NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Wahoo 1968

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
SS563	Tang		Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery	18.4.1949	19.6.1951	25.10.1951	to Turkey 2.1980 (Piri Reis)
SS564	Trigger	131	Electric Boat, Groton	24.2.1949	14.6.1951	31.3.1952	to Italy 7.1973 (Livio Piomarta)
SS565	Wahoo		Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery	24.10.1949	16.10.1951	30.5.1952	stricken 7.1983
SS566	Trout	134	Electric Boat, Groton	1.12.1949	21.8.1951	27.6.1952	to Iran 12.1978 (کوسه [Kousseh])
SS567, 4.1979- AGSS567, 11.1979- SSAG567	Gudgeon		Portsmouth N Yd, Kittery	20.5.1950	11.6.1952	21.11.1952	to Turkey 9.1983 (Hızır Reis)
SS568	Harder	135	Electric Boat, Groton	30.6.1950	3.12.1951	19.8.1952	to Italy 2.1974 (Romeo Romei)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	SS563 - 566: 1560 / 2260 SS567, 568: 1821 / 2500
Length, m	SS563 - 566: 82.0 SS567, 568: 84.8
Breadth, m	8.30
Draught, m	5.20
No of shafts	2
Machinery	SS563 - 566: 3 General Motors diesel-generators, 2 electric motors SS567, 568: 3 Fairbank Morse diesel-generators, 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	SS563 - 566: 3400 / 4700 SS567, 568: 4500 / 5600
Max speed, kts	SS563 - 566: 15.5 / 18.3 SS567, 568: 15.5 / 16
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	11500(10) / 130 (3)
Armament	8 - 533 TT (6 bow Mk 43, 2 stern Mk 44, 26 torpedoes or 40 mines)
Electronic equipment	BPS-12 radar, BQS-4, BQR-2 sonars, APR-1 ECM suite
Complement	83
Diving depth operational, m	210

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

These ships, the US counterpart of the Soviet 'Whiskeys', were the US attempt to assimilate German Type XXI concepts. The first four also had a new compact radial ('pancake') diesels, which itself caused considerable problems in service, the first four units being lengthened and re-engined with the more conventional power plants of the last pair. Originally conceived almost as an experimental high-speed type (in contrast to the usual fleet boat), they became the basis for postwar development. Compared to wartime fleet submarines, they had much increased battery power for greater submerged speed. Compared to the GUPPY conversions, they benefited from a shorter hull form which in itself reduced resistance underwater. They also had streamlined superstructures, and improved sonars, although by no means in the SSK category; the new hull form reduced the torpedo tube battery to eight, with only two aft.

They were two competitive designs, SS563 by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and SS564 by Electric Boat, both to the same basic characteristics. The initial Ship Characteristics Board requirements included the the potential for re-engining with a closed cycle or nuclear power plant for an underwater speed of 25kts (17kts with a diesel-electric plant), and an increase in diving depth from the wartime 120m to 210m postwar.

Modernizations

early 1950s, Tang, Trigger, Wahoo, Trout: were lengthened and re-engined with data as SS567, 568 (1800/2500t, 84.8m oa, 4500/5600hp, 15.5/16kts)

1950s, all: - APR-1 ECM suite; + BLR-1 ECM suite

1964, Wahoo; 1967, Gudgeon: lengthened (2050/2700t, 87.5m); + BQG-4 PUFFS sonar

Naval service

No significant events.