Narwhal-class submarine

Narwhal-class submarine. The Narwhal-class submarines were a pair of large, cruiser-type submarines built for the United States Navy in the late 1920s. Designed for long-range patrols and significant offensive power, they were among the largest non-nuclear submarines ever constructed by the U.S. and saw extensive service during World War II. Both vessels, USS Narwhal (SS-167) and USS Nautilus (SS-168), conducted numerous war patrols, primarily in the Pacific Theater, where they were noted for their ability to carry and deploy United States Marine Corps raiders and substantial cargo.

Design and development

The design and development of the class stemmed from the strategic concepts explored by the V-boat projects of the early 1920s, which aimed to create long-range fleet submarines. Naval constructors at the Bureau of Construction and Repair sought to create vessels with exceptional endurance and heavy armament, leading to a design displacing over 2,700 tons surfaced. A key feature was the installation of two rare 6-inch/53 caliber deck guns, armament more typical of a surface combatant like a destroyer or light cruiser. Their propulsion combined direct-drive MAN diesel engines for high speed with additional diesel-electric machinery for quiet, economical cruising, a hybrid arrangement tested earlier on the USS Argonaut (SM-1). The boats were constructed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, under the oversight of the Naval Submarine Base New London. Their large internal volume, while making them cumbersome divers, later proved invaluable for special missions, influencing later concepts like the Regulus missile submarines and other auxiliary roles.

Service history

Both submarines of the class were actively engaged in combat operations following the attack on Pearl Harbor, transitioning from peacetime exercises with the Pacific Fleet to wartime patrols. USS Narwhal (SS-167) earned ten battle stars, conducting missions ranging from the Aleutian Islands Campaign to landing scouts and raiders on islands like Attu and Kiska. It famously delivered Philippine Commonwealth troops and supplies during the guerrilla warfare in the Philippines Campaign (1941–1942), operating under the command of the South West Pacific Area. USS Nautilus (SS-168) gained fame for its role in the Battle of Midway, where it unsuccessfully attacked the Japanese fleet, and later for transporting Carlson's Raiders during the Makin Island raid, a operation praised by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Later in the war, both submarines were used as dedicated cargo carriers, running vital supplies to Allied forces in the China Burma India Theater and to partisans in the Dutch East Indies, before concluding their service at the end of hostilities.

Specifications

The Narwhal-class submarines had a standard surfaced displacement of 2,730 tons and a submerged displacement of 3,960 tons, with an overall length of 371 feet. Propulsion was provided by two 10-cylinder MAN direct-drive diesel engines and two Busch-Sulzer diesel-electric drive engines, generating a total of 5,200 horsepower for a surfaced speed of 17 knots. Armament centered on six 21-inch torpedo tubes (four forward, two aft) and a secondary battery of two 6-inch/53 caliber deck guns mounted fore and aft of the conning tower. For anti-aircraft defense, they were initially fitted with Browning Automatic Rifles and later upgraded with Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and Bofors 40 mm gun mounts. Their test depth was rated at 300 feet, and they carried a complement of eight officers and 80 enlisted men.

Ships in class

* USS Narwhal (SS-167) – Laid down in 1927, launched in 1929, and commissioned in 1930. It conducted 15 war patrols, was credited with sinking over 20,000 tons of enemy shipping, and was decommissioned in 1945 after the Surrender of Japan. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, it was sold for scrap later that year. * USS Nautilus (SS-168) – Also laid down in 1927 and commissioned in 1930. It completed 14 war patrols, contributing to key operations at Midway Atoll and Makin Atoll. Decommissioned in 1945, it was used as a target ship during Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll in 1946 and subsequently scuttled in deep water off Oahu.

See also

* V-boat * USS Argonaut (SM-1) * Balao-class submarine * Gato-class submarine * Battle of Midway * Makin Island raid

Category:Submarine classes of the United States Navy Category:World War II submarines of the United States