 1971
SS-2414 Dec 194225 Jul 194325 Oct 194329 Jun 1949SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Sep 1962; struck 13 Sep 1969, sold for scrap 4 Aug 1972 (some sources state sunk as target)[21] [22]
3 Apr 195110 May 1952
28 Mar 195313 Sep 1969
SS-2427 Dec 19428 Aug 194311 Nov 19431 Mar 1946SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Apr 1966; struck 28 Jun 1969, scuttled off Hawaii 3 Dec 1970, wreck used for salvage training, towed to deep water and sunk with honors 6 Nov 1983[23]
3 May 19517 Jul 1952
2 May 195328 Jun 1969
SS-2435 Feb 194317 Oct 194324 Jan 194431 Jan 1946SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 15 Apr 1965; struck 28 Jun 1969, sunk as target 7 Nov 1969
5 Jun 195110 Sep 1952
20 Jun 195328 Jun 1969
SS-2444 Mar 194314 Nov 194329 Feb 194416 Mar 1946SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Jul 1963, PT 1968-1969; struck 30 Dec 1969, memorial in Galveston, Texas[24]
10 Apr 19513 Sep 1952
15 Jul 19533 Jun 1968
3 Jun 196830 Dec 1969
SS-24517 Mar 194328 Nov 194329 Mar 194422 May 1946PT 1959-1970, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Jul 1970, memorial in Manitowoc, Wisconsin[25]
6 Jul 195119 Mar 1954
12 Sep 19591 Jul 1970
SS-2461 Apr 194319 Dec 194321 Apr 194415 Jun 1946SSK 9 Apr 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 May 1967, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, PT 1968-1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, memorial in Groton, CT 1977-1987, memorial in Buffalo, New York 1988-present[26]
7 May 195118 Mar 1953
11 Dec 19532 Apr 1968
2 Apr 196820 Dec 1971
SS-24722 Jul 194225 Apr 194323 Jul 194312 Feb 1947G IB 1955, transferred to Italy as Leonardo da Vinci 1955; returned to US and sold for scrap 15 Oct 1972
8 Aug 195115 Jan 1954
22 Oct 195431 Jan 1955
SS-24827 Aug 194223 May 194328 Aug 1943Lost, probably to "friendly fire" air attack or German mine off Panama, 12 Oct 1943[27]
SS-24930 Sep 194220 Jun 194325 Sep 194316 Mar 1946Struck 1 Jun 1959, sold for scrap 8 Jun 1963, conning tower preserved as memorial in Groton, Connecticut
SS-25030 Oct 194211 Jun 194318 Oct 1943Lost to Japanese mine, 13 Aug 1944
SS-2515 Dec 194222 Aug 194329 Nov 194312 Feb 1947Struck 1 Jun 1959, sold for scrap 2 Feb 1960
SS-2525 Jan 194319 Sep 194328 Dec 194323 Feb 1946Struck 1 Jun 1959, sold for scrap 11 Jan 1960
SS-25327 Jul 194117 May 194220 Aug 194218 May 1946Struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap December 1959[28]
SS-2542 Sep 19411 Jun 194218 Sep 194227 Nov 1945PT 1949-1960; struck 1 May 1961, sold for scrap 29 Oct 1961
April 1949June 1960
SS-2551 Oct 194121 Jun 19429 Oct 194216 Feb 1946Struck 1 Aug 1958, sold for scrap 4 May 1959
SS-2561 Nov 194117 Jul 194230 Oct 194213 Jul 1946PT 1956-1968, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 19 Apr 1968; salvage training hulk in Chesapeake Bay 1968-1972, sold for scrap 5 Dec 1972
15 Oct 195619 Apr 1968
SS-2571 Dec 194119 Aug 19422 Dec 1942Lost to Japanese surface attack, 24 Aug 1944
SS-2582 Jan 194217 Sep 194216 Dec 19427 Aug 1946PT 1956-1960; struck 1 May 1960, sold for scrap 10 Sep 1960
September 195615 Apr 1960
SS-2592 Feb 194216 Oct 19426 Jan 19438 Jun 1946Snorkel added 1958, transferred to Greece as Amphitriti 1958; returned to US and struck 1 Sep 1967, sunk as target 5 Sep 1967[29]
20 Dec 195721 Apr 1958
SS-26021 Feb 194227 Oct 194223 Jan 194325 Jul 1946Snorkel added 1957, transferred to Greece as Poseidon 1957; struck 31 Dec 1975, purchased by Greece for spare parts and sunk as target April 1976[30]
13 Apr 195710 Aug 1957
SS-26121 Mar 194230 Nov 194212 Feb 1943January 1947Transferred to Japan as Kuroshio 15 Aug 1955; returned to US control 31 Mar 1966, struck and sold to Japan 20 Feb 1971, sunk as target 1973[31]
20 May 195515 Aug 1955
SS-2627 Apr 194213 Dec 194215 Mar 194329 Jan 1947Transferred to Brazil as Humaitá 18 Jan 1957; struck 1 Dec 1967, returned to US March 1968, sunk as target 9 Jul 1968
31 Aug 195618 Jan 1957
SS-2631 May 194230 Dec 194229 Mar 19431 Feb 1946Transferred to Brazil as Riachuelo 18 Jan 1957; returned to US control March 1968, struck 30 Jun 1968, used for spare parts by Brazil (one source says sunk (sic) about 30 Jun 1968)[32]
31 Aug 195618 Jan 1957
SS-26421 May 194224 Jan 194326 Apr 194312 Jun 1946PT 1946-1960; struck 1 Dec 1960, sold for scrap 16 May 1961
12 Jun 19461 Dec 1960
SS-265Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin15 Jun 194130 Apr 194221 Nov 194225 Dec 1942Peto and Pogy (only) administratively decommissioned during barge delivery via Mississippi River, PT 1956-1960; struck 1 Aug 1960, sold for scrap 29 Nov 1960
January 194325 Jun 1946
November 19561 Aug 1960
SS-26615 Sep 194123 Jun 194210 Jan 19431 Feb 1943Peto and Pogy (only) administratively decommissioned during barge delivery via Mississippi River; struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap 1 May 1959
12 Feb 194330 Jul 1946
SS-26726 Nov 194115 Aug 194217 Mar 194311 May 1946SSR 11 Dec 1951; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 22 Dec 1960
15 Jun 19531 Apr 1960
SS-26816 Feb 194222 Nov 194227 Apr 194328 Jun 1946PT 1946-1960; struck 1 Jul 1960, sold for scrap 3 Dec 1960
194610 Jun 1960
SS-2694 May 194220 Dec 19428 Jun 194322 Jun 1946SSR 11 Dec 1951, AGSS 1 Jul 1960, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, PT 1967-1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 7 Aug 1974
14 Dec 195128 May 1952
22 Jul 195327 May 1967
SS-27029 May 194224 Jan 194313 Jul 194311 Mar 1949SSR 18 Jul 1952, AGSS 1 Jul 1960; struck 28 Jun 1969, sold for scrap 12 Oct 1973, hulk reportedly used as target[33]
21 Sep 195328 Jun 1969
SS-27120 Jul 194228 Feb 194327 Jul 194312 Feb 1947SSR 2 Jan 1951; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 18 Dec 1960
13 Aug 195230 Sep 1958
SS-2723 Sep 19424 Apr 194331 Aug 19431 Nov 1946SSR 2 Jan 1951, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 28 Jun 1963, PT 1967-1970; struck 1 Jul 1970, sold for scrap 31 Mar 1971
13 Aug 195230 Sep 1958
SS-27324 Oct 19429 May 194328 Sep 1943Lost to Japanese mine, 26 Jul 1944
SS-27423 Dec 194220 Jun 194326 Oct 19431 May 1946SSR 18 Jul 1952, AGSS 31 Dec 1959; struck 13 Sep 1969, held for use as target, but sold for scrap 18 Sep 1972[34]
12 Oct 195313 Sep 1969
SS-275Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine8 Dec 194130 May 194230 Jul 1942Lost to unknown cause, possibly Japanese mine, circa 1 Jul 1943[35]
SS-27620 Jan 194223 Jun 194226 Aug 194220 Jun 1946PT 1947-1960; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 2 Dec 1960
15 May 19471 Apr 1960
SS-2776 Mar 194220 Jul 194218 Sep 1942Lost, probably to Japanese surface and air attack, 11 Nov 1944[36]
SS-27820 Mar 194220 Jul 19421 Oct 1942Lost to unknown cause, possibly Japanese mine, circa 5 Jan 1944
SS-27917 Apr 194215 Aug 194224 Oct 1942Lost, possibly to Japanese surface attack circa 12 Apr 1945
SS-2801 Jun 194211 Sep 19427 Dec 194229 Jun 1946PT 1947-1960; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 21 Dec 1960
12 Nov 19471 Apr 1960
SS-281Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California25 Sep 19412 May 194215 Jul 194226 Dec 1945PT 1949-1960; struck 1 May 1960, sold for scrap 15 Dec 1960
April 19491 May 1960
SS-28210 Nov 194130 Jun 19421 Sep 194212 Feb 1946SSG 18 Jul 1952, SS 15 May 1965, APSS 1 Oct 1966, LPSS 1 Jan 1969; struck 30 Jun 1969, sunk as target 19 Jun 1970
25 Feb 195230 Apr 1952
6 Mar 195328 Jun 1969
SS-28321 Feb 19427 Oct 194215 Jan 194323 Jun 1949Struck 1 Sep 1958, used as ASW target, scuttled November 1960
4 Jan 19522 Dec 1953
SS-2841 Apr 194211 Nov 194215 Feb 1943Lost due to circular run of own torpedo, 26 Mar 1944
SS-361Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin27 Jan 19431 Aug 194330 Nov 1943Lost to Japanese surface attack, 14 Jun 1944[37]
SS-3623 Mar 194329 Aug 194323 Dec 19438 Jun 1946[38] SSO 16 Aug 1948, AGSS 11 Dec 1951, AOSS 22 Jun 1957, PT 1960-1967; struck 30 Jun 1967, sunk as target 14 Nov 1967
1 Feb 195027 Mar 1959
February 196030 Jun 1967
SS-3637 Apr 194326 Sep 194326 Jan 19446 Dec 1945Snorkel added 1954, transferred to Turkey as Preveze 7 Aug 1954, struck and sold to Turkey 1 Jan 1972, decommissioned by Turkey 4 May 1972, used as battery charging hulk until scrapped September 1983, sail preserved as memorial at Gölcük Naval Base until earthquake 17 Aug 1999[39]
6 Feb 195222 Sep 1953
SS-3645 May 194324 Oct 19431 Mar 19449 Feb 1946Snorkel added 1954, transferred to Turkey as Cerbe 23 Oct 1954, struck and sold to Turkey 1 Jan 1972, decommissioned by Turkey 4 May 1972, subsequently scrapped[40]
6 Feb 195221 Aug 1953

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Bauer and Roberts, pp. 271-273
  2. Blair, pp. 989-990
  3. ″United States Submarine Losses World War II″, Naval History Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington: 1963 (Fifth Printing)
  4. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/04idx.htm Fleet Submarine index page at Navsource.org
  5. Friedman 1995, p. 209
  6. "Snorkel added" was similar to fleet snorkel, but only the after part of the sail was streamlined.
  7. These were in commission but classed as "in commission, in reserve", thus some were decommissioned and recommissioned on the same day to reflect the change in status
  8. Friedman 1995, p. 285
  9. Guavina (SS-362).
  10. Friedman 1995, p. 294
  11. Growler III (SS-215).
  12. Grunion.
  13. Stevens, Peter F., Fatal Dive: Solving the World War II Mystery of the USS Grunion, Regnery History, 2012
  14. Albacore II (SS-218).
  15. Amberjack I (SS-219).
  16. http://usscod.org/ USS Cod memorial website
  17. https://www.ussalabama.com/explore/uss-drum/ USS Drum memorial website
  18. Halibut I (SS-232).
  19. Friedman 1995, p. 295
  20. https://silversidesmuseum.org/ USS Silversides Submarine Museum website
  21. Bashaw (SS-241).
  22. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08241.htm USS Bashaw (SS-241) at Navsource.org, retrieved 7 Dec 2017
  23. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08242.htm USS Bluegill (SS-242) at Navsource.org, retrieved 7 Dec 2017
  24. http://www.cavalla.org/ USS Cavalla memorial website
  25. http://www.wisconsinmaritime.org/the-submarine-experience/uss-cobia/ USS Cobia memorial website
  26. http://buffalonavalpark.org/ Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park website
  27. Dorado (SS-248).
  28. Friedman 1995, p. 296
  29. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08259.htm USS Jack (SS-259) at Navsource.org
  30. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08260.htm USS Lapon (SS-260) at Navsource.org
  31. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08261.htm USS Mingo (SS-261) at Navsource.org
  32. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08263.htm USS Paddle (SS-263) at Navsource.org
  33. Raton (SS-270).
  34. Rock (SS-274).
  35. Runner I (SS-275).
  36. Friedman 1995, p. 297
  37. Friedman 1995, p. 300
  38. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08362.htm USS Guavina (SS-362) at Navsource.org
  39. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08363.htm USS Guitarro (SS-363) at Navsource.org
  40. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08364.htm USS Hammerhead (SS-364) at Navsource.org

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