DISCONTINUED N700087 USS TANG CLASS SUBMARINE

The Tang-class units were American classic diesel-electric fighter submarines that were launched between 1949 and 1952. A total of 6 ships of this class were built. A single unit of this type was 82 m long and 8.2 m wide at the time of launching, with an underwater displacement of approximately 2,300 tons. The maximum underwater speed was up to 18.5 knots. The armament consisted of 6 bow and 2 stern 533 mm torpedo tubes, with a torpedo reserve of 26. Tang-class units were created based on the experiences of World War II, but also show the application of many innovations that first appeared on German Type XXI submarines. Compared to the previous classes of submarines, the US Navy was characterized by a very high underwater speed - higher than the surface speed - and a much greater capacity of the batteries, which increased their underwater swimming capabilities. At the same time, however, they were perceived by the US Navy command as a kind of temporary solution between ships built during World War II and those that were to be built in connection with the development of nuclear propulsion (USS Nautilus) and revolutionary changes in the hull structure (USS Albacore) . After being withdrawn from the US Navy, four of the six ships of this type were transferred to NATO allied fleets: Italian and Turkish.