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=== <big>Submarine Specifications</big> === | === <big>Submarine Specifications</big> === | ||
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">The table below lists the major specifications of all of the submarine classes of the pigboats era. This data was taken from Norman Friedman's [https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Submarines-Through-1945-Illustrated/dp/1682477606/ref=sr_1_1crid=2YYQGGA159DNL&keywords=norman+friedman+submarines&qid=1693768794&sprefix=norman+friedman%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc '''''U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History'''''], Appendix D, pages 306-311, | <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">The table below lists the major specifications of all of the submarine classes of the pigboats era. This data was taken from Norman Friedman's [https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Submarines-Through-1945-Illustrated/dp/1682477606/ref=sr_1_1crid=2YYQGGA159DNL&keywords=norman+friedman+submarines&qid=1693768794&sprefix=norman+friedman%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc '''''U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History'''''], Appendix D, pages 306-311, John D. Alden's [https://www.amazon.com/Fleet-Submarine-U-S-Navy-Construction/dp/0870211870/ref=sr_1_3crid=34IF1UVWT6FYV&keywords=John+D.+Alden&qid=1693843270&sprefix=john+d.+alden%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3. '''''The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History'''''], and Lyle Cummins' ''Diesels for the First Stealth Weapon: Submarine Power 1902-1945'', Carnot Press, 2007. The data represents the configuration of the boat when it was first commissioned into the USN. Subsequent modifications and updates can alter the specifications greatly. Some notes concerning the table are below: | ||
•'''Displ.''' - Displacement, the amount of water a submarine displaces, analogous to weight.<br> | •'''Displ.''' - Displacement, the amount of water a submarine displaces, analogous to weight.<br> | ||
•'''Surf. Prop.''' - The number and type of surface propulsion internal combustion engines.<br> | •'''Surf. Prop.''' - The number and type of surface propulsion internal combustion engines.<br> | ||
•'''Subm. Prop.''' - The number and manufacturer of submerged propulsion | •'''Subm. Prop./Battery''' - The number and manufacturer of submerged propulsion electric motors, and the number of batteries x the number of cells in each battery.<br> | ||
•'''Kts''' - Knots, or one nautical mile per hour.<br> | •'''Kts''' - Knots, or one nautical mile per hour.<br> | ||
•'''Surf. Range''' - The maximum surface range in nautical miles @ the specified speed in knots.<br> | |||
•'''Test Depth''' - The maximum depth at which the submarine can routinely operate without damage. Most USN submarines have a safety factor of 1.5 built into its design, meaning that the collapse depth of the hull (implosion depth) is 1.5 times test depth.<br> | •'''Test Depth''' - The maximum depth at which the submarine can routinely operate without damage. Most USN submarines have a safety factor of 1.5 built into its design, meaning that the collapse depth of the hull (implosion depth) is 1.5 times test depth.<br> | ||
•'''Tubes (B/S)''' - The number of torpedo tubes in the bow (B) or stern (S).<br> | •'''Tubes (B/S)''' - The number of torpedo tubes in the bow (B) or stern (S).<br> | ||
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•'''Gun''' - If present, listed numbers represent bore diameter in inches and the barrel length in calibers.<br> | •'''Gun''' - If present, listed numbers represent bore diameter in inches and the barrel length in calibers.<br> | ||
•'''Crew (O/E)''' - The crew size, with the numbers representing officers and enlisted.<br> | •'''Crew (O/E)''' - The crew size, with the numbers representing officers and enlisted.<br> | ||
•'''EB''' - Electric Boat<br> | |||
•'''NELSECO''' - New London Ship and Engine Company (an EB subsidiary)<br> | |||
•'''BuENG''' - The U.S. Navy's Bureau of Engineering<br> | |||
•'''M.A.N.''' - Maschinenfabrik-Augsburg-Nurnberg, a German engine company that sold manufacturing leases to the USN & EB<br> | |||
•'''GM''' - General Motors Winton Division<br> | |||
•'''HOR''' - Hooven, Owens, Rentschler Conmpany<br> | |||
•'''FM''' - Fairbanks Morse Company<br> | |||
•'''ALCO''' - American Locomotive Company<br> | |||
•'''GD''' or '''DD''' - Gasoline or Diesel Direct<br> | |||
•'''GDT''' or '''DDT''' - Gasoline or Diesel Direct Tandem<br> | |||
•'''DE''' - Diesel Electric<br> | |||
•'''DEDC''' - Diesel Electric Direct Composite<br> | |||
•'''~''' or '''?''' indicates the exact figure is not known at this time | |||
For the Surfaced Propulsion column, the number of engines, the manufacturer, and the type of engine are listed. If the exact engine model number is known, it is listed as well. | [[File:Alden Propulsion Machinery Arrangements table v3.jpg|right|400px|Table adapted from Appendix 1, page 214 of ''The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy'' by John D. Alden, 1979]] | ||
For the Surfaced Propulsion column, the number of engines, the manufacturer, and the type of engine are listed. If the exact engine model number is known, it is listed as well. | |||
The illustration at right was adapted from ''The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy'' by John D. Alden. It shows how the propulsion train was arranged in the engine room(s). For boats with two shafts, only the port side is shown. The starboard shaft was usually a mirror of the port side arrangement. All of the submarines of the pigboat era had one of these propulsion arrangements at some point in their careers, although some arrangements were not installed until later wartime overhauls. For instance, V-5/Narwhal was commissioned with a DD and DE plant (arrangement C), but during wartime overhauls she was re-engined to arrangement D-2. V-1/Barracuda also started life with a DD and DE plant (arrangement C), but finished life with arrangement G when her two main DD engines were removed without replacement. | |||
The majority of the pigboat era submarines had gasoline or diesel direct drive (GD or DD, arrangement A) engines, i.e. the engine was connected to the propeller shaft and directly turned the propeller. Motors that doubled as generators were connected to the same shaft via clutches. Boats with more than one engine on a shaft had those engines arranged in tandem (GDT or DDT, arrangement B). | |||
When the submarine submerged, it would shut down the engines, declutch them from the propeller shaft (if direct drive), and then use the stored electricity in the battery to drive the motors. Upon surfacing, the engines would be started and the electricity produced by the generators would recharge the battery. | |||
All but the final two of the V-class boats used arrangement C with DD main propulsion diesels and one or more DE engines that were used to charge batteries or provide supplementary propulsion power. The two boats of the Cachalot-class used arrangement A (later D-1). The later fleet boats used diesel electric (DE, arrangements E-1 thru E-5) engines that drove only generators. Electric motors attached to the shaft turned the propellers through reduction gear. | |||
Salmon and Sargo-class fleet boats used the complicated diesel electric direct composite plants (DEDC, arrangements F-1 and F-2) with both DD engines and DE engines in one engine room. The two patrol submarines of the Mackerel-class of 1941 had their DD engines in arrangement D-1. | |||
For information on the torpedoes used by these submarines, see our page [[Torpedoes|'''at this link''']]. | |||
</span> | |||
[[File:Red bar sub new.jpg]] | [[File:Red bar sub new.jpg]] | ||
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<center> | <center> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+ < | |+ <span style="font-size: 32px">Submarine Specifications 1900-1941</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Class !! Length (Ft-In) !! Beam (Ft-In) !! Surf. Displ. (Tons) !! Subm. Displ. (Tons) !! Surf. Prop. !! Subm. Prop./Battery !! Surf. Speed (Kts) !! Subm. Speed (Kts) !! Surf. Range (NM@Kts) !! Test Depth (Ft) !! Tubes (B/S) !! Tube Size (In) !! Torp Load !! Deck Gun !! Crew (O/E) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Holland || 53-10 || 10-3 || 64 || 74 || 1xOtto (GD)|| 1xElectro Dynamic/1x60 || 6 || 5.5 || 200@6 || 75 || 1/0 || 18 || 3 || No || 1/6 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| A-class || 63-10 || 11-10 || 105.5 || 122.5 || 1xOtto (GD)|| 1xElectro Dynamic/1x60 || 8.5 || 7.2 || 400@6 || 150 || 1/0 || 18 || 3 || No || 1/6 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | B-class || 82-5 || 12-5 || 145 || 170 || 1xEB/Craig (GD)|| 1xElectro Dynamic/1x60 || 9.2 || 8.2 || 600@6 || 150 || 2/0 || 18 || 4 || No || 1/9 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| C-class || 105-3 || 13-10 || 240 || 273 || 2xEB/Craig (GD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 || 11 || 9 || 776@8.13 || 200 || 2/0 || 18 || 4 || No || 1/14 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | D-class || 134-10 || 13-10 || 288 || 337 || 2xEB/Craig (GD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 || 13 || 9.5 || 1179@9.6 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 4 || No || 1/14 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| E-class || 135-2 || 14-7 || 287 || 342 || 2xEB/Vickers (DD) || 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 || 13 || 11 || 2090@10.17 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || No || 1/19 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| F-class || 142-7 || 15-5 || 330 || 400 || 2xEB/Vickers (DD) || 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 || 13 || 11.5 || 2500@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || No || 1/21 | |||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| G-1 || 161-0 || 13-1 || 400 || 516 || 2xWhite-Middleton (GD)|| 2xDiehl/1x120 || 14.7 || 10.6 || 3500@~11 || 200 || 2/0 || 18 || 6 || No || 1/23 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | G-2 || 161-0 || 14-4 || 375 || 481 || 4xWhite-Middleton (GDT)|| 2xDiehl/1x120 || 14 || 10.5 || 3500@~11 || 200 || 3/1 || 18 || 8 || No || 1/23 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| G-3 || 161-0 || 14-4 || 393 || 468 || 2xSulzer 6U32 (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 || 14 || 9.5 || ~3500@11 || 200 || 4/2 || 18 || 10 || No || 2/23 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | G-4 || 157-5 || 17-4 || 370 || 352 || 4x Fiat (GDT)|| 2xDiehl/1x124 || 14.4 || 9.5 || 2200@8 || 200 || 2/2 || 18 || 8 || No || 2/18 | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Class !! Length (Ft-In) !! Beam (Ft-In) !! Surf. Displ. (Tons) !! Subm. Displ. (Tons) !! Surf. Prop. !! Subm. Prop./Battery !! Surf. Speed (Kts) !! Subm. Speed (Kts) !! Surf. Range (NM@Kts) !! Test Depth (Ft) !! Tubes (B/S) !! Tube Size (In) !! Torp Load !! Deck Gun !! Crew (O/E) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | H-class || 150-3 || 15-9 || 358 || 434 || 2xNELSECO 240V8FS (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 14 || 10.5 || 2500@14 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || No || 2/23 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| K-class || 153-6 || 16-8 || 392 || 520 || 2xNELSECO 240V8FS (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 14 || 10.5 || 3150@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || No || 2/26 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | L-class EB || 168-5 || 17-4 || 450 || 548 || 2xNELSECO (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 14 || 10.5 || 3150@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 ||3"/23<small> (1917)</small>|| 2/26 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| L-class Lake || 165-0 || 14-9 || 451 || 527 || 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M100 (DD)|| 2xDiehl/1x120 || 14 || 10.5 || 3150@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || No || 2/26 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | M-1 || 197-0 || 19-0 || 488 || 676 || 2xNELSECO 70/6MS (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 14 || 10.5 || 2400@11 || 150 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || 3"/23 || 2/26 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| N-class EB || 147-3 || 15-9 || 347 || 414 || 2xNELSECO 240V8FS (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 13 || 11 || 3500@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || No || 2/23 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | N-class Lake || 155-0 || 14-6 || 331 || 385 || 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M50 (DD)|| 2xDiehl/1x120 || 13 || 11 || ~3500@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || No || 3/26 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| O-class EB || 172-4 || 18-0 || 520 || 629 || 2xNELSECO 6-EB-14 (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 14 || 10.5 || ~4200@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || 3"/23 || 2/27 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | O-class Lake || 175-0 || 16-7 || 485 || 566 || 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M85 (DD)|| 2xDiehl/1x120 || 14 || 11 || ~4200@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18 || 8 || 3"/23 || 2/27 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| R-class EB || 186-3 || 18-0 || 574 || 685 || 2xNELSECO 6-EB-14 (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 12.5 || 9.3 || 4700@6.2 || 200 || 4/0 || 21 || 8 || 3"/50 || 3/26 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | R-class Lake || 175-0 || 16-7 || 497 || 652 || 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M85 (DD)|| 2xDiehl/1x120 || 14 || 11.4 || 3523@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 18? || 8 || 3"/50 || 3/23 | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Class !! Length (Ft-In) !! Beam (Ft-In) !! Surf. Displ. (Tons) !! Subm. Displ. (Tons) !! Surf. Prop. !! Subm. Prop./Battery !! Surf. Speed (Kts) !! Subm. Speed (Kts) !! Surf. Range (NM@Kts) !! Test Depth (Ft) !! Tubes (B/S) !! Tube Size (In) !! Torp Load !! Deck Gun !! Crew (O/E) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| S-1 & S-18 to S-41 || 219-3 || 20-8 || 930 || 1094 || 2xNELSECO 8-EB-15 (DD)|| 2xRidgeway/2x60 || 13 || 9 || 3420@6.5 || 200 || 4/0 || 21 || 12 || 4"/50 || 4/39 | |||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| S-2 || 207-0 || 19-7 || 800 || 977 || 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M150 (DD)|| 2xDiehl/1x120 || 15 || 11 || ~3500@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 21 || 12 || 4"/50 || 4/34 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | S-3 & S-14 groups || 231-0 || 21-10 || 876 || 1088 || <small>2xNELSECO 8-EB-16 (DD) or 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M150 (DD)</small> || <small>2xWestinghouse/1x120</small> || 15 || 11 || ~5500@11 || 200 || 4/0 || 21 || 12 || 4"/50 || 4/34 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| S-10 group || 231-0 || 21-10 || 930 || 1138 || 2xBuENG M.A.N. S6V45/42 (DD)|| <small>2xWestinghouse/1x120</small> || 14 || 11 || 5500@11 || 200 || 4/1 || 21 || 14 || 4"/50 || 4/34 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | S-42 group || 225-4 || 20-11 || 963 || 1135 || 2xNELSECO 8-EB-15 (DD)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 12.5 || 9.5 || ~3420@6.5 || 200 || 4/0 || 21 || 12 || 4"/50 || 4/39 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| S-48 group || 240-0 || 21-11 || 903 || 1230 || 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M150 (DD)|| 2xRidgeway/1x120 || 14.8 || 11 || 5900@11 || 200 || 4/1 || 21 || 16 || 4"/50 || 4/34 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | T-class || 268-9 || 22-4 || 1106 || 1487 || 4xNELSECO 6-EB-19 (DDT)|| 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 || 20 || 10.5 || 3000@14 || 150 || 4/0 <small>(4 deck T-1 only, later removed)</small> || 18 || 12 <small>(16 on T-1)</small> || No <small>(later 4"/50 on T-1 only)</small> || 4/50 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| Barracuda class || 341-6 || 27-6 || 2119 || 2506 || <small>2xBusch-Sulzer 6M375 (DD) & 2xBusch-Sulzer (DE)</small> || 2xElliot/2x60 || 21 || 9 || 10000@11 || 200 || 4/2 || 21 || 18 || 5"/51 || 7/80 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Argonaut || 381-0 || 33-9 || 3046 || 4164 || <small>2xBuENG 6A20 ⅞-R (DD) & 1xBuENG 6A13 ¾-N (DE)</small> || 2xRidgeway/2x120 || 15 || 8 || 18000@10 || 300 || 4/2 stern mine || 21 || 14+60 mines || 2x6"/53 || 7/80 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| Narwhal class || 371-0 || 33-3 || 2730 || 3900 || <small>2xBuENG 10A20 ⅞-R (DD) & 2xBuENG 6A13 ¾-N (DE)</small> || <small>2xWestinghouse/2x120</small> || 17 || 8 || 18000@10 || 300 || 4/2 || 21 || 18 || 2x6"/53 || 9/80 | |||
|- | |- | ||
! Class !! Length (Ft-In) !! Beam (Ft-In) !! Surf. Displ. (Tons) !! Subm. Displ. (Tons) !! Surf. Prop. !! Subm. Prop./Battery !! Surf. Speed (Kts) !! Subm. Speed (Kts) !! Surf. Range (NM@Kts) !! Test Depth (Ft) !! Tubes (B/S) !! Tube Size (In) !! Torp Load !! Deck Gun !! Crew (O/E) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Dolphin || 319-3 || 27-11 || 1718 || 2240 || <small>2xBuENG 6A20 ⅞-R (DD) & 2xBuENG 6A13 ¾-N (DE)</small> || 2xElectro Dynamic/2x120 || 17 || 8 || 16000@7 || 300 || 4/2 || 21 || 18 || 4"/50 || 7/56 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| Cachalot class || 274-0 || 24-1 || 1110 || 1650 || <small>2xBuENG M.A.N. M9V (DD) & 1xBuENG M.A.N. (DE)</small> || <small>2xWestinghouse/2x120</small> || 17 || 8 || 11000@10 || 250 || 4/2 || 21 || 16 || 3"/50 || 6/39 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Porpoise group || 301-0 || 24-11 || 1310 || 1934 || 4xGM 16-201A (DE)|| 4xElliot/2x120 || 19 || 8 || 11000@10 || 250 || 4/2 || 21 || 16 || 3"/50 || 5/49 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| Shark group || 298-0 || 25-0 || 1316 || 1968 || 4xGM 16-201A (DE)|| 4xElliot/2x120 || 19.5 || 8.25 || 11000@10 || 250 || 4/2 || 21 || 16 || 3"/50 || 5/49 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Perch Group || 300-6 || 25-0 || 1350 || 1997 || <small>4xGM 16-201A, FM 38A8, or HOR 89DA (DE)</small> || 4 or 8xGeneral Electric/2x120 || 19.25 || 8.75 || 11000@10 || 250 || 4/2 || 21 || 16 || 3"/50 || 5/49 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| Salmon group || 308-0 || 26-1 || 1435 || 2198 || <small>4x HOR 99DA or GM 16-248 (DEDC)</small>|| 4xElliot/2x120 || 21 || 9 || 11000@10 || 250 || 4/4 || 21 || 24 || 3"/50 || 5/54 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Sargo/Seadragon group || 310-6 || 26-10 || 1450 || 2350 || <small>4x HOR 99DA or GM 16-248 (DEDC or DE)</small> || 4xGeneral Electric/2x126 || 21 || 8.75 || 11000@10 || 250 || 4/4 || 21 || 24 || 3"/50 || 5/54 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| Tambor/Gar class || 307-2 || 27-3 || 1475 || 2370 || <small>4xFM 38D8⅛ or GM 16-248 (DE)</small> || 4xGeneral Electric/2x126 || 20.4 || 8.75 || 11000@10 ||250 || 6/4 || 21 || 24 || 3"/50 || 6/54 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Marlin || 238-11 || 21-7 || 800 || 1165 || 2xAlco || 4xGeneral Electric | | Mackerel || 243-1 || 22-1 || 825 || 1190 || 2xEB 16VM1 (DD)|| 4xGeneral Electric/2x60 || 14.5 || 9 || 6500@10 || 250 || 4/2 || 21 || 12 || 3"/50 || 4/33 | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |||
| Marlin || 238-11 || 21-7 || 800 || 1165 || 2xAlco Model 540 (DD)|| 4xGeneral Electric/2x60 || 14.5 || 9 || 7400@10 || 250 || 4/2 || 21 || 12 || 3"/50 || 4/34 | |||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
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1999 - 2023 - PigBoats.COM<sup>©</sup><br> | 1999 - 2023 - PigBoats.COM<sup>©</sup><br> | ||
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webmaster | [mailto:webmaster@pigboats.com '''webmaster@pigboats.com''']</small> | ||
</center> | </center> | ||
[[File:Subs bottom line 2.jpg]] | [[File:Subs bottom line 2.jpg]] |
Latest revision as of 19:05, 12 March 2025
Submarine Specifications
•Displ. - Displacement, the amount of water a submarine displaces, analogous to weight.
•Surf. Prop. - The number and type of surface propulsion internal combustion engines.
•Subm. Prop./Battery - The number and manufacturer of submerged propulsion electric motors, and the number of batteries x the number of cells in each battery.
•Kts - Knots, or one nautical mile per hour.
•Surf. Range - The maximum surface range in nautical miles @ the specified speed in knots.
•Test Depth - The maximum depth at which the submarine can routinely operate without damage. Most USN submarines have a safety factor of 1.5 built into its design, meaning that the collapse depth of the hull (implosion depth) is 1.5 times test depth.
•Tubes (B/S) - The number of torpedo tubes in the bow (B) or stern (S).
•Torp Load - The total number of torpedoes carried.
•Gun - If present, listed numbers represent bore diameter in inches and the barrel length in calibers.
•Crew (O/E) - The crew size, with the numbers representing officers and enlisted.
•EB - Electric Boat
•NELSECO - New London Ship and Engine Company (an EB subsidiary)
•BuENG - The U.S. Navy's Bureau of Engineering
•M.A.N. - Maschinenfabrik-Augsburg-Nurnberg, a German engine company that sold manufacturing leases to the USN & EB
•GM - General Motors Winton Division
•HOR - Hooven, Owens, Rentschler Conmpany
•FM - Fairbanks Morse Company
•ALCO - American Locomotive Company
•GD or DD - Gasoline or Diesel Direct
•GDT or DDT - Gasoline or Diesel Direct Tandem
•DE - Diesel Electric
•DEDC - Diesel Electric Direct Composite
•~ or ? indicates the exact figure is not known at this time

For the Surfaced Propulsion column, the number of engines, the manufacturer, and the type of engine are listed. If the exact engine model number is known, it is listed as well.
The illustration at right was adapted from The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy by John D. Alden. It shows how the propulsion train was arranged in the engine room(s). For boats with two shafts, only the port side is shown. The starboard shaft was usually a mirror of the port side arrangement. All of the submarines of the pigboat era had one of these propulsion arrangements at some point in their careers, although some arrangements were not installed until later wartime overhauls. For instance, V-5/Narwhal was commissioned with a DD and DE plant (arrangement C), but during wartime overhauls she was re-engined to arrangement D-2. V-1/Barracuda also started life with a DD and DE plant (arrangement C), but finished life with arrangement G when her two main DD engines were removed without replacement.
The majority of the pigboat era submarines had gasoline or diesel direct drive (GD or DD, arrangement A) engines, i.e. the engine was connected to the propeller shaft and directly turned the propeller. Motors that doubled as generators were connected to the same shaft via clutches. Boats with more than one engine on a shaft had those engines arranged in tandem (GDT or DDT, arrangement B).
When the submarine submerged, it would shut down the engines, declutch them from the propeller shaft (if direct drive), and then use the stored electricity in the battery to drive the motors. Upon surfacing, the engines would be started and the electricity produced by the generators would recharge the battery.
All but the final two of the V-class boats used arrangement C with DD main propulsion diesels and one or more DE engines that were used to charge batteries or provide supplementary propulsion power. The two boats of the Cachalot-class used arrangement A (later D-1). The later fleet boats used diesel electric (DE, arrangements E-1 thru E-5) engines that drove only generators. Electric motors attached to the shaft turned the propellers through reduction gear.
Salmon and Sargo-class fleet boats used the complicated diesel electric direct composite plants (DEDC, arrangements F-1 and F-2) with both DD engines and DE engines in one engine room. The two patrol submarines of the Mackerel-class of 1941 had their DD engines in arrangement D-1.
For information on the torpedoes used by these submarines, see our page at this link.
Class | Length (Ft-In) | Beam (Ft-In) | Surf. Displ. (Tons) | Subm. Displ. (Tons) | Surf. Prop. | Subm. Prop./Battery | Surf. Speed (Kts) | Subm. Speed (Kts) | Surf. Range (NM@Kts) | Test Depth (Ft) | Tubes (B/S) | Tube Size (In) | Torp Load | Deck Gun | Crew (O/E) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Holland | 53-10 | 10-3 | 64 | 74 | 1xOtto (GD) | 1xElectro Dynamic/1x60 | 6 | 5.5 | 200@6 | 75 | 1/0 | 18 | 3 | No | 1/6 |
A-class | 63-10 | 11-10 | 105.5 | 122.5 | 1xOtto (GD) | 1xElectro Dynamic/1x60 | 8.5 | 7.2 | 400@6 | 150 | 1/0 | 18 | 3 | No | 1/6 |
B-class | 82-5 | 12-5 | 145 | 170 | 1xEB/Craig (GD) | 1xElectro Dynamic/1x60 | 9.2 | 8.2 | 600@6 | 150 | 2/0 | 18 | 4 | No | 1/9 |
C-class | 105-3 | 13-10 | 240 | 273 | 2xEB/Craig (GD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 | 11 | 9 | 776@8.13 | 200 | 2/0 | 18 | 4 | No | 1/14 |
D-class | 134-10 | 13-10 | 288 | 337 | 2xEB/Craig (GD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 | 13 | 9.5 | 1179@9.6 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 4 | No | 1/14 |
E-class | 135-2 | 14-7 | 287 | 342 | 2xEB/Vickers (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 | 13 | 11 | 2090@10.17 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | No | 1/19 |
F-class | 142-7 | 15-5 | 330 | 400 | 2xEB/Vickers (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 | 13 | 11.5 | 2500@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | No | 1/21 |
G-1 | 161-0 | 13-1 | 400 | 516 | 2xWhite-Middleton (GD) | 2xDiehl/1x120 | 14.7 | 10.6 | 3500@~11 | 200 | 2/0 | 18 | 6 | No | 1/23 |
G-2 | 161-0 | 14-4 | 375 | 481 | 4xWhite-Middleton (GDT) | 2xDiehl/1x120 | 14 | 10.5 | 3500@~11 | 200 | 3/1 | 18 | 8 | No | 1/23 |
G-3 | 161-0 | 14-4 | 393 | 468 | 2xSulzer 6U32 (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/1x120 | 14 | 9.5 | ~3500@11 | 200 | 4/2 | 18 | 10 | No | 2/23 |
G-4 | 157-5 | 17-4 | 370 | 352 | 4x Fiat (GDT) | 2xDiehl/1x124 | 14.4 | 9.5 | 2200@8 | 200 | 2/2 | 18 | 8 | No | 2/18 |
Class | Length (Ft-In) | Beam (Ft-In) | Surf. Displ. (Tons) | Subm. Displ. (Tons) | Surf. Prop. | Subm. Prop./Battery | Surf. Speed (Kts) | Subm. Speed (Kts) | Surf. Range (NM@Kts) | Test Depth (Ft) | Tubes (B/S) | Tube Size (In) | Torp Load | Deck Gun | Crew (O/E) |
H-class | 150-3 | 15-9 | 358 | 434 | 2xNELSECO 240V8FS (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 14 | 10.5 | 2500@14 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | No | 2/23 |
K-class | 153-6 | 16-8 | 392 | 520 | 2xNELSECO 240V8FS (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 14 | 10.5 | 3150@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | No | 2/26 |
L-class EB | 168-5 | 17-4 | 450 | 548 | 2xNELSECO (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 14 | 10.5 | 3150@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | 3"/23 (1917) | 2/26 |
L-class Lake | 165-0 | 14-9 | 451 | 527 | 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M100 (DD) | 2xDiehl/1x120 | 14 | 10.5 | 3150@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | No | 2/26 |
M-1 | 197-0 | 19-0 | 488 | 676 | 2xNELSECO 70/6MS (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 14 | 10.5 | 2400@11 | 150 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | 3"/23 | 2/26 |
N-class EB | 147-3 | 15-9 | 347 | 414 | 2xNELSECO 240V8FS (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 13 | 11 | 3500@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | No | 2/23 |
N-class Lake | 155-0 | 14-6 | 331 | 385 | 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M50 (DD) | 2xDiehl/1x120 | 13 | 11 | ~3500@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | No | 3/26 |
O-class EB | 172-4 | 18-0 | 520 | 629 | 2xNELSECO 6-EB-14 (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 14 | 10.5 | ~4200@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | 3"/23 | 2/27 |
O-class Lake | 175-0 | 16-7 | 485 | 566 | 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M85 (DD) | 2xDiehl/1x120 | 14 | 11 | ~4200@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18 | 8 | 3"/23 | 2/27 |
R-class EB | 186-3 | 18-0 | 574 | 685 | 2xNELSECO 6-EB-14 (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 12.5 | 9.3 | 4700@6.2 | 200 | 4/0 | 21 | 8 | 3"/50 | 3/26 |
R-class Lake | 175-0 | 16-7 | 497 | 652 | 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M85 (DD) | 2xDiehl/1x120 | 14 | 11.4 | 3523@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 18? | 8 | 3"/50 | 3/23 |
Class | Length (Ft-In) | Beam (Ft-In) | Surf. Displ. (Tons) | Subm. Displ. (Tons) | Surf. Prop. | Subm. Prop./Battery | Surf. Speed (Kts) | Subm. Speed (Kts) | Surf. Range (NM@Kts) | Test Depth (Ft) | Tubes (B/S) | Tube Size (In) | Torp Load | Deck Gun | Crew (O/E) |
S-1 & S-18 to S-41 | 219-3 | 20-8 | 930 | 1094 | 2xNELSECO 8-EB-15 (DD) | 2xRidgeway/2x60 | 13 | 9 | 3420@6.5 | 200 | 4/0 | 21 | 12 | 4"/50 | 4/39 |
S-2 | 207-0 | 19-7 | 800 | 977 | 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M150 (DD) | 2xDiehl/1x120 | 15 | 11 | ~3500@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 21 | 12 | 4"/50 | 4/34 |
S-3 & S-14 groups | 231-0 | 21-10 | 876 | 1088 | 2xNELSECO 8-EB-16 (DD) or 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M150 (DD) | 2xWestinghouse/1x120 | 15 | 11 | ~5500@11 | 200 | 4/0 | 21 | 12 | 4"/50 | 4/34 |
S-10 group | 231-0 | 21-10 | 930 | 1138 | 2xBuENG M.A.N. S6V45/42 (DD) | 2xWestinghouse/1x120 | 14 | 11 | 5500@11 | 200 | 4/1 | 21 | 14 | 4"/50 | 4/34 |
S-42 group | 225-4 | 20-11 | 963 | 1135 | 2xNELSECO 8-EB-15 (DD) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 12.5 | 9.5 | ~3420@6.5 | 200 | 4/0 | 21 | 12 | 4"/50 | 4/39 |
S-48 group | 240-0 | 21-11 | 903 | 1230 | 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M150 (DD) | 2xRidgeway/1x120 | 14.8 | 11 | 5900@11 | 200 | 4/1 | 21 | 16 | 4"/50 | 4/34 |
T-class | 268-9 | 22-4 | 1106 | 1487 | 4xNELSECO 6-EB-19 (DDT) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x60 | 20 | 10.5 | 3000@14 | 150 | 4/0 (4 deck T-1 only, later removed) | 18 | 12 (16 on T-1) | No (later 4"/50 on T-1 only) | 4/50 |
Barracuda class | 341-6 | 27-6 | 2119 | 2506 | 2xBusch-Sulzer 6M375 (DD) & 2xBusch-Sulzer (DE) | 2xElliot/2x60 | 21 | 9 | 10000@11 | 200 | 4/2 | 21 | 18 | 5"/51 | 7/80 |
Argonaut | 381-0 | 33-9 | 3046 | 4164 | 2xBuENG 6A20 ⅞-R (DD) & 1xBuENG 6A13 ¾-N (DE) | 2xRidgeway/2x120 | 15 | 8 | 18000@10 | 300 | 4/2 stern mine | 21 | 14+60 mines | 2x6"/53 | 7/80 |
Narwhal class | 371-0 | 33-3 | 2730 | 3900 | 2xBuENG 10A20 ⅞-R (DD) & 2xBuENG 6A13 ¾-N (DE) | 2xWestinghouse/2x120 | 17 | 8 | 18000@10 | 300 | 4/2 | 21 | 18 | 2x6"/53 | 9/80 |
Class | Length (Ft-In) | Beam (Ft-In) | Surf. Displ. (Tons) | Subm. Displ. (Tons) | Surf. Prop. | Subm. Prop./Battery | Surf. Speed (Kts) | Subm. Speed (Kts) | Surf. Range (NM@Kts) | Test Depth (Ft) | Tubes (B/S) | Tube Size (In) | Torp Load | Deck Gun | Crew (O/E) |
Dolphin | 319-3 | 27-11 | 1718 | 2240 | 2xBuENG 6A20 ⅞-R (DD) & 2xBuENG 6A13 ¾-N (DE) | 2xElectro Dynamic/2x120 | 17 | 8 | 16000@7 | 300 | 4/2 | 21 | 18 | 4"/50 | 7/56 |
Cachalot class | 274-0 | 24-1 | 1110 | 1650 | 2xBuENG M.A.N. M9V (DD) & 1xBuENG M.A.N. (DE) | 2xWestinghouse/2x120 | 17 | 8 | 11000@10 | 250 | 4/2 | 21 | 16 | 3"/50 | 6/39 |
Porpoise group | 301-0 | 24-11 | 1310 | 1934 | 4xGM 16-201A (DE) | 4xElliot/2x120 | 19 | 8 | 11000@10 | 250 | 4/2 | 21 | 16 | 3"/50 | 5/49 |
Shark group | 298-0 | 25-0 | 1316 | 1968 | 4xGM 16-201A (DE) | 4xElliot/2x120 | 19.5 | 8.25 | 11000@10 | 250 | 4/2 | 21 | 16 | 3"/50 | 5/49 |
Perch Group | 300-6 | 25-0 | 1350 | 1997 | 4xGM 16-201A, FM 38A8, or HOR 89DA (DE) | 4 or 8xGeneral Electric/2x120 | 19.25 | 8.75 | 11000@10 | 250 | 4/2 | 21 | 16 | 3"/50 | 5/49 |
Salmon group | 308-0 | 26-1 | 1435 | 2198 | 4x HOR 99DA or GM 16-248 (DEDC) | 4xElliot/2x120 | 21 | 9 | 11000@10 | 250 | 4/4 | 21 | 24 | 3"/50 | 5/54 |
Sargo/Seadragon group | 310-6 | 26-10 | 1450 | 2350 | 4x HOR 99DA or GM 16-248 (DEDC or DE) | 4xGeneral Electric/2x126 | 21 | 8.75 | 11000@10 | 250 | 4/4 | 21 | 24 | 3"/50 | 5/54 |
Tambor/Gar class | 307-2 | 27-3 | 1475 | 2370 | 4xFM 38D8⅛ or GM 16-248 (DE) | 4xGeneral Electric/2x126 | 20.4 | 8.75 | 11000@10 | 250 | 6/4 | 21 | 24 | 3"/50 | 6/54 |
Mackerel | 243-1 | 22-1 | 825 | 1190 | 2xEB 16VM1 (DD) | 4xGeneral Electric/2x60 | 14.5 | 9 | 6500@10 | 250 | 4/2 | 21 | 12 | 3"/50 | 4/33 |
Marlin | 238-11 | 21-7 | 800 | 1165 | 2xAlco Model 540 (DD) | 4xGeneral Electric/2x60 | 14.5 | 9 | 7400@10 | 250 | 4/2 | 21 | 12 | 3"/50 | 4/34 |
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