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SS-285 to SS-426

Balao-class Submarines

The Balao-class submarine represented the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s undersea warfare dominance in World War II, delivering unmatched range, durability, and combat effectiveness across the Pacific Theater.

Built as an evolution of the Gato-class, Balao-class submarines featured thicker pressure hulls for deeper dives, improved survivability, and the firepower to cripple Japanese shipping lanes, playing a decisive role in strangling enemy logistics and securing Allied victory. From aggressive patrols in hostile waters to legendary engagements against enemy convoys and warships, the Balao-class became synonymous with stealth, precision, and relentless offensive capability.

Today, these submarines remain a cornerstone of naval history, sought after by military enthusiasts, historians, and collectors searching for authentic information on WWII U.S. submarines, Pacific naval warfare, and the legacy of American submarine crews who operated in some of the most dangerous conditions of the war.

WAR SURVIVORS 111 BOATS · SS-285 TO SS-426
The 111 Balao-class boats that survived the war went on to serve for decades - through the Cold War, foreign transfers, GUPPY conversions, and museum preservation. Six are open to the public today.
戦争生存者 艦船111隻 · SS-285～SS-426
戦争を生き延びた111隻のバラオ級潜水艦は、冷戦、海外供与、GUPPY改装、博物館での保存を経て、数十年にわたり使用され、現在6隻が一般公開されています。
WAR SURVIVORS (CONTINUED) SS-365 TO SS-426
The second batch of Balao-class boats, built primarily at Manitowoc, Portsmouth, and Mare Island. Many of these boats arrived late in the war but went on to serve decades in foreign navies worldwide.
WAR SURVIVORS (CONTINUED) SS-365 TO SS-426
The second batch of Balao-class boats, built primarily at Manitowoc, Portsmouth, and Mare Island. Many of these boats arrived late in the war but went on to serve decades in foreign navies worldwide.
Lost Balao-class

Submarines

ON ETERNAL PATROL 9 BOATS LOST - 1943–1945
Of the 52 American submarines lost in World War II, 9 were Balao-class boats - including Tang, the most successful American submarine in history. These crews gave everything.