List of Gato-class submarines

Seventy-seven Gato-class submarines were built during World War II, commissioned from November 1941 through April 1944.^[1] The class was very successful in sinking Japanese merchant ships and naval vessels: the top three US submarines in tonnage sunk were Gatos, along with three of the top seven in number of ships sunk.^[2] But success had a price: 20 of the 52 US submarines lost in that war were of this class, plus Halibut, a damaged boat that returned to the US but was considered a constructive total loss and not repaired.^[1][3] Although many of the class were in reserve postwar and scrapped in 1959-1960, some Gatos served actively with the US Navy into the late 1960s, and others served with foreign navies into the early 1970s.

SS-361 through SS-364 were initially ordered as Balao-class, and were assigned hull numbers that fall in the middle of the range of numbers for the Balao class (SS-285 through SS-416 & SS-425–426).^[4] Thus, in some references they are listed with that class. However, they were completed by Manitowoc as Gatos, due to an unavoidable delay in Electric Boat's development of Balao-class drawings. Manitowoc was a follow yard to Electric Boat, and was dependent on them for designs and drawings.^[1][5]

Abbreviations

Abbreviations and hull classification symbols for postwar redesignations/conversions:

• AGSS — auxiliary submarine (various roles including sonar testing)
• APSS/LPSS — amphibious transport submarine
• FS — "fleet snorkel" conversion, including a snorkel and streamlined sail^[6]
• G IB — GUPPY IB conversion, including a snorkel, streamlined sail, and improved batteries
• IXSS — unclassified submarine
• PT — pierside trainer for naval reservists, reportedly immobilized by removing the propellers^[7][8][9]
• SSG — guided missile submarine
• SSK — hunter-killer submarine
• SSO/AOSS — submarine oiler conversion
• SSR — radar picket submarine
• Struck — Struck (deleted) from the Naval Vessel Register, usually followed by scrapping or other final disposal

Ships in class

Construction data

Ship name	Hull no.	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm./Recomm.	Decomm.	Fate
Gato	SS-212	Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut	5 Oct 1940	21 Aug 1941	31 Dec 1941	16 Mar 1946	PT 1952-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap[10]
					1952	1 Mar 1960
Greenling	SS-213		12 Nov 1940	20 Sep 1941	21 Jan 1942	16 Oct 1946	PT 1946-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap[10]
					December 1946	1 Mar 1960
Grouper	SS-214		28 Dec 1940	27 Oct 1941	12 Feb 1942	2 Dec 1968	SSK Jan 1951; AGSS 21 Jun 1958; struck 2 Dec 1968, sold for scrap[10]
Growler	SS-215		10 Feb 1941	22 Nov 1941	20 Mar 1942	—	Lost to Japanese surface attack, 8 Nov 1944[10][11]
Grunion	SS-216		1 Mar 1941	22 Dec 1941[1]	11 Apr 1942		Lost due likely to circular run of own torpedo, 30 Jul 1942[10][12][13]
Guardfish	SS-217		1 Apr 1941	20 Jan 1942	8 May 1942	25 May 1946	PT 1948-1960; struck 1 Jun 1960, sold for scrap[10]
					18 Jun 1948	1 Jun 1960
Albacore	SS-218		21 Apr 1941	17 Feb 1942	1 Jun 1942	—	Lost to Japanese mine, 7 Nov 1944[10][14]
Amberjack	SS-219		15 May 1941	6 Mar 1942[1]	19 Jun 1942		Lost, possibly to Japanese surface attack, 16 Feb 1943[10][15]
Barb	SS-220		7 Jun 1941	2 Apr 1942	8 Jul 1942	12 Feb 1947	G IB 1954, transferred to Italy as Enrico Tazzoli 1954; returned to US and sold for scrap 15 Oct 1972[10]
					3 Dec 1951	5 Feb 1954
					3 Aug 1954	13 Dec 1954
Blackfish	SS-221		1 Jul 1941	18 Apr 1942	22 Jul 1942	11 May 1946	PT 1949-1954; struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap[10]
					5 May 1949	19 May 1954
Bluefish	SS-222		5 Jun 1942	21 Feb 1943	24 May 1943	12 Feb 1947	Struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap 4 May 1959[1][10]
					7 Jan 1952	20 Nov 1953
Bonefish	SS-223		25 Jun 1942	7 Mar 1943	31 May 1943	—	Lost to Japanese surface attack, 18 Jun 1945[1][10]
Cod	SS-224		21 Jul 1942	21 Mar 1943	21 Jun 1943	22 Jun 1946	PT 1960-1971, AGSS 1 Dec 1962, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, struck 15 Dec 1971. Museum ship currently moored in Cleveland, Ohio's North Coast Harbor at the USS Cod Submarine Memorial since 1 May 1976.[10][16]
					1 May 1960	15 Dec 1971
Cero	SS-225		24 Aug 1942	4 Apr 1943	4 Jul 1943	8 Jun 1946	PT 1959-1967; struck 30 Jun 1967, sold for scrap October 1970[1][10]
					4 Feb 1952	23 Dec 1953
					12 Sep 1959	30 Jun 1967
Corvina	SS-226		21 Sep 1942	9 May 1943	6 Aug 1943	—	Lost to Japanese submarine attack, 16 Nov 1943[1][10]
Darter	SS-227		20 Oct 1942	6 Jun 1943	7 Sep 1943		Lost to accidental grounding, 24 Oct 1944[1][10]
Drum	SS-228	Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine	11 Sep 1940	12 May 1941	1 Nov 1941	16 Feb 1946	PT 1947-1968, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1968, memorial in Mobile, Alabama[10][17]
					18 Mar 1947	30 Jun 1968
Flying Fish	SS-229		6 Dec 1940	9 Jul 1941	10 Dec 1941	28 May 1954	AGSS 29 Nov 1950; struck 1 Aug 1958, sold for scrap 1 May 1959[10]
Finback	SS-230		5 Feb 1941	25 Aug 1941	31 Jan 1942	21 Apr 1950	Struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap 15 Jul 1959[10]
Haddock	SS-231		31 Mar 1941	20 Oct 1941	14 Mar 1942	12 Feb 1947	PT 1948-1952, 1956-1960; struck 1 Jun 1960, sold for scrap 23 Aug 1960[10]
					August 1948	May 1952
					June 1956	1 Jun 1960
Halibut	SS-232		16 May 1941	3 Dec 1941	10 Apr 1942	18 Jul 1945	Constructive total loss following Japanese air attack 14 Nov 1944, returned to US but not repaired, struck 8 May 1946, sold for scrap 9 Dec 1946[10][18]
Herring	SS-233		14 Jul 1941	5 Jan 1942	4 May 1942	—	Lost to Japanese shore batteries, 1 Jun 1944[1][10]
Kingfish	SS-234		29 Aug 1941	2 Mar 1942	20 May 1942	9 Mar 1946	PT 1947-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap 6 Oct 1960[19]
					6 Oct 1947	1 Mar 1960
Shad	SS-235		24 Oct 1941	15 Apr 1942	12 Jun 1942	24 Apr 1946	PT 1948-1960; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 11 Jul 1960[19]
					October 1947	1 Apr 1960
Silversides	SS-236	Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California	4 Nov 1940	26 Aug 1941	15 Dec 1941	17 Apr 1946	PT 1947-1969, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 30 Jun 1969, memorial in Chicago, Illinois 1973-1987, memorial in Muskegon, Michigan 1987-present[19][20]
					15 Oct 1947	30 Jun 1969
Trigger	SS-237		1 Feb 1941	22 Oct 1941	31 Jan 1942	—	Lost to Japanese surface attack, 28 Mar 1945[1][19]
Wahoo	SS-238		28 Jun 1941	14 Feb 1942	15 May 1942		Lost to Japanese air attack, 11 Oct 1943[1][19]
Whale	SS-239		28 Jun 1941	14 Mar 1942	1 Jun 1942	1 Jun 1946	PT 1957-1960; struck 1 Mar 1960, sold for scrap 14 Oct 1960[19]
					22 Jan 1957	1 Mar 1960
Angler	SS-240	Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut	9 Nov 1942	4 Jul 1943	1 Oct 1943	2 Feb 1947	SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Jul 1963, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, PT 1968-1971; struck 15 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 1 Feb 1974[19]
					2 Apr 1951	10 Nov 1952
					10 Sep 1953	1 Apr 1968
					1 Apr 1968	15 Dec 1971
Bashaw	SS-241		4 Dec 1942	25 Jul 1943	25 Oct 1943	29 Jun 1949	SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Sep 1962; struck 13 Sep 1969, sold for scrap 4 Aug 1972 (some sources state sunk as target)[19][21][22]
					3 Apr 1951	10 May 1952
					28 Mar 1953	13 Sep 1969
Bluegill	SS-242		7 Dec 1942	8 Aug 1943	11 Nov 1943	1 Mar 1946	SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Apr 1966; struck 28 Jun 1969, scuttled off Hawaii 3 Dec 1970, wreck used for salvage training, towed to deep water and sunk with honors 6 Nov 1983[19][23]
					3 May 1951	7 Jul 1952
					2 May 1953	28 Jun 1969
Bream	SS-243		5 Feb 1943	17 Oct 1943	24 Jan 1944	31 Jan 1946	SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 15 Apr 1965; struck 28 Jun 1969, sunk as target 7 Nov 1969[19]
					5 Jun 1951	10 Sep 1952
					20 Jun 1953	28 Jun 1969
Cavalla	SS-244		4 Mar 1943	14 Nov 1943	29 Feb 1944	16 Mar 1946	SSK 18 Feb 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 Jul 1963, PT 1968-1969; struck 30 Dec 1969, memorial in Galveston, Texas[19][24]
					10 Apr 1951	3 Sep 1952
					15 Jul 1953	3 Jun 1968
					3 Jun 1968	30 Dec 1969
Cobia	SS-245		17 Mar 1943	28 Nov 1943	29 Mar 1944	22 May 1946	PT 1959-1970, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 1 Jul 1970, memorial in Manitowoc, Wisconsin[19][25]
					6 Jul 1951	19 Mar 1954
					12 Sep 1959	1 Jul 1970
Croaker	SS-246		1 Apr 1943	19 Dec 1943	21 Apr 1944	15 Jun 1946	SSK 9 Apr 1953, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 1 May 1967, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, PT 1968-1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, memorial in Groton, CT 1977-1987, memorial in Buffalo, New York 1988-present[19][26]
					7 May 1951	18 Mar 1953
					11 Dec 1953	2 Apr 1968
					2 Apr 1968	20 Dec 1971
Dace	SS-247		22 Jul 1942	25 Apr 1943	23 Jul 1943	12 Feb 1947	G IB 1955, transferred to Italy as Leonardo da Vinci 1955; returned to US and sold for scrap 15 Oct 1972[19]
					8 Aug 1951	15 Jan 1954
					22 Oct 1954	31 Jan 1955
Dorado	SS-248		27 Aug 1942	23 May 1943	28 Aug 1943	—	Lost, probably to "friendly fire" air attack or German mine off Panama, 12 Oct 1943[19][27]
Flasher	SS-249		30 Sep 1942	20 Jun 1943	25 Sep 1943	16 Mar 1946	Struck 1 Jun 1959, sold for scrap 8 Jun 1963, conning tower preserved as memorial in Groton, Connecticut[19]
Flier	SS-250		30 Oct 1942	11 Jun 1943	18 Oct 1943	—	Lost to Japanese mine, 13 Aug 1944[19]
Flounder	SS-251		5 Dec 1942	22 Aug 1943	29 Nov 1943	12 Feb 1947	Struck 1 Jun 1959, sold for scrap 2 Feb 1960[19]
Gabilan	SS-252		5 Jan 1943	19 Sep 1943	28 Dec 1943	23 Feb 1946	Struck 1 Jun 1959, sold for scrap 11 Jan 1960[19]
Gunnel	SS-253		27 Jul 1941	17 May 1942	20 Aug 1942	18 May 1946	Struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap December 1959[28]
Gurnard	SS-254		2 Sep 1941	1 Jun 1942	18 Sep 1942	27 Nov 1945	PT 1949-1960; struck 1 May 1961, sold for scrap 29 Oct 1961[28]
					April 1949	June 1960
Haddo	SS-255		1 Oct 1941	21 Jun 1942	9 Oct 1942	16 Feb 1946	Struck 1 Aug 1958, sold for scrap 4 May 1959[28]
Hake	SS-256		1 Nov 1941	17 Jul 1942	30 Oct 1942	13 Jul 1946	PT 1956-1968, AGSS 1 Dec 1962; struck 19 Apr 1968; salvage training hulk in Chesapeake Bay 1968-1972, sold for scrap 5 Dec 1972[28]
					15 Oct 1956	19 Apr 1968
Harder	SS-257		1 Dec 1941	19 Aug 1942	2 Dec 1942	—	Lost to Japanese surface attack, 24 Aug 1944[1][28]
Hoe	SS-258		2 Jan 1942	17 Sep 1942	16 Dec 1942	7 Aug 1946	PT 1956-1960; struck 1 May 1960, sold for scrap 10 Sep 1960[28]
					September 1956	15 Apr 1960
Jack	SS-259		2 Feb 1942	16 Oct 1942	6 Jan 1943	8 Jun 1946	Snorkel added 1958, transferred to Greece as Amphitriti 1958; returned to US and struck 1 Sep 1967, sunk as target 5 Sep 1967[28][29]
					20 Dec 1957	21 Apr 1958
Lapon	SS-260		21 Feb 1942	27 Oct 1942	23 Jan 1943	25 Jul 1946	Snorkel added 1957, transferred to Greece as Poseidon 1957; struck 31 Dec 1975, purchased by Greece for spare parts and sunk as target April 1976[28][30]
					13 Apr 1957	10 Aug 1957
Mingo	SS-261		21 Mar 1942	30 Nov 1942	12 Feb 1943	January 1947	Transferred to Japan as Kuroshio 15 Aug 1955; returned to US control 31 Mar 1966, struck and sold to Japan 20 Feb 1971, sunk as target 1973[28][31]
					20 May 1955	15 Aug 1955
Muskallunge	SS-262		7 Apr 1942	13 Dec 1942	15 Mar 1943	29 Jan 1947	Transferred to Brazil as Humaitá 18 Jan 1957; struck 1 Dec 1967, returned to US March 1968, sunk as target 9 Jul 1968[1][28]
					31 Aug 1956	18 Jan 1957
Paddle	SS-263		1 May 1942	30 Dec 1942	29 Mar 1943	1 Feb 1946	Transferred to Brazil as Riachuelo 18 Jan 1957; returned to US control March 1968, struck 30 Jun 1968, used for spare parts by Brazil (one source says sunk (sic) about 30 Jun 1968)[28][32]
					31 Aug 1956	18 Jan 1957
Pargo	SS-264		21 May 1942	24 Jan 1943	26 Apr 1943	12 Jun 1946	PT 1946-1960; struck 1 Dec 1960, sold for scrap 16 May 1961[28]
					12 Jun 1946	1 Dec 1960
Peto	SS-265	Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin	15 Jun 1941	30 Apr 1942	21 Nov 1942	25 Dec 1942	Peto and Pogy (only) administratively decommissioned during barge delivery via Mississippi River, PT 1956-1960; struck 1 Aug 1960, sold for scrap 29 Nov 1960[28]
					January 1943	25 Jun 1946
					November 1956	1 Aug 1960
Pogy	SS-266		15 Sep 1941	23 Jun 1942	10 Jan 1943	1 Feb 1943	Peto and Pogy (only) administratively decommissioned during barge delivery via Mississippi River; struck 1 Sep 1958, sold for scrap 1 May 1959[28]
					12 Feb 1943	30 Jul 1946
Pompon	SS-267		26 Nov 1941	15 Aug 1942	17 Mar 1943	11 May 1946	SSR 11 Dec 1951; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 22 Dec 1960[28]
					15 Jun 1953	1 Apr 1960
Puffer	SS-268		16 Feb 1942	22 Nov 1942	27 Apr 1943	28 Jun 1946	PT 1946-1960; struck 1 Jul 1960, sold for scrap 3 Dec 1960[28]
					1946	10 Jun 1960
Rasher	SS-269		4 May 1942	20 Dec 1942	8 Jun 1943	22 Jun 1946	SSR 11 Dec 1951, AGSS 1 Jul 1960, IXSS 30 Jun 1971, PT 1967-1971; struck 20 Dec 1971, sold for scrap 7 Aug 1974[28]
					14 Dec 1951	28 May 1952
					22 Jul 1953	27 May 1967
Raton	SS-270		29 May 1942	24 Jan 1943	13 Jul 1943	11 Mar 1949	SSR 18 Jul 1952, AGSS 1 Jul 1960; struck 28 Jun 1969, sold for scrap 12 Oct 1973, hulk reportedly used as target[28][33]
					21 Sep 1953	28 Jun 1969
Ray	SS-271		20 Jul 1942	28 Feb 1943	27 Jul 1943	12 Feb 1947	SSR 2 Jan 1951; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 18 Dec 1960[28]
					13 Aug 1952	30 Sep 1958
Redfin	SS-272		3 Sep 1942	4 Apr 1943	31 Aug 1943	1 Nov 1946	SSR 2 Jan 1951, SS 15 Aug 1959, AGSS 28 Jun 1963, PT 1967-1970; struck 1 Jul 1970, sold for scrap 31 Mar 1971[28]
					13 Aug 1952	30 Sep 1958
Robalo	SS-273		24 Oct 1942	9 May 1943	28 Sep 1943	—	Lost to Japanese mine, 26 Jul 1944[1][28]
Rock	SS-274		23 Dec 1942	20 Jun 1943	26 Oct 1943	1 May 1946	SSR 18 Jul 1952, AGSS 31 Dec 1959; struck 13 Sep 1969, held for use as target, but sold for scrap 18 Sep 1972[28][34]
					12 Oct 1953	13 Sep 1969
Runner	SS-275	Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine	8 Dec 1941	30 May 1942	30 Jul 1942	—	Lost to unknown cause, possibly Japanese mine, circa 1 Jul 1943[1][28][35]
Sawfish	SS-276		20 Jan 1942	23 Jun 1942	26 Aug 1942	20 Jun 1946	PT 1947-1960; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 2 Dec 1960[28]
					15 May 1947	1 Apr 1960
Scamp	SS-277		6 Mar 1942	20 Jul 1942	18 Sep 1942	—	Lost, probably to Japanese surface and air attack, 11 Nov 1944[1][36]
Scorpion	SS-278		20 Mar 1942	20 Jul 1942	1 Oct 1942		Lost to unknown cause, possibly Japanese mine, circa 5 Jan 1944[1][36]
Snook	SS-279		17 Apr 1942	15 Aug 1942[1]	24 Oct 1942		Lost, possibly to Japanese surface attack circa 12 Apr 1945[1][36]
Steelhead	SS-280		1 Jun 1942	11 Sep 1942	7 Dec 1942	29 Jun 1946	PT 1947-1960; struck 1 Apr 1960, sold for scrap 21 Dec 1960[36]
					12 Nov 1947	1 Apr 1960
Sunfish	SS-281	Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California	25 Sep 1941	2 May 1942	15 Jul 1942	26 Dec 1945	PT 1949-1960; struck 1 May 1960, sold for scrap 15 Dec 1960[36]
					April 1949	1 May 1960
Tunny	SS-282		10 Nov 1941	30 Jun 1942	1 Sep 1942	12 Feb 1946	SSG 18 Jul 1952, SS 15 May 1965, APSS 1 Oct 1966, LPSS 1 Jan 1969; struck 30 Jun 1969, sunk as target 19 Jun 1970[36]
					25 Feb 1952	30 Apr 1952
					6 Mar 1953	28 Jun 1969
Tinosa	SS-283		21 Feb 1942	7 Oct 1942	15 Jan 1943	23 Jun 1949	Struck 1 Sep 1958, used as ASW target, scuttled November 1960[36]
					4 Jan 1952	2 Dec 1953
Tullibee	SS-284		1 Apr 1942	11 Nov 1942	15 Feb 1943	—	Lost due to circular run of own torpedo, 26 Mar 1944[36]
Golet	SS-361	Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin	27 Jan 1943	1 Aug 1943	30 Nov 1943		Lost to Japanese surface attack, 14 Jun 1944[1][37]
Guavina	SS-362		3 Mar 1943	29 Aug 1943	23 Dec 1943	8 Jun 1946[38]	SSO 16 Aug 1948, AGSS 11 Dec 1951, AOSS 22 Jun 1957, PT 1960-1967; struck 30 Jun 1967, sunk as target 14 Nov 1967[37]
					1 Feb 1950	27 Mar 1959
					February 1960	30 Jun 1967
Guitarro	SS-363		7 Apr 1943	26 Sep 1943	26 Jan 1944	6 Dec 1945	Snorkel added 1954, transferred to Turkey as Preveze 7 Aug 1954, struck and sold to Turkey 1 Jan 1972, decommissioned by Turkey 4 May 1972, used as battery charging hulk until scrapped September 1983, sail preserved as memorial at Gölcük Naval Base until earthquake 17 Aug 1999[37][39]
					6 Feb 1952	22 Sep 1953
Hammerhead	SS-364		5 May 1943	24 Oct 1943	1 Mar 1944	9 Feb 1946	Snorkel added 1954, transferred to Turkey as Cerbe 23 Oct 1954, struck and sold to Turkey 1 Jan 1972, decommissioned by Turkey 4 May 1972, subsequently scrapped[37][40]
					6 Feb 1952	21 Aug 1953

See also

• List of most successful American submarines in World War II
• List of lost United States submarines
• List of Balao-class submarines
• List of Tench-class submarines