View source for Gato-class submarine

{{Short description|US Navy fleet submarine class}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 | image = USS Gato;0821201.jpg
 | image_caption = USS ''Gato'' off [[Mare Island Navy Yard]], on 29 November 1944
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview
 | name = ''Gato'' class
 | builders = *[[General Dynamics Electric Boat|Electric Boat Company]]
              *[[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]]
              *[[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]]
              *[[Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company]]<ref name="Bauer271">{{harvnb|Bauer|Roberts|1991|pp=271–273}}</ref>
 | cost = 
 | operators = *{{naval|United States}}
               *{{naval|Italy}}
               *{{naval|Turkey}}
               *{{naval|Greece}}
               *{{naval|Brazil}}
               *{{naval|Japan}}
 | class_before = {{sclass|Mackerel|submarine|4}}
 | class_after = {{sclass|Balao|submarine|4}}
 | subclasses = 
 | built_range = 1940–1944<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates">{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=285–304}}</ref>
 | in_commission_range = 1941–1969<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 | total_ships_building = 
 | total_ships_planned = 
 | total_ships_completed = 77<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | total_ships_canceled = 
 | total_ships_active = 
 | total_ships_laid_up = 
 | total_ships_lost = 20<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | total_ships_retired = 57<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | total_ships_preserved = 6<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 | hide_header = 
 | header_caption = 
 | type = [[Diesel-electric transmission|Diesel-electric]] [[submarine]]
 | displacement = *1,525&nbsp;[[long ton|tons]] (1,549&nbsp;[[tonne|t]]) surfaced<ref name="Bauer271"/>
                  *2,424&nbsp;tons (2463&nbsp;t) submerged<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | length = {{convert|311|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|311|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | beam = {{convert|27|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | draft = {{convert|17|ft|abbr=on}} maximum<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | propulsion = *4 × [[diesel engine]]s driving [[electrical generator]]s ([[Fairbanks-Morse]], [[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors]], or [[Hooven-Owens-Rentschler]])<ref name="Bauer271"/>
                *2 × 126-[[Electrochemical cell|cell]] [[USS Sargo (SS-188)|''Sargo'']] [[Electric battery|batteries]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
                *4 × high-speed [[electric motors]] with [[gear|reduction gears]] ([[Elliott Company]], [[General Electric]], or [[Allis-Chalmers]])<ref name="Bauer271"/> two propellers
                *{{convert|5400|shp|abbr=on|MW}} surfaced<ref name="Bauer271"/>
                *{{convert|2740|shp|abbr=on|MW}} submerged<ref name="Bauer271"/>
 | speed = *{{convert|21|kn}} surfaced<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs">{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=305–311}}</ref>
           *{{convert|9|kn}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 | range = {{convert|11000|nmi}} surfaced at {{convert|10|kn|mph}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 | endurance = *48 hours at {{convert|2|kn}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
               *75 days on patrol
 | test_depth = {{convert|300|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 | complement = 6 officers, 54 enlisted men<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 | sensors = 
 | EW = 
 | armament = {{Fleet-boat-armament-3-inch}}
 | notes = 
 }}
}}

The '''''Gato'' class''' of [[submarine]]s were built for the [[United States Navy]] and launched in 1941–1943. Named after the [[lead ship]] of the class, {{USS|Gato|SS-212|6}}, they were the first mass-produced U.S. submarine class of [[World War II]].

The ''Gatos'', along with the closely related {{sclass|Balao|submarine|5}} and {{sclass|Tench|submarine|4}}es that followed, accounted for most of the Navy's World War II submarines;<ref name="Diagram">[http://www.mackinnon.org/gato-diagram.html Typical Gato-class submarine diagram], USS ''MacKinnon'' website</ref> they destroyed much of the Japanese [[Merchant navy|merchant marine]] and a large portion of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. In some references, the ''Gato''s are combined with their successors, especially the ''Balao'' class.<ref>{{harvnb|Silverstone|1989|pp=195–204}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|pp=145–147}}</ref>

''Gato''{{'}}s name comes from a species of small [[Scyliorhinidae|catshark]]. Like most other U.S. Navy submarines of the period, ships of the ''Gato'' class were given the names of aquatic creatures.

==Design==

===''AA-1'' class and V-boats===
The ''Gato''-class ships were considered to be [[fleet submarine]]s, designed to operate as adjuncts to the main battle fleet, based on [[standard-type battleship]]s since [[World War I]]. They were to scout out ahead of the fleet and report on the enemy fleet's composition, speed, and course, then they were to attack and whittle down the enemy in preparation for the main fleet action, a titanic gun battle between [[battleship]]s and [[cruiser]]s. This was an operational concept born from experience in World War I. To operate effectively in this role, a submarine had to have high surface speed, long range and endurance, and heavy armament.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=99–104}}</ref> Limitations in submarine design and construction in the 1920s and 1930s made this combination of qualities very difficult to achieve.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|p=5}}</ref> The U.S. Navy experimented constantly with this concept in the post-World War I years, producing a series of submarines with less than stellar qualities and reliability, the {{sclass|AA-1|submarine|4}} (also known as the T class) and the [[V-boat]]s, of which ''V-1'' through ''V-3'' were an unsuccessful attempt to produce a fleet submarine.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|loc=Part I}}</ref>

===''Tambor'' and ''Gar'' class===
By 1931, the experimental phase of fleet submarine development was over and the Navy began to make solid progress towards what would eventually be the ''Gato'' class. By 1940, a much better developed industrial base and experience gained from the [[United States Porpoise-class submarine|''Porpoise'']]-, {{sclass|Salmon|submarine|5}}-, and {{sclass|Sargo|submarine|0}} ships resulted in the [[Tambor-class submarine|''Tambor'' and ''Gar'' classes]]. Finally, the U.S. Navy had hit the right combination of factors and now had the long-desired fleet submarine.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|loc=Part II}}</ref>

Timing, however, conspired against the actual use of these ships in their assigned role. The [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] on 7 December 1941 destroyed the Pacific Fleet battle line and along with it the concept of the battleship-led gun battle, as well as 20 years of submarine strategic concept development. It left the fleet submarine without a mission. Fortunately, the same capabilities that would have enabled these submarines to operate with the fleet made them superbly qualified for their new mission of commerce raiding against the [[Japanese Empire]].<ref>{{harvnb|Roscoe|1949|pp=4–5}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|p=163}}</ref>

Timing, however, also conspired to make the ''Gato''s a mass-produced class of submarines. Six units were planned in FY41.<ref>Budget of the United States government for FY41, p. 669</ref> In the immediate aftermath of the [[Two-Ocean Navy Act]] 48<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/shipbuilding-contracts/index-to-vol-23.html | title=Index to Vol. 23 }}</ref> additional units were ordered. By the end of 1941, 33 ''Gato'' keels had been laid.

===''Gato'' class===
The ''Gato''-class design, with a top range of 11,000 nautical miles (20,000&nbsp;km), was a near-duplicate of the preceding ''Tambor''- and ''Gar''-class ships. The only significant differences were an increase in diving depth from {{convert|250|ft|m}} to {{convert|300|ft|m}}, and an extra five feet in length to allow the addition of a watertight bulkhead dividing the one large engine room in two, with two [[diesel generator]]s in each room. The ''Gato''s, along with nearly all of the U.S. Navy fleet-type submarines of World War II, were of partial [[double-hulled]] construction. The inner pressure-resisting hull was wrapped by an outer, hydrodynamic hull. The voids between the two hulls provided space for fuel and ballast tanks. The outer hull merged with the pressure hull at both ends in the area of the [[torpedo]] room bulkheads, hence the "partial" double hull. Operational experience with earlier ships led the naval architects and engineers at the Navy's [[Bureau of Construction and Repair]] to believe that they had been unduly conservative in their estimates of hull strength. Without changing the construction or thickness of the pressure hull steel, they decided that the ''Gato''-class ships would be fully capable of routinely operating at 300 feet, a {{convert|50|foot|adj=on}} increase in test depth over the preceding classes.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|p=101}}</ref>

The ''Gato''s were slow divers when compared to some German and British designs, but that was mostly because the ''Gato''s were significantly larger ships. Sufficient fuel bunkerage to provide the range necessary for 75-day patrols from [[Hawaii]] to [[Japan]] and back could be obtained only with a larger ship, which would take longer to submerge than a smaller one. Acknowledging this limitation, the bureau designers incorporated a negative (sometimes called a "down express") tank into the design, which was flooded to provide a large amount of negative buoyancy at the start of the dive. Based on later wartime experience, the tank was normally kept full or nearly full at the surface, then emptied to a certain mark after the ship was submerged to restore neutral buoyancy. At the start of the war, these ships could go from fully surfaced to periscope depth in about 45–50 seconds. The superstructure that sat atop the pressure hull provided the main walking deck when the ship was surfaced and was free-flooding and full of water when the ship was submerged. When the dive began, the ship would "hang" for a few extra seconds while this superstructure filled with water. In an attempt to speed this process, additional limber, or free-flooding, holes were drilled and cut into the superstructure to allow it to flood faster. By midwar, these measures combined with improved crew training got dive times down to 30–35 seconds, very fast for such a large ship and acceptable to the ship's crew.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|p=88}}</ref>

The large size of these ships did negatively affect both surfaced and underwater maneuverability when compared to smaller submarines. No practical fix for this was available due to the limitations of the installed hydraulic systems used to move the rudder. Although a point of concern, the turning radius was still acceptable. After the war, a few fleet ships were fitted with an additional rudder topside at the very stern.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=210, 214}}</ref>

They had numerous crew comforts including showers, air conditioning, refrigerated storage for food, generous [[evaporator (marine)|freshwater distilling unit]]s, clothes washers, and bunks for nearly every crew member, luxuries virtually unheard of in other navies. The bureau designers felt that if a crew of 60–80 men were to be expected to conduct 75-day patrols in the warm waters of the Pacific, these types of features were vital to the health and efficiency of the crew, and could be added without impacting the ships’ warfighting abilities due to their large size. Air conditioning in particular had a very practical application, too, besides comfort. Should a submarine submerge for any length of time, the heat generated by the recently shut-down engines, electrical equipment, and body heat could quickly raise internal temperatures above {{convert|100|F}}. High humidity generated by tropical waters would condense and begin dripping into equipment, eventually causing electrical shorts and fires. Air conditioning, acting mostly as a dehumidifier, virtually eliminated this problem and greatly increased mechanical and electrical reliability. It proved to be a key factor in the success of these ships during World War II.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|pp=48, 97}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Blair|2001|p=65}}</ref>

===Torpedoes===
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 shorter [[Bliss-Leavitt Mark 9 torpedo]] and [[Mark 10 torpedo]], and the surface-fired [[Bliss–Leavitt Mark 8 torpedo]], [[Mark 11 torpedo]], [[Mark 12 torpedo]], and [[Mark 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.<ref>https://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/tubes/chap11.php#11A8 Ordnance Pamphlet 1085 21-inch Torpedo Tubes Marks 32 to 39 and modifications as in SS-198 and up</ref> 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 wakeless [[Mark 18 Torpedo]] and the [[Mark 23 torpedo]], a simplified high-speed-only version of the Mark 14. Additionally, a small 19" swim-out acoustic homing [[Mark 27 torpedo]] supplemented the armament in fleet boats for defense against escorts. Near the end of the war, the offensive [[Mark 28 torpedo]] acoustic homing torpedo was introduced. Well after the war the [[Mark 37 Torpedo]] was introduced.<ref>http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_Main.php NavWeaps.com Weapons-Torpedoes-United States of America</ref>

====Deck Guns====
[[Deck gun]]s varied during the war. Many targets in the [[Pacific War]] were [[sampan]]s or otherwise not worth a torpedo, so the deck gun was an important weapon. Most ships began the war with a [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|adj=on}} /50 caliber Mk. 17 gun]] (although some ships received older Mk. 6 mounts due to shortages). The {{convert|3|in|adj=on}} gun was the model originally specified for the ''Gato'' class, but war experience led to the removal of [[4"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|4|in|adj=on}}/50 caliber Mk. 9 guns]] from old [[United States S-class submarine|S-class submarine]]s to equip front-line ships. Beginning in late 1943, almost all were refitted with a [[5"/25 caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|adj=on}}/25 caliber Mk. 17 gun]], and some ships had two of these weapons. Additional antiaircraft guns included single 40&nbsp;mm Bofors and twin 20&nbsp;mm Oerlikon mounts, usually one of each.

====Mine armament====
Like the previous ''Tambor''/''Gar'' classes, the ''Gato'' 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. However, doctrine 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 8 torpedoes, and the largest minefields laid were 32 mines. Post-war, the Mk 49 mine replaced the Mk 12, while the larger Mk 27 mine (in actuality an acoustic-homing torpedo) 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) <ref>[https://maritime.org/doc/mines-usn/index.php ORD696 Operational Characteristics of U.S. Naval Mines]</ref><ref>http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMUS_Mines.php NavWeaps.com Weapons-ASW and Mines-United States of America-Mines</ref>

====Engine changes====
[[File:USS Cod, Engine Room, GM Cleveland Model 248 Engine.jpg|thumb|left|[[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors]] [[Cleveland Diesel Engine Division|Cleveland Model]] 16-248 diesel engine]]
[[File:Fairbanks Morse & Co. 38 8-1-8 diesel engine on the USS Silversides 2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Fairbanks-Morse]] Model 38D{{frac|8|1|8}} diesel engine]]

Twelve submarines of this class built by Electric Boat (SS-253 to SS-264) received what would be the final installations of the [[Hooven-Owens-Rentschler]] (H.O.R.) [[double-acting cylinder|double-acting]] [[diesel engine]]. The Navy had been tinkering with this engine off and on since 1937 because its unique design promised nearly twice the horsepower in a package the same size as other diesel engine types. Unfortunately, the Hooven-Owens-Rentschler company ran into severe design and manufacturing problems, and these engines proved to be operational and maintenance nightmares.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=263, 360–361}}</ref> Frequent breakdowns and utter unreliability had destroyed these engines' reputation with the Navy and they were all removed at the first opportunity and replaced by [[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors]] [[Cleveland Diesel Engine Division|Cleveland Model]]
16-278A V-type diesels. The other ''Gato''-class ships received either the [[Fairbanks-Morse]] [[Fairbanks Morse 38 8-1/8 diesel engine|38D 8-1/8]] nine-cylinder [[opposed-piston engine]] or the 
[[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors]] [[Cleveland Diesel Engine Division|Cleveland Model]] 16-248 V-type as original installations. These engines were hardy, rugged, and well liked by the crews and served the ships quite well.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|pp=90, 210–212}}</ref> Both the Fairbanks-Morse and General Motors engines were [[two-stroke cycle]] types.<ref>{{cite press release|last=Stern|first= Robert C. |date=2006|title=Gato-Class Submarines in action|url=https://quietwarriors.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/squadron-signal-4028-gato-class-submarines1.pdf|publisher= Squadron Signal Publications|access-date=2023-09-17}}</ref>

Two manufacturers supplied electric motors for the ''Gato'' 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/elect/chap2.php/|title=Submarine Electrical Systems|website= www.maritime.org/}}</ref>

====Fairwater changes====
At the beginning of the war, ''Gato''-class ships, as well as the ''Gar'' and ''Tambor'' classes, had fully shrouded [[Fairwater (submarine)|fairwaters]] visually similar to modern nuclear submarines. Experience during the war led to the progressive reduction of this structure to reduce visibility and radar profile at the expense of underwater performance and foul-weather operating comfort. Most of the subs in postwar movies show the final result of these modifications. A side benefit of these modifications was the creation of convenient locations for antiaircraft guns.<ref name="Johnston 2019">{{harvnb|Johnston|2024}}</ref>

==Boats in class==
{{Main|List of Gato-class submarines}}

Seventy-seven of these ships were commissioned from November 1941 ({{USS|Drum|SS-228|2}}) through April 1944 ({{USS|Croaker|SS-246|2}}). Twenty of the 52 U.S. submarines lost in World War II were of this class, plus {{USS|Halibut|SS-232|2}}, a damaged ship that returned to the U.S., but was considered a [[constructive total loss]] and not repaired.<ref name=Bauer271>{{harvnb|Bauer|Roberts|1991|pp=271–273}}</ref><ref name=SubLoss1>″United States Submarine Losses World War II″, Naval History Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington: 1963 (Fifth Printing)</ref>

Occasionally, some confusion arises as to the number of ''Gato''-class submarines built, with some sources listing the total as 73, due to the transitional nature of the first four ships (SS-361 through SS-364) constructed under the second contract by the [[Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company]] of [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]]. These were originally intended to be ''Balao''-class subs and were assigned hull numbers that fall in the middle of the range of numbers for the ''Balao'' class (SS-285 to SS-416, SS-425, and SS-426).<ref>[http://www.navsource.net/archives/08/04idx.htm Fleet Submarine index page at Navsource]</ref> Manitowoc was a designated follow-on yard to Electric Boat; they used construction blueprints and plans supplied by Electric Boat and used many of the same suppliers. The government-owned shipyards ([[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]] and [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]]) began to make the transition to the new ''Balao'' design in the summer of 1942. Electric Boat, due to the huge backlog of ''Gato''-class construction, was not ready to make the transition to the new design until January 1943. Manitowoc had already completed their allotted production run of ''Gato''s and could not switch over to the ''Balao'' design until Electric Boat supplied them with the plans. Faced with a work stoppage while they waited for Electric Boat to catch up, managers at Manitowoc got permission to complete four additional boats (SS-361 through SS-364) to Electric Boat's ''Gato''-class plans. Manitowoc's first ''Balao''-class ship was {{USS|Hardhead|SS-365|2}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|p=84}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=209}}</ref>

== History ==
=== World War II ===
[[File:Buyo Maru sinking.jpg|thumb|left|Periscope photograph of Japanese merchant ship sinking]]
The ''Gato'' boats were authorized in appropriations for Fiscal Year 1941, as part of President [[Franklin Roosevelt]]'s proclamation of "limited emergency" in September 1939.<ref>{{harvnb|O'Kane|1987|p=2}}</ref> The first boat [[Keel laying|laid down]] was actually {{USS|Drum|SS-228|6}} at [[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]] on 11 September 1940. She was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 1 November 1941, and was the only ''Gato''-class ship in commission when the war started. ''Gato'' herself was laid down on 5 October 1940 by the Electric Boat Company at [[Groton, Connecticut]], and commissioned 31 December 1941.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|pp=252–254}}</ref> Due to their large construction capacity, more than half (41) of the class was built at Electric Boat facilities; three new slipways were added to the north yard and four slipways were added to the south yard to accommodate their production. In addition, the government purchased an old foundry downstream from the main yard, constructed 10 slipways, and turned the yard over to Electric Boat. Called the [[Victory Yard]], it became an integral part of Electric Boat operations.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|p=78}}</ref> A total of 77 ''Gato''s were built at four different locations (Electric Boat, Manitowoc, Portsmouth, and Mare Island).

All of the ''Gato''s (with one exception, {{USS|Dorado|SS-248|2}}) would eventually fight in the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater of Operations]]. However, in the summer of 1942, six new ''Gato''s were assigned to Submarine Squadron 50 and sent to [[Rosneath, Scotland]], to patrol the [[Bay of Biscay]] and to assist in the [[Operation Torch]] landings in North Africa. All in all, they conducted 27 war patrols, but could not claim any verified sinkings. Considered a waste of valuable resources, in mid-1943, all six ships were recalled and transferred to the Pacific.<ref>{{harvnb|Blair|2001|pp=264–266}}</ref>

Once they began to arrive in theater in large numbers in mid-to-late 1942, the ''Gato''s were in the thick of the fight against the Japanese. Many of these ships racked up impressive war records: {{USS|Flasher|SS-249|2}}, {{USS|Rasher|SS-269|2}}, and {{USS|Barb|SS-220|2}} were second, third, and fourth based on tonnage sunk by U.S. submarines. {{USS|Silversides|SS-236|2}}, ''Flasher'', and {{USS|Wahoo|SS-238|2}} were third, fourth, and seventh place on the list for the number of ships sunk.<ref>{{harvnb|Blair|2001|pp=989–990}}</ref> ''Gato''-class ships sank four Japanese submarines: {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-29||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-168||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-351||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-42||2}}; while only losing one in exchange, {{USS|Corvina|SS-226|2}} to {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-176||2}}.

Their principal weapon was the steam-powered [[Mark 14 torpedo]] in the early war years, with the electric [[Mark 18 torpedo]] supplementing the Mark 14 in late 1943. Due to a stunted research-and-development phase in the Depression-era 1930s, and in great part due to the arrogance and stubbornness of its designer, the [[Naval Torpedo Station]] Newport under the [[Bureau of Ordnance]], the "wonder weapon" Mark 14 proved to be full of bugs and very unreliable. They tended to run too deep, explode prematurely, run erratically, or fail to detonate. Bowing to pressure from the submariners in the Pacific, the bureau eventually acknowledged the problems in the Mark 14 and largely corrected them by late 1943. The Mark 18 electric torpedo was a hastily copied version of captured [[G7e torpedo|German G7e torpedoes]] and was rushed into service in the fall of 1943. Unfortunately, it also was full of faults, the most dangerous being a tendency to run in a circular pattern and come back at the sub that fired it. Once perfected, both types of torpedoes proved to be reliable and effective weapons, allowing the ''Gato''s and other submarines to sink an enormous amount of Japanese shipping by the end of the war.<ref>{{harvnb|Roscoe|1949|pp=250–263}}</ref>

The ''Gato''s were subjected to numerous exterior configuration changes during their careers, with most of these changes centered on the conning tower fairwater. The large, bulky original configuration proved to be too easy to spot when the boat was surfaced; it needed to be smaller. Secondly, the desire to incorporate new masts for surface- and air-search radars drove changes to the fairwater and periscope shears. Third, additional gun armament was needed, and cutting down the fairwater provided excellent mounting locations for machine guns and antiaircraft cannon.<ref name="Johnston 2024 2–16">{{harvnb|Johnston|2024|pp=2–16}}</ref> The modifications (or mods) to the ''Gato''-class conning tower fairwaters were fairly uniform in nature and they can be grouped together based on what was done when:
{{div col}}

*  Mod 1 – This is the original configuration with the covered navigation bridge, the high bulwark around the aft "cigarette" deck, and with the periscope shears plated over. All the early boats were built with this mod and it lasted until about mid-1942.
*  Mod 2 – Same as mod 1, but with the bulwark around the cigarette deck cut down to reduce the silhouette. This also gave the [[.50 BMG|.50 caliber]] machine gun mounted there a greatly improved [[arc of fire]]. Began to appear in about April 1942.
*  Mod 3 – Same as mod 2, but with the covered navigation bridge on the forward part of the fairwater cut away and the plating around the periscope shears removed. In this configuration, the ''Gato''s now had two excellent positions for the mounting of single [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] or twin [[20 mm Oerlikon]] antiaircraft cannon, an improvement over the [[M2 Browning|.50 caliber machine gun]]. This mod started to appear in late 1942 and early 1943.
*  Mod 4 – Same as the mod 3, but with the height of the bridge itself lowered in a last attempt to lessen the silhouette. The lowering of the bridge exposed three I-beams on either side of the periscope shears. These exposed beams gave rise to the nickname "covered wagon boats". Began to appear in early 1944.
{{div col end}}

Variations on the above mods included the 1A (shortened navigation bridge), 2A (plating removed from periscope shears), and the 3A and 4A (which moved the SJ radar mast aft of the periscopes).<ref name="Johnston 2024 2–16"/> The conning tower fairwater of ''Flasher'' is preserved in Groton, Connecticut, in the mod 4A configuration, with two single 40&nbsp;mm Bofors mounts.

== Notable examples ==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2025}}
* {{USS|Albacore|SS-218|2}} sank the {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Taihō|up=yes}}. ''Taihō'' was the flagship of [[Vice-Admiral]] [[Jisaburo Ozawa]]'s fleet during the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] and at the time Japan's newest carrier.
* {{USS|Barb|SS-220|2}}, on her 12th patrol in July 1945, landed a small team from her crew on the shore of Patience Bay on [[Karafuto]]. They placed charges under a railroad track and blew up a passing train. ''Barb'' also conducted several rocket attacks against shore targets on this same patrol, the first ever by an American submarine. They used {{convert|5|in|adj=on}} unguided rockets fired from a special launching rack on the main deck.<ref>{{harvnb|Fluckey|1992|loc=Part VI}}</ref>
* {{USS|Cavalla|SS-244|2}} sank the {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku|up=yes}}. ''Shōkaku'' was one of six Japanese carriers that had participated in the attack on [[Battle of Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]].
* {{USS|Cobia|SS-245|2}} sank a ship carrying Japanese tank reinforcements that were en route to [[Battle of Iwo Jima|Iwo Jima]].
* {{USS|Cod|SS-224|2}} went to the rescue of a grounded Dutch submarine {{HNLMS|O-19}}, taking its crew on board and destroying the submarine when it could not be removed from the reef, the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675076083_USS-Cod_Dutch-submarine_holding-rubber-raft_airplane-in-flight|title=U.S. submarine, USS Cod (SS-224) rescues crew of Dutch submarine, O-19, aground on Ladd Reef, Spratly Islands, in World War II|website=criticalpast.com|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref>
* {{USS|Corvina|SS-226|2}} was the only U.S. submarine sunk by a Japanese submarine ({{Jsub|I-176||2}}) during the Second World War.
*{{USS|Darter|SS-227|2}} along with {{USS|Dace|SS-247|2}} conducted an aggressive and successful attack against Japanese fleet units during the lead up to the U.S. invasion of [[Leyte Island]] in the Philippines in October 1944. The two boats sank the heavy cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Atago||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Maya||2}} and severely damaged the heavy cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Takao|1930|2}}. A few hours later, while maneuvering back to the scene to finish off the crippled ''Takao'', ''Darter'' ran hard aground on Bombay Shoal off [[Palawan]]. Her entire crew was rescued and subsequent attempts to destroy the wreck were only partially successful.<ref>{{harvnb|Blair|2001|pp=751–758}}</ref> As late as 1998, portions of ''Darter''{{'}}s hulk were still visible on the reef.
* {{USS|Finback|SS-230|2}} recovered downed pilot [[LTJG]] [[George H. W. Bush]], future President of the United States, after his [[Grumman TBM Avenger]] [[torpedo bomber]] was damaged and eventually ditched during a bombing mission at [[Chichi-jima]] in the Pacific.
* {{USS|Flasher|SS-249|2}} was the second-highest scoring U.S. ship of the war, with 100,231&nbsp;tons officially credited to her by the [[Joint Army–Navy Assessment Committee]] (JANAC).
* {{USS|Growler|SS-215|2}}'s skipper, [[Howard W. Gilmore]], earned the submarine force's first combat [[Medal of Honor]] for sacrificing his life to save his boat and his crew. Alone on the bridge after being wounded by enemy gunfire, and unable to reach the hatch after he had ordered the others below, he pressed his face to the phone and uttered the order that saved his ship and sealed his doom: "Take 'er down!"
* In {{USS|Grunion|SS-216|2}}, [[Mannert L. Abele]] earned the submarine force's first [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]], when his boat engaged in a running battle with Japanese ships off [[Kiska]] in July 1942. ''Grunion'' was subsequently lost in this action. In 2006 and 2007, expeditions organized and led by Abele's sons, Bruce, Brad, and John, located and photographed the wreck of the ''Grunion'' using side-scan sonar and a remotely operated vehicle.
*{{USS|Halibut|SS-232|2}} was essentially the 53rd U.S. submarine loss of the war. Terribly damaged in an aircraft-borne [[depth charge]] attack on 14 November 1944, she barely limped back to port in Saipan. Temporarily patched up, she was sent back to the United States. Examined by engineers, she was found to be beyond economical repair and was decommissioned on 18 July 1945, never having made another war patrol. Her entire crew survived.<ref>{{harvnb|Blair|2001|pp=771–772}}</ref>
* {{USS|Harder|SS-257|2}} was commanded by [[Samuel D. Dealey]], the only submarine commander of the war (perhaps the only one ever) to sink five enemy [[destroyers]], four in a single patrol.
* {{USS|Mingo|SS-261|2}}, which sank two Japanese ships during her patrols, was lent to the [[Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force]] after the war, serving under the name ''Kuroshio''.
* {{USS|Rasher|SS-269|2}}'s notable record during World War II included eight patrols in the Pacific. She sank the third- or second-most tonnage during the war. She served the U.S. Navy until 1967.
* {{USS|Silversides|SS-236|2}} is officially credited with sinking 23 ships, the third-most of any allied World War II submarine, behind only {{USS|Tang|SS-306|6}} and {{USS|Tautog|SS-199|6}}, according to JANAC figures.  
* {{USS|Trigger|SS-237|2}} became famous in [[Edward L. Beach Jr.|Edward L. "Ned" Beach]]'s book ''Submarine!'' (which was a kind of eulogy to her).
*{{USS|Tunny|SS-282|2}} sank the Japanese submarine ''I-42'' on the night of 23 March 1944, after the two subs dueled for position for over an hour. A week later, ''Tunny'' engaged the {{ship|Japanese battleship|Musashi|up=yes}} and inflicted enough damage for ''Musashi'' to return to dry dock for repairs.
* {{USS|Wahoo|SS-238|2}}, commanded by one of the submarine force's most famous skippers, [[Dudley W. Morton|Dudley W. "Mush" Morton]], engaged in a running gun and torpedo battle with a convoy of four ships off the coast of [[New Guinea]] and destroyed the entire convoy. She was also one of the first U.S. subs into the [[Sea of Japan]]. She was sunk while exiting the Sea of Japan through the La Perouse Strait in October 1943 while on her seventh patrol.<ref>{{harvnb|O'Kane|1987|p=301}}</ref>

==Postwar service==
At the end of World War II, the U.S. Navy found itself in an awkward position. The 56 remaining ''Gato''-class submarines, designed to fight an enemy that no longer existed, were largely obsolete, despite the fact they were only two to four years old. Such was the pace of technological development during the war that a submarine with only a 300-foot test depth was going to be of little use, despite being modern in most other aspects. Enough of the ''Balao'' and ''Tench'' ships, with their greater diving depth, remained that the ''Gato''s were superfluous for front-line missions. The [[Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program]] (GUPPY) modernization program of the late 1940s largely passed these ships by. Only {{USS|Barb|SS-220|2}} and {{USS|Dace|SS-247|2}} received GUPPY conversions; these were austere GUPPY IB modernizations under project [[Ship Characteristics Board|SCB 47A]] prior to their transfer to the [[Italian Navy]].<ref name="List of GUPPY IB conversions">{{cite web |url= http://guppysubmarinetribute.homestead.com/Guppy1B.html |title= List of GUPPY IB conversions |date= April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160622181946/http://guppysubmarinetribute.homestead.com/Guppy1B.html |archive-date= 22 June 2016}}</ref> However, the U.S. Navy found itself new missions to perform, and for some of these the ''Gato''s were well suited.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://guppysubmarinetribute.homestead.com/Tribute.html |title= GUPPY and other diesel boat conversions page |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120709042319/http://guppysubmarinetribute.homestead.com/Tribute.html |archive-date= 9 July 2012}}</ref> The last two ''Gato''-class ships active in the U.S. Navy were {{USS|Rock|SS-274|2}} and {{USS|Bashaw|SS-241|2}}, which were both decommissioned on 13 September 1969 and sold for scrap.<ref name="Alden, Part IV">{{harvnb|Alden|1979|loc=Part IV}}</ref>

===Radar picket===
[[Image:USS Raton;0827015.jpg|thumb|right|{{USS|Raton|SSR-270}}]]
The advent of the ''[[kamikaze]]'' demonstrated the need for a long-range radar umbrella around the fleet. Surface ships [[radar picket|refitted with powerful radar suites]] 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. Two ''Gato''-class ships ({{USS|Grouper|SS-214|2}} and {{USS|Finback|SS-230|2}}) received rudimentary conversions to radar pickets before the end of World War II, but were not used in this role. After further experimenting with the concept on four ''Balao'' and ''Tench''-class boats under Projects Migraine I and II, and realizing that a deep diving depth was not overly important in this role, six ''Gato''s were taken in hand ({{USS|Pompon|SS-267|2}}, {{USS|Rasher|SS-269|2}}, {{USS|Raton|SS-270|2}}, {{USS|Ray|SS-271|2}}, {{USS|Redfin|SS-272|2}}, and {{USS|Rock|SS-274|2}}) for conversion under [[Radar picket#Converted and purpose-built submarines|Project Migraine III]] (aka SCB 12A). They were lengthened by {{convert|24|ft|m}} to provide additional space for an air control center and had powerful air-search and height-finding radars installed, with the after torpedo room converted into an electronics space with torpedoes and tubes removed. They also received a streamlined "sail" in place of the traditional conning tower fairwater. Redesignated as SSRs, these ships were only moderately successful in this role, as the radars themselves proved troublesome and somewhat unreliable. The radars were removed and the ships temporarily reverted to general-purpose submarines after 1959.<ref name="Alden, Part IV"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue_14/coldwar.html |last= Whitman |first=  Edward C. |title= Cold War Curiosities: U.S. Radar Picket Submarines |magazine= Undersea Warfare |date= Winter–Spring 2002 |issue= 14 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191220153433/https://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue_14/coldwar.html |archive-date= 20 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=90–94, 253}}</ref>

===Hunter-killer===
[[Image:USS Bluegill (SSK-242) underway during the 1950s (NH 78979).jpg|thumb|right|{{USS|Bluegill|SSK-242}}]]
The threat of the [[Soviet Navy]] building hundreds of [[Type XXI submarine|Type XXI]]-derived submarines (eventually the 215-strong {{sclass2|Whiskey|submarine|4}} and dozens of others) in the Atlantic led the U.S. Navy to adapt submarines to specifically hunt other submarines, a radically new role for the 1950s. Concluding that this role did not require a fast or deep-diving submarine (this line of thought would quickly change with the advent of nuclear power), seven ''Gato''s were converted to [[Hull classification symbol#Submarine type|SSK]]s ([[hunter-killer submarine]]s) between 1951 and 1953, joining three purpose-built [[United States Barracuda-class submarine (1951)|''K-1''-class SSKs]] entering service at that time. The ''Gato'' class was chosen because large numbers were available in the [[United States Navy reserve fleets|reserve fleet]] should rapid mobilization become necessary, and the deeper-diving classes were more suitable for GUPPY rather than SSK conversions. A streamlined GUPPY-style sail was installed, a large sonar array was wrapped around the bow (losing two [[torpedo tube]]s in the process), the ships were extensively silenced including the removal of the two forward diesel engines, and they received a [[Submarine snorkel|snorkel]]. {{USS|Grouper|SS-214|2}} was converted under project SCB 58 as the test ship for the concept, having her sonar array at the forward end of the sail instead of the better position at the bow. The other ships in the program included {{USS|Angler|SS-240|2}}, {{USS|Bashaw|SS-241|2}}, {{USS|Bluegill|SS-242|2}}, {{USS|Bream|SS-243|2}}, {{USS|Cavalla|SS-244|2}}, and {{USS|Croaker|SS-246|2}}.<ref name="Alden, Part IV"/>

Eventually more advanced sonars were installed on the new nuclear subs: {{USS|Tullibee|SSN-597|2}}, commissioned in 1960, introduced the bow-mounted sonar sphere. ''Tullibee'' was an attempt to develop a slow but ultra-quiet nuclear-powered SSK equivalent; no others were built due to her unexpectedly high cost relative to the more capable {{USS|Thresher|SSN-593|2}}, and the SSK mission was folded into the regular attack submarine role.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=80–85}}</ref> The slow and less capable diesel SSKs were decommissioned or reassigned to other roles in 1959, and all except ''Croaker'' and ''Cavalla'' (eventually preserved as memorials) were scrapped in 1968 and 1969.<ref name="Alden, Part IV"/>

===Guided-missile submarine===
[[File:USS Tunny (SSG-282) Regulus launching sequence c1956.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Tunny|SSG-282|2}} fires a Regulus I missile]]
The [[Regulus missile|Regulus]] nuclear [[submarine-launched cruise missile|cruise missile]] program of the 1950s provided the U.S. Navy with its first strategic missile capability. {{USS|Tunny|SS-282|2}} was converted under SCB 28 in 1953 to house and fire this large surface-launched missile and was designated SSG ([[Cruise missile submarine|guided-missile submarine]]). She could carry two of the missiles in a cylindrical hangar on the aft deck. She made [[Regulus missile submarines|strategic deterrent patrols]] with Regulus until 1964, when the program was discontinued in favor of [[Polaris Missile|Polaris]].<ref name=DANFSTunny>{{harvnb|DANFS ''Tunny''}}</ref>

===Transport submarine===
With the retirement of the Regulus missile system in 1965, {{USS|Tunny|SS-282|2}} was converted into a troop transport in 1966. She was redesignated as an APSS (transport submarine), replacing {{USS|Perch|SS-313|2}} in this role. Her Regulus hangar became a lockout chamber for [[Underwater Demolition Team|UDT]], [[SEAL]], and [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|Marine Force Recon]] teams in the [[Vietnam War]]. On 1 January 1969, ''Tunny''{{'}}s designation was changed to LPSS (amphibious transport submarine); however, she was replaced by {{USS|Grayback|LPSS-574|2}} and decommissioned in June of that year.<ref name="Alden, Part IV"/><ref name=DANFSTunny/><ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=177–178}}</ref>

===Submarine oiler===
[[Image:USS Guavina (AGSS-362) fueling a Martin P5M-1 Marlin of VP-44 in the open sea off Norfolk, Virginia (USA), in 1955 (80-G-709414).jpg|thumb|right|''Guavina'' (AGSS-362), refueling a [[P5M Marlin]] flying boat in 1955]]
{{USS|Guavina|SS-362|2}} was converted under SCB 39 to a SSO in 1950 to carry fuel oil, gasoline, and cargo to amphibious beachheads. She received additional "saddle" tanks wrapped around her outer hull to carry these fuels and a streamlined sail. After a few tests, the concept was dropped in 1951 as impractical, and ''Guavina'' served in the test role for a few years under the designation AGSS. In 1957, she converted back to the oiler/tanker role and carried the designation AOSS. This time, she experimented with refueling seaplanes at sea, which was potentially important, as refueling the nuclear-capable [[Martin P6M Seamaster]] at sea could improve the Navy's strategic strike capabilities. However, this mission, too, was dropped and ''Guavina'' was decommissioned.<ref name="Alden, Part IV"/><ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=89, 230}}</ref>

===Sonar test submarine===
[[File:USS Grouper (AGSS-214) underway c1961.jpg|thumb|''Grouper'' after conversion to a sonar test submarine]]
The development of advanced sonar systems took on a great deal of importance in the 1950s, and several fleet ships were outfitted with various strange-looking sonar transducer arrays and performed extensive tests. Two ''Gato''s, {{USS|Flying Fish|SS-229|2}} and {{USS|Grouper|SS-214|2}} (previously the prototype hunter-killer ship) were assigned to these duties and proved to be key players in the development of new sonar capabilities. ''Grouper'' had all her forward [[torpedo tube]]s removed and the space was used as berthing for technicians and as a sonar lab. ''Flying Fish'' was decommissioned in 1954, but ''Grouper'' continued in the test role until 1968.<ref name="Alden, Part IV"/><ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|pp=69–73}}</ref>

===Naval Reserve trainer===
Interested in maintaining a ready pool of trained [[United States Navy Reserve|reservists]], the Navy assigned numerous fleet ships to various coastal and inland ports (even in [[Great Lakes]] ports such as [[Chicago]], [[Cleveland]], and [[Detroit]]) where they served as a training platform during the reservists' weekend drills. Twenty-eight ''Gato''-class ships served in this capacity, some as late as 1971. In this role, the ships 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 commission in reserve", thus some were decommissioned and recommissioned on the same day to reflect the change in status.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|p=285}}</ref><ref>All post war data from {{harvtxt|Alden|1979|loc=Part IV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.submarinesailor.com/Boats/Reserve/Reserve.asp |title= Reserve Training Boats of the U.S. Submarine Service |date= n.d.}}</ref>

===Foreign service===
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. While most of these ships were of the more capable ''Balao'' and ''Tench'' classes, some ''Gato''s went overseas, as well. Italy received two ({{USS|Barb|SS-220|2}} and {{USS|Dace|SS-247|2}}), which received the only GUPPY conversions given to ''Gato''-class ships (Guppy IB).<ref name="List of GUPPY IB conversions"/> Japan received one ({{USS|Mingo|SS-261|2}}), Brazil two ({{USS|Muskallunge|SS-262|2}} and {{USS|Paddle|SS-263|2}}), Greece two ({{USS|Lapon|SS-260|2}} and {{USS|Jack|SS-259|2}}), and Turkey two ({{USS|Guitarro|SS-363|2}} and {{USS|Hammerhead|SS-364|2}}). The ships transferred to Japan and Brazil did not receive any modernizations (streamlining and snorkels) prior to transfer, but the four ships sent to Greece and Turkey did receive snorkels and partial streamlining to the fairwater.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|loc=Part V}}. '''Note''': Alden makes a rare error here. ''Guitarro'' and ''Hammerhead'' '''did not''' receive the standard U.S. Navy "Fleet Snorkel" conversion '''prior''' to transfer, as he stated in the Part V addenda. See [http://www.navsource.net/archives/08/265/0836321a.jpg USN Photo NY9-21880-7-54 for Guitarro] and  [http://www.navsource.net/archives/08/419/0836472b.jpg Navsource photo 0836472b for Hammerhead]. Although they did receive full snorkel installations, ''Guitarro'' and ''Hammerhead''{{'}}s conversions were very similar to ''Jack'' and ''Lapon'' in that their conning tower fairwaters and snorkels received only a partial streamlining. The periscope shears and covered wagon ribs were left exposed. The official Fleet Snorkel conversion had a GUPPY-style fully enclosed and streamlined fairwater/snorkel, hence called a "sail". The confusion probably stemmed from the fact that in post-transfer overhauls (probably done in the U.S. but paid for by the Greeks) both ships received GUPPY-style sails.</ref>

== Museums ==
[[File:Manitowoc June 2023 022 (USS Cobia and Wisconsin Maritime Museum).jpg|thumb|The former USS ''Cobia'' on display in 2023]]
Six ''Gato''-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 ship gets a yearly inspection and a "report card". Some ships, such as ''Cod'' and ''Silversides'', have been used in film production.

=== Surviving ships ===

The following is a complete list of ''Gato''-class museum ships:
{{div col}}

* {{USS|Cavalla|SS-244|6}} is on display at [[Seawolf Park]] in [[Pelican Island (Texas)|Pelican Island, Texas]]. (in SSK configuration).<ref>{{cite web |last= Stevens |first= Neal |date= 27 May 2019 |title= USS Cavalla |url= https://www.cavalla.org |access-date= 7 March 2021}}</ref>
* {{USS|Cobia|SS-245|6}} is on display the [[Wisconsin Maritime Museum]] in [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web |title= USS Cobia |website=Wisconsin Maritime Museum |url= https://www.wisconsinmaritime.org/submarines/uss-cobia/ |access-date= 7 March 2021}}</ref>
* {{USS|Cod|SS-224|6}} is on display at [[North Coast Harbor|Cleveland's North Coast Harbor]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web |title= USS Code |date= 17 April 2019 |url= http://usscod.org/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201219204906/http://usscod.org/ |archive-date= 19 December 2020 }}</ref>
* {{USS|Croaker|SS-246|6}} is on display at the [[Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park]] in [[Buffalo, New York]] (in SSK configuration)<ref>{{cite web | title= USS Croaker |date= 2019 |url= https://buffalonavalpark.org/exhibits/uss-croaker/ |website= Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park |access-date= 7 March 2021}}</ref>
* {{USS|Drum|SS-228|6}} is on display on shore at [[Battleship Memorial Park]] in [[Mobile, Alabama]].<ref>{{cite web |title= USS Drum |date= 2017 |url= https://www.ussalabama.com/explore/uss-drum/ |website= USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park |access-date= 7 March 2021}}</ref>
* {{USS|Silversides|SS-236|6}} is on display  at the USS ''Silversides'' Submarine Museum in [[Muskegon, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web |title= USS Silversides |date= 2021 |url= https://silversidesmuseum.org |access-date= 7 March 2021}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of most successful American submarines in World War II]]
* [[Allied submarines in the Pacific War]]
* [[Unrestricted submarine warfare]]
* [[List of lost United States submarines]]
* [[List of submarines of the Second World War]]
* [[Ship Characteristics Board|Ship Characteristics Board (SCB)]] - postwar project management

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book |last=Alden |first=John D., Commander (U.S. Navy Ret) |title=The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History |date=1979 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-85368-203-8 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Bauer |first1= K. Jack |last2= Roberts |first2= Stephen S. |title= Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants |publisher= Greenwood Press |date= 1991 |location= [[Westport, Connecticut]] |pages= 271–273 |isbn= 0-313-26202-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Blair |first= Clay Jr. |title=Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan |date=2001 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=1-55750-217-X }}
* {{cite book |last=Fluckey |first=Eugene B. |author-link=Eugene Fluckey |title=Thunder Below: The USS Barb Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II |date=1992 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=0-252-01925-3 }}
* {{cite book |last=Friedman|first=Norman |title=U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] |year=1995|location=[[Annapolis, Maryland]] |isbn=1-55750-263-3 }}
* {{cite book |last=Friedman|first=Norman |title=U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] |year=1994|location=[[Annapolis, Maryland]] |isbn=1-55750-260-9}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gardiner |first1=Robert |last2=Chesneau |first2=Roger |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |date=1980 |isbn=0-83170-303-2 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Robert |title=Jane's submarines : war beneath the waves from 1776 to the present day |date=2001 |publisher=HarperCollins |location=London |isbn=9780007105588}}
* {{cite web |last= Johnston |first= David L. |date= 2024 |title= A Visual Guide to the U.S. Fleet Submarines Part Four: Gato Class (With a Tambor/Gar Class Postscript) 1941–1945 |url= https://pigboats.com/images/3/3b/A_VISUAL_GUIDE_TO_THE_FLEET_SUBMARINES_PART_4_GATO_CLASS_2024.pdf}}
* {{cite DANFS |last= McFarlane |first= Suzanne |date= 23 August 2017 |title= Tunny I (SS-282) |url= https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/tunny-i.html |ref={{sfnRef|DANFS ''Tunny''}}}}
* {{cite book |last=O'Kane |first=Richard |author-link=Richard O'Kane |title=Wahoo – The Patrols of America's Most Famous WWII Submarine |date=1987 |publisher=Presidio Press |isbn=0-89141-572-6 }}
* {{cite book |last=Roscoe |first=Theodore |title=[[United States Submarine Operations in World War II]] |date=1949 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-87021-731-3 }}
* {{cite book |last=Silverstone |first=Paul H. |title=U.S. Warships of World War II |location=Annapolis, MD |publisher=Naval Institute Press |orig-year=1965 |date=1989 |isbn=0-87021-773-9 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gato class submarines}}
* [http://oneternalpatrol.com On Eternal Patrol], website for lost U.S. subs
* [http://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08212b.htm Gato (SS-212) Class Line Drawings] from NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
* [http://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08212a.htm Gato (SS-212) Construction – Service Photos] from NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081105094626/http://www.maritime.org/fleetsub/ Fleet Type Submarine Training Manual] San Francisco Maritime Museum ({{USS|Perch|SS-313}} a [[Balao-class submarine]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150324024824/http://divedetectives.com/submarine-graveyard.php Dive Detectives] Dive Detectives TV series looks for ''Flier'' and ''Robalo'' ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110706182535/http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=152495 Archived link from www.history.ca]).
* [http://rnsubs.co.uk/articles/development/guppy.html Description of GUPPY conversions at RNSubs.co.uk]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000819012150/http://guppysubmarinetribute.homestead.com/Tribute.html GUPPY and other diesel boat conversions page (partial archive)]
* [http://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue_14/coldwar.html Whitman, Edward C. "Cold War Curiosities: U.S. Radar Picket Submarines, ''Undersea Warfare'', Winter-Spring 2002, Issue 14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220153433/https://www.public.navy.mil/subfor/underseawarfaremagazine/Issues/Archives/issue_14/coldwar.html |date=20 December 2019 }}
* [http://www.navsource.net/archives/08/04idx.htm Navsource fleet submarines photo index page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140322093118/http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/sublist.html List of World War II U.S. submarines at FleetSubmarine.com (archived)]
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-50_mk10-22.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com later 3"/50 caliber gun]
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4-50_mk9.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 4"/50 caliber gun]
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-25_mk10.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 5"/25 caliber gun]

{{Gato class submarine|others}}
{{WWII US ships}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gato Class Submarine}}
[[Category:Gato-class submarines| ]]
[[Category:Cold War submarines of the United States| Gato]]
[[Category:Korean War submarines of the United States| Gato]]
[[Category:Submarine classes]]
[[Category:Vietnam War submarines of the United States| Gato]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States| Gato]]