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Perch 1937

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
SS176	Perch	23	Electric Boat, Groton	2.1935	9.5.1936	11.1936	sunk 3.3.1942
SS177	Pickerel	24	Electric Boat, Groton	3.1935	7.7.1936	1.1937	sunk 3.4.1943
SS178	Permit (ex-Pinna)	25	Electric Boat, Groton	6.1935	5.10.1936	3.1937	Naval Reserve TS 1.1947, stricken 7.1956
SS179	Plunger		Portsmouth N Yd	7.1935	8.7.1936	11.1936	Naval Reserve TS 5.1946, stricken 7.1956
SS180	Pollack		Portsmouth N Yd	10.1935	15.9.1936	1.1937	stricken 10.1946
SS181	Pompano		Mare Island N Yd, Vallejo	1.1936	11.3.1937	6.1937	sunk 8-9/1943

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	1330 / 1997
Length, m	89.2 wl 91.6 oa
Breadth, m	7.67
Draught, m	4.62
No of shafts	2
Machinery	SS176 - 179: 4 Winton diesel-generators / 2 electric motors SS180: 4 Fairbank-Morse diesel-generators / 2 electric motors S181: 4 Hoover, Owens, Rentschler diesel-generators / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	4300 / 2366
Max speed, kts	19.25 / 8
Fuel, t	diesel oil 373
Endurance, nm(kts)	10000 (10) / 42 (5)
Armament	1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 17/18, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 6 - 533 TT (16, 4 bow, 2 stern)
Electronic equipment	QC, JK sonars
Complement	54
Diving depth operational, m	75

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Designed on basis of Cachalot class submarines. Dimensions and displacement were notably increased, that allowed to install more powerful diesels and make engine room more spaciously (in comparison with very tight and inconvenient for the maintenance engine room on Cachalot). Abandoning from rigid connection of diesel with propeller shaft and transition to an electrical drive became an important innovation of this class also. Introduction of generators on diesel shafts was partly indemnified by abandoning from using of auxiliary diesel-generator serving only for battery recharging. New scheme ensured much more flexible machinery usage, allowing significant expedite process of recharging or to recharge battery almost on full speed. Advantage of diesel-electric gear was showed as in appreciable decrease in vibration. The special attention has been given to improvement of habitability conditions, in particular, for the first time they received air conditioners. Double-hulled.

Financing of building of this class was conducted within the limits of National Industrial Recovery Act accepted in 1933. There existed two detailed projects, developed by Bureau of construction (SS172 and 173) and Electric Boat (SS174 and 175).

6 more submarines were built under the FY1935 program. They differed from Porpoise, except usage of more powerful diesels, a little.

Modernizations

1942, Pickerel, Permit: + 2 - 533 TT (ext stern, 18 torpedoes totally)

9.1942, Pompano: diesel-generators were replaced by Fairbank-Morse

1942 - 1943, all survived: CT was rebuilt; - 2 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SD, SJ radars

1/1946, SS178: 8 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 2 ext stern, 18), 1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 11, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SD, SJ radars, QC, JK sonars

1/1946, SS179, 180: 6 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 16), 1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 11, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SD, SJ radars, QC, JK sonars

Naval service

Perch 1.3.1942 was damaged by DCs from Japanese destroyers Amatsukaze and Hatsukaze and 3.3.1942 scuttled E off Surabaya being additionally damaged by Japanese destroyer Yukikaze. Pickerel in April, 1943 was lost at N coast of Japan (most likely, 3.4.1943 at N coast of Honshu she was sunk by Japanese aircraft, destroyer Shirakami and auxillary patrol Bunzan Maru). Pompano was lost by unknown cause in August-September, 1943, probable off Honshu or Hokkaido, probably mined.