This article is about the U.S. Navy Mackerel-class submarines built in 1939–1941. For the class of U.S. Navy submarines built in 1952–1953, the lead ship of which later was renamed Mackerel, see T-1 class submarine.
The Mackerel-class submarines were a pair of experimental prototype submarines built just prior to World War II and launched in 1940 and 1941. The two submarines were similar in size and capability to the S-class submarines built at the end of World War I, and had been ordered to test the feasibility of using mass production techniques to build small submarines. Until at least 1940 it was thought that mass production of fleet submarines would be impractical, and in any case small submarines could provide area defense for submarine bases.[3] Once it became apparent that there would be sufficient production of the more capable Gato-class submarines, interest in the design waned and no additional small submarines were ordered. Submarine production standardized during the war on the Gato class and its successors, the Balao and Tench-class submarines. In some references, the Mackerels are called the "M class".[4]
The Mackerels stemmed from design studies ordered by the Navy's General Board beginning in 1936, when Admiral Thomas C. Hart joined the Board and spearheaded the small submarine effort.[5] At the time it was felt that mass production of large fleet submarines would be impractical.[6] It was also felt necessary to replace the aging S, R, and O-class submarines, to provide area defense for submarine bases and operate in restricted waters.[7] For the Mackerels, two somewhat different designs were produced by the Electric Boat Company and Portsmouth Navy Yard.[8] As prototypes, Mackerel and Marlin were near-sisters rather than sisters. References agree that Mackerel used a direct drive propulsion arrangement, but differ as to whether Marlin had direct drive or diesel-electric drive.[9][10] Both had engine designs not used in other US Navy submarines; Mackerel an in-house Electric Boat design, Marlin an ALCO locomotive design.[8] By late 1941 it became apparent that fleet submarines could be mass-produced, and interest in small submarines began to wane. Interest in them was revived with the examination of the German U-570, a Type VII U-boat captured by the British and loaned to the US. Also, Admiral Hart returned to the General Board in late 1942, following a courageous part in the ultimately futile defense of the Philippines and Indonesia in 1941-42. He pointed out that no other navy had abandoned small submarines. However, Admiral Frederick J. Horne, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, felt that small submarines should only be built if there was no interference with fleet submarine production. With all submarine yards capable of building fleet submarines, there was no easy way to avoid impacting their production, so the small submarine was abandoned as a concept.[11]
Service
Both submarines spent their entire careers operating from Submarine Base New London, Connecticut and Portsmouth Navy Yard in training and research roles, contributing to the development of both submarine and antisubmarine warfare in World War II. On 12 April 1942 Mackerel was attacked by a GermanU-boat while transiting to Norfolk, Virginia, but the torpedoes missed and Mackerel's counter-attack was unsuccessful. Marlin appeared as the fictional Corsair in the 1943 movie Crash Dive, filmed at Submarine Base New London. After the war, both boats were decommissioned in November 1945 and scrapped in 1946-47.
Alden, John D., Commander (USN, Ret). The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1979. ISBN0-85368-203-8.
Lenton, H. T. American Submarines (Navies of the Second World War) (Doubleday, 1973), ISBN0-38504-761-4.
Silverstone, Paul H., U.S. Warships of World War II (Ian Allan, 1965), ISBN0-87021-773-9.
Gardiner, Robert and Chesneau, Roger, Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946, Conway Maritime Press, 1980. ISBN0-83170-303-2.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mackerel class submarines.
Navsource.org fleet submarines page
Pigboats.com USS Mackerel photo page
DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com later 3"/50 caliber gun
February 06, 2023
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This article is about the U S Navy Mackerel class submarines built in 1939 1941 For the class of U S Navy submarines built in 1952 1953 the lead ship of which later was renamed Mackerel see T 1 class submarine The Mackerel class submarines were a pair of experimental prototype submarines built just prior to World War II and launched in 1940 and 1941 The two submarines were similar in size and capability to the S class submarines built at the end of World War I and had been ordered to test the feasibility of using mass production techniques to build small submarines Until at least 1940 it was thought that mass production of fleet submarines would be impractical and in any case small submarines could provide area defense for submarine bases 3 Once it became apparent that there would be sufficient production of the more capable Gato class submarines interest in the design waned and no additional small submarines were ordered Submarine production standardized during the war on the Gato class and its successors the Balao and Tench class submarines In some references the Mackerels are called the M class 4 USS Mackerel SS 204 Class overviewNameMackerel classBuildersElectric Boat Company Portsmouth Naval ShipyardOperatorsUnited States NavyPreceded byTambor classSucceeded byGato classBuilt1939 1941In commission1941 1945Completed2Retired2General characteristics Mackerel TypeDiesel and electric submarine 2 Displacement825 tons 838 t surfaced 1 1 190 tons 1 209 t submerged 1 Length243 ft 1 in 74 09 m 1 Beam22 ft 1 in 6 73 m 1 Draft13 ft 0 1 4 in 3 969 m 1 Propulsion2 Electric Boat direct drive diesel engines 2 2 60 cell Sargo batteries 1 2 Electro Dynamic electric motors 2 2 shafts 2 1 680 bhp 1 250 kW surfaced 2 1 500 bhp 1 100 kW submerged 2 Speed16 knots 30 km h surfaced 2 11 knots 20 km h submerged 2 Range6 500 nautical miles 12 000 km at 10 knots 19 km h service 1 Test depth250 ft 76 m 1 Complement4 officers 33 enlisted 1 Armament6 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes four forward two aft 12 torpedoes 1 1 3 inch 76 mm 50 caliber deck gun 1 General characteristics Marlin TypeDiesel electric submarine 2 Displacement800 tons 813 t standard surfaced 1 1165 tons 1184 t submerged 1 Length238 ft 11 in 72 82 m 1 Beam21 ft 7 1 4 in 6 585 m 1 Draft13 ft 0 1 4 in 3 969 m 1 Propulsion2 ALCO diesel engines driving electrical generators 2 2 60 cell Sargo batteries 1 2 General Electric electric motors 2 2 shafts 2 1 700 bhp 1 300 kW surfaced 2 1 500 bhp 1 100 kW submerged 2 Speed14 5 knots 27 km h surfaced 1 9 knots 17 km h submerged 1 Range7 400 nautical miles 13 700 km at 10 knots 19 km h 1 Test depth250 ft 76 m 1 Complement4 officers 34 enlisted 1 Armament6 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes four forward two aft 12 torpedoes 1 1 3 inch 76 mm 50 caliber deck gun 1 Contents 1 Design 2 Service 3 Ships in class 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Sources 6 External linksDesign EditThe Mackerels stemmed from design studies ordered by the Navy s General Board beginning in 1936 when Admiral Thomas C Hart joined the Board and spearheaded the small submarine effort 5 At the time it was felt that mass production of large fleet submarines would be impractical 6 It was also felt necessary to replace the aging S R and O class submarines to provide area defense for submarine bases and operate in restricted waters 7 For the Mackerels two somewhat different designs were produced by the Electric Boat Company and Portsmouth Navy Yard 8 As prototypes Mackerel and Marlin were near sisters rather than sisters References agree that Mackerel used a direct drive propulsion arrangement but differ as to whether Marlin had direct drive or diesel electric drive 9 10 Both had engine designs not used in other US Navy submarines Mackerel an in house Electric Boat design Marlin an ALCO locomotive design 8 By late 1941 it became apparent that fleet submarines could be mass produced and interest in small submarines began to wane Interest in them was revived with the examination of the German U 570 a Type VII U boat captured by the British and loaned to the US Also Admiral Hart returned to the General Board in late 1942 following a courageous part in the ultimately futile defense of the Philippines and Indonesia in 1941 42 He pointed out that no other navy had abandoned small submarines However Admiral Frederick J Horne Vice Chief of Naval Operations felt that small submarines should only be built if there was no interference with fleet submarine production With all submarine yards capable of building fleet submarines there was no easy way to avoid impacting their production so the small submarine was abandoned as a concept 11 Service EditBoth submarines spent their entire careers operating from Submarine Base New London Connecticut and Portsmouth Navy Yard in training and research roles contributing to the development of both submarine and antisubmarine warfare in World War II On 12 April 1942 Mackerel was attacked by a German U boat while transiting to Norfolk Virginia but the torpedoes missed and Mackerel s counter attack was unsuccessful Marlin appeared as the fictional Corsair in the 1943 movie Crash Dive filmed at Submarine Base New London After the war both boats were decommissioned in November 1945 and scrapped in 1946 47 Ships in class EditConstruction data Name Hull number Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned FateMackerel SS 204 Electric Boat Groton Connecticut 6 October 1939 28 September 1940 31 March 1941 Scrapped 1947Marlin SS 205 Portsmouth Navy Yard Kittery Maine 28 May 1940 29 January 1941 1 August 1941 Scrapped 1946See also EditUnrestricted submarine warfare Torpedo List of submarine classes of the United States Navy List of lost United States submarines List of submarines of the Second World WarReferences EditCitations Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Friedman Norman 1995 U S Submarines Through 1945 An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland United States Naval Institute pp 305 311 ISBN 1 55750 263 3 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Bauer K Jack Roberts Stephen S 1991 Register of Ships of the U S Navy 1775 1990 Major Combatants Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press p 271 ISBN 0 313 26202 0 Friedman pp 221 222 227 Silverstone p 195 Friedman pp 221 223 Friedman pp 221 222 Friedman pp 227 228 a b Friedman pp 224 227 Friedman p 227 Gardiner and Chesneau pp 144 145 Friedman pp 228 231 Sources Edit Alden John D Commander USN Ret The Fleet Submarine in the U S Navy A Design and Construction History Annapolis Naval Institute Press 1979 ISBN 0 85368 203 8 Lenton H T American Submarines Navies of the Second World War Doubleday 1973 ISBN 0 38504 761 4 Silverstone Paul H U S Warships of World War II Ian Allan 1965 ISBN 0 87021 773 9 Gardiner Robert and Chesneau Roger Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Conway Maritime Press 1980 ISBN 0 83170 303 2 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entries can be found here and here External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mackerel class submarines https web archive org web 20140322093118 http www fleetsubmarine com sublist html Navsource org fleet submarines page Pigboats com USS Mackerel photo page DiGiulian Tony Navweaps com later 3 50 caliber gun Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mackerel class submarine amp oldid 1110391491, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
