Salmon/Sargo Class: Difference between revisions

From PigBoats.COM
mNo edit summary
Line 4: Line 4:
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">This class of 16 submarines were longer, heavier, and faster developments of the preceding Porpoise class. They also carried two additional torpedo tubes in the aft torpedo room, for a total of eight.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">This class of 16 submarines were longer, heavier, and faster developments of the preceding Porpoise class. They also carried two additional torpedo tubes in the aft torpedo room, for a total of eight.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">The first six boats were authorized in Fiscal Year 1936 appropriations (the Salmon group), with construction of three going to EB, two to Portsmouth, and one to Mare Island. Six more boats of the class were authorized in FY-37 (the Sargo group) with the same spread of construction yards. Four more boats were authorized in FY-38 (the Seadragon group). They were split evenly between EB and Portsmouth. All 16 boats had the same performance specifications and armament, and were very similar in external appearance. They will all be considered to be one class here on PigBoats.COM.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">The first six boats were authorized in Fiscal Year 1936 appropriations (the Salmon group), with construction of three going to EB, two to Portsmouth, and one to Mare Island. Six more boats of the class were authorized in FY-37 (the Sargo group) with the same spread of construction yards. Four more boats were authorized in FY-38 (the Seadragon group). They were split evenly between EB and Portsmouth. All 16 boats had the same performance specifications and armament, and were very similar in external appearance. They will all be considered to be one class here on PigBoats.COM.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">The Navy had encountered some problems with the all-electric drive on the Porpoise class. Serious issues with flashover on the main motors while under load, and the loss of 360 horsepower in transmission through the electrical system temporarily soured the Navy on all-electric drive. Accordingly, the first 12 boats of the Salmon/Sargo class had a new "composite" drive arrangement where two engines were connected to the propeller shafts and two drove only generators. While successful, the composite drive arrangement was cramped and difficult to maintain. The four Seadragons reverted to all-electric drive, the issues that the force had experienced with the Porpoises having been largely corrected by that time.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">The Navy had encountered some problems with the all-electric drive on the Porpoise class. Serious issues with flashover on the main motors while under load, and the loss of 360 horsepower in transmission through the electrical system temporarily soured the Navy on all-electric drive. Accordingly, the first 12 boats of the Salmon/Sargo class had a new "composite" drive arrangement where two engines were connected to the propeller shafts and two drove only generators. While successful, the composite drive arrangement was cramped, complicated, and difficult to maintain. The four Seadragons reverted to all-electric drive, the issues that the force had experienced with the Porpoises having been largely corrected by that time.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">'''Note'''... many early photos of these boats will show them with large "S" identifiers painted on their bows and fairwaters. These were used to identify the boats visually while on the surface. They were NOT their names or designations. The use of these identifiers was common on the fleet boats, but faded out in favor of hull numbers in 1938 because their use became confusing.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">'''Note'''... many early photos of these boats will show them with large "S" identifiers painted on their bows and fairwaters. These were used to identify the boats visually while on the surface. They were NOT their names or designations. The use of these identifiers was common on the fleet boats, but faded out in favor of hull numbers in 1938 because their use became confusing.</span><br><br>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">While generally very similar in external appearance, there were a lot of variations in these boats over the years, especially once WWII started. For a thorough explanation of these changes, please take a few minutes to read [[Visual Guide|this article]].
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">While generally very similar in external appearance, there were a lot of variations in these boats over the years, especially once WWII started. For a thorough explanation of these changes, please take a few minutes to read [[Visual Guide|this article]].</span>
   
   



Revision as of 19:44, 13 May 2023

Design and Construction Notes

This class of 16 submarines were longer, heavier, and faster developments of the preceding Porpoise class. They also carried two additional torpedo tubes in the aft torpedo room, for a total of eight.

The first six boats were authorized in Fiscal Year 1936 appropriations (the Salmon group), with construction of three going to EB, two to Portsmouth, and one to Mare Island. Six more boats of the class were authorized in FY-37 (the Sargo group) with the same spread of construction yards. Four more boats were authorized in FY-38 (the Seadragon group). They were split evenly between EB and Portsmouth. All 16 boats had the same performance specifications and armament, and were very similar in external appearance. They will all be considered to be one class here on PigBoats.COM.

The Navy had encountered some problems with the all-electric drive on the Porpoise class. Serious issues with flashover on the main motors while under load, and the loss of 360 horsepower in transmission through the electrical system temporarily soured the Navy on all-electric drive. Accordingly, the first 12 boats of the Salmon/Sargo class had a new "composite" drive arrangement where two engines were connected to the propeller shafts and two drove only generators. While successful, the composite drive arrangement was cramped, complicated, and difficult to maintain. The four Seadragons reverted to all-electric drive, the issues that the force had experienced with the Porpoises having been largely corrected by that time.

Note... many early photos of these boats will show them with large "S" identifiers painted on their bows and fairwaters. These were used to identify the boats visually while on the surface. They were NOT their names or designations. The use of these identifiers was common on the fleet boats, but faded out in favor of hull numbers in 1938 because their use became confusing.

While generally very similar in external appearance, there were a lot of variations in these boats over the years, especially once WWII started. For a thorough explanation of these changes, please take a few minutes to read this article.


Salmon (SS-182)

Photo

Words

See more Salmon photos

Seal (SS-183)

Photo

Words

See more Seal photos

Skipjack (SS-184)

Photo

Words

See more Skipjack photos

Snapper (SS-185)

Photo

Words

See more Snapper photos

Stingray (SS-186)

Photo

Words

See more Stingray photos

Sturgeon (SS-187)

Photo

Words

See more Sturgeon photos

Sargo (SS-188)

Photo

Words

See more Sargo photos

Saury (SS-189)

Photo

Words

See more Saury photos

Spearfish (SS-190)

Photo

Words

See more Spearfish photos

Sculpin (SS-191)

Photo

Words

See more Sculpin photos

Squalus/Sailfish (SS-192)

Photo

Words

See more Squalus and Sailfish photos

Swordfish (SS-193)

Photo

Words

See more Swordfish photos

Seadragon (SS-194)

Photo

Words

See more Seadragon photos

Sealion (SS-195)

Photo

Words

See more Sealion photos

Searaven (SS-196)

Photo

Words

See more Searaven photos

Seawolf (SS-197)

Photo

Words

See more Seawolf photos

Page created by:
Ric Hedman & David Johnston
1999 - 2023 - PigBoats.COM©
Mountlake Terrace, WA, Norfolk, VA
webmaster at pigboats dot com