Submarine Specifications

Submarine Specifications

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 U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History, Appendix D, pages 306-311, John D. Alden's 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.
•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
•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

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 at this link.

Submarine Specifications 1900-1941

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@~11	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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