Allied Warships


Submarines

Balao class

118 ships


The Balao class submarine USS Pampanito.

Technical information

TypeSubmarine
Displacement1526 / 2414 BRT 
Length312 feet 
Complement6 + 60 men 
Armamentten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes.
one 4"/50 deck gun.
one 40mm gun.
two .50 cal. machine guns. 
Max speed20.25 / 8.75 kts knots (surfaced/submerged)
EnginesDiesel / Electric 2 shafts 
Power5400 / 2740  (surfaced/submerged)
Notes on classThis class saw extensive service in the Pacific in the war, along with their siblings the Gato-class boats they served as the backbone of the US Submarine Service. 


All ships of the Balao class:

US Navy (more on US Navy)

Brill (SS-330)
Bugara (SS-331)
Bumper (SS-333)
Burrfish (SS-312)
Cabezon (SS-334)
Cabrilla (SS-288)
Caiman (SS-323)
Cubera (SS-347)
Cusk (SS-348)
Diodon (SS-349)
Dogfish (SS-350)
Greenfish (SS-351)
Halfbeak (SS-352)
Lamprey (SS-372)
Lancetfish (SS-296)
Ling (SS-297)
Lionfish (SS-298)
Lizardfish (SS-373)
Loggerhead (SS-374)
Macabi (SS-375)
Manta (SS-299)
Mapiro (SS-376)
Menhaden (SS-377)
Mero (SS-378)
Moray (SS-300)
Pampanito (SS-383)
Parche (SS-384)
Perch (ii) (SS-313)
Picuda (SS-382)
Pilotfish (SS-386)
Pintado (SS-387)
Pipefish (SS-388)
Piper (SS-409)
Piranha (SS-389)
Pomfret (SS-391)
Queenfish (SS-393)
Razorback (SS-394)
Redfish (SS-395)
Roncador (SS-301)
Ronquil (SS-396)
Sabalo (SS-302)
Sablefish (SS-303)
Apogon (SS-308)
Archerfish (SS-311)
Aspro (SS-309)
Atule (SS-403)
Balao (SS-285)
Bang (SS-385)
Barbel (SS-316) (lost 4 Feb 1945)
Barbero (SS-317)
Batfish (SS-310)
Baya (SS-318)
Becuna (SS-319)
Bergall (SS-320)
Besugo (SS-321)
Billfish (SS-286)
Blackfin (SS-322)
Blenny (SS-324)
Blower (SS-325)
Blueback (SS-326)
Boarfish (SS-327)
Bowfin (SS-287)
Bullhead (SS-332) (lost 6 Aug 1945)
Capelin (SS-289) (lost 23 Nov 1943)
Capitaine (SS-336)
Carbonero (SS-337)
Carp (SS-338)
Catfish (SS-339)
Charr (SS-328)
Chivo (SS-341)
Chopper (SS-342)
Chub (SS-329)
Cisco (SS-290) (lost 28 Sep 1943)
Clamagore (SS-343)
Cobbler (SS-344)
Cochino (SS-345) (lost 26 Aug 1949)
Corporal (SS-346)
Crevalle (SS-291)
Dentuda (SS-335)
Devilfish (SS-292)
Dragonet (SS-293)
Entemedor (SS-340)
Escolar (SS-294) (lost Oct 1944)
Hackleback (SS-295)
Hardhead (SS-365)
Hawkbill (SS-366)
Icefish (SS-367)
Jallao (SS-368)
Kete (SS-369) (lost 20 Mar 1945)
Kraken (SS-370)
Lagarto (SS-371) (lost 3 May 1945)
Plaice (SS-390)
Sand Lance (SS-381)
Scabbardfish (SS-397)
Sea Cat (SS-399)
Sea Devil (SS-400)
Sea Dog (SS-401)
Sea Fox (SS-402)
Sea Owl (SS-405)
Sea Poacher (SS-406)
Sea Robin (SS-407)
Seahorse (SS-304)
Sealion (ii) (SS-315)
Segundo (SS-398)
Sennet (SS-408)
Shark (ii) (SS-314) (lost 24 Oct 1944)
Skate (SS-305)
Spadefish (SS-411)
Spikefish (SS-404)
Spot (SS-413)
Springer (SS-414)
Sterlet (SS-392)
Stickleback (SS-415) (lost 28 May 1958)
Tang (SS-306) (lost 24 Oct 1944)
Threadfin (SS-410)
Tilefish (SS-307)
Tiru (SS-416)
Trepang (SS-412)

11 submarines of the Balao class lost.


Books dealing with this subject include:

Fleet Submarines of World War Two, Walkowiak, Thomas F., 1988
World War II American Submarines, Borchers, Duane D., Sr.,



Return to the Allied Warships section