NAVYPEDIA

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Sculpin 1943

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate	Modification
SS188	Sargo	29	Electric Boat, Groton	5.1937	6.6.1938	2.1939	stricken 7.1946	Sargo
SS189	Saury	30	Electric Boat, Groton	6.1937	20.8.1938	4.1939	stricken 7.1946	Sargo
SS190	Spearfish	31	Electric Boat, Groton	9.1937	29.10.1938	7.1939	stricken 7.1946	Sargo
SS191	Sculpin		Portsmouth N Yd	9.1937	27.7.1938	1.1939	sunk 18.11.1943	Sargo
SS192	Squalus, 5.1940- Sailfish		Portsmouth N Yd	10.1937	14.9.1939	3.1939	stricken 4.1948	Sargo
SS193	Swordfish		Mare Island N Yd, Vallejo	10.1937	1.4.1939	7.1939	lost 1.1945	Seadragon
SS194	Seadragon	33	Electric Boat, Groton	4.1938	21.4.1939	10.1939	stricken 4.1948	Seadragon
SS195	Sealion	34	Electric Boat, Groton	6.1938	25.5.1939	11.1939	sunk 25.12.1941	Seadragon
SS196	Searaven		Portsmouth N Yd	8.1938	21.6.1939	10.1939	sunk as target 11.9.1948	Seadragon
SS197	Seawolf		Portsmouth N Yd	9.1938	15.8.1939	12.1939	sunk 3.10.1944	Seadragon

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	1450 / 2198
Length, m	92.2 wl 94.6 oa
Breadth, m	8.18
Draught, m	5.08
No of shafts	2
Machinery	SS188 - 191: 4 Hoover, Owens, Rentschler diesels / 4 electric motors SS192: 4 General Electric diesels / 4 electric motors SS193 - 195, 197: 4 General Electric diesel-generators / 4 electric motors SS196: 4 Hoover, Owens, Rentschler diesel-generators / 4 electric motors
Power, h. p.	SS188 - 192: 5500 / 2740 SS193 - 197: 5200 / 2740
Max speed, kts	20 / 8.75
Fuel, t	diesel oil 428
Endurance, nm(kts)	11000 (10) / 96 (2)
Armament	1 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 17/18, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 8 - 533 TT (24 torpedoes or 32 mines, 4 bow, 4 stern)
Electronic equipment	QCD, JK sonars
Complement	59
Diving depth operational, m	75

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Salmon class submarines represented increased version of Р class with more powerful machinery, two additional stern TTs (8 at all) and increased to 24 torpedo stowage. In their construction it have returned to diesels with mechanical shaft drive (hydraulic more precisely, through a special clutch). The similar decision was a tribute to the fears advanced by a number of experts, about insufficient damage tolerance of electrical transmission which could be easily incapacitated at any power cable damage. Double-hulled, built under the FY1936 program.

Under FY1937 and FY1938 programs 10 more boats of very close Sargo class were built. They at the expense of small increase in a stock of fuel had enlarged endurance. Four boats of the FY1938 program (SS194-197) often were outlined into separate Seadragon sub-class. They again had diesel-electrical engine, besides, almost on 30% larger capacity of batteries allowed to be underway 48hrs with 2kts speed in submerged position.

Modernizations

1942 - 1943, all survived: CT was rebuilt; - 1 x 1 - 76/50, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9 or 1 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 17, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SD, SJ radars

1.1946, SS188-190, 192, 194, 196: 8 - 533 TT (4 bow, 4 stern, 24), 1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 12 or 1 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 40, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SD, SJ radars, QCD sonar

Naval service

Squalus foundered 23.5.1939 during trials, salvaged and commissioned in May, 1940 under new name.

Sealion 10.12.1941 was badly damaged by Japanese aircraft and 25.12.1941 scuttled at Cavite (Philippines). Sculpin 18.11.1943 was scuttled N of Truk being badly damaged by Japanese destroyer Yamagumo. Seawolf 3.10.1944 was erroneously sunk by destroyer escort Richard M. Rowel. Swordfish was lost by unknown cause in Pacific in January, 1945.

Searaven 11.9.1948 was sunk as target.