B-class (USA)

History

If the A-class submarines were the beginning of the U.S. Navy submarine program, then the B-class submarines could serve as a turning point in U.S. Navy submarine design. More akin to the U-boats available in World War I and World War II (as opposed to the clunky look of some U-boats in the early days), the B-class fits the bill with its sleek, dolphin-like profile.

The B-class was derived from the original Holland class, which in turn began the Dutch design that emerged at the turn of the century - which led directly to the previous A-class submarine battleships.

Class B consists of three submarines, named "USS Viper", "USS Cuttlefish" and "USS Tarantula". All three headed to sea as crew trainers and patrol boats in local and international waters, eventually stopping as target ships at the end of their useful lives. Power for this class comes from a single 250-horsepower gasoline engine. A 50 hp electric motor powers the boat when submerged and requires surface air to recharge.

Surface and underwater speeds of the three ships are fairly similar, and primary armament consists of 2 x 457mm forward-firing torpedo tubes and four reloads. Crew accommodation for this series is 10 people (9 people are equipped for the A class). As expected from these early U-boats, the conditions for the B-class boats were noticeably cramped, albeit relatively better than the smaller Holland and A-class U-boats.

Consistent with its recognizable shape, the B-Class also features a periscope in its conning tower. The second will be added later in its life, but sets the stage for submarine designs in the United States for years to come.

The final B-class design provides much of what the U.S. Navy will design for decades to come. At this point, the submarine will now feature prominently in the inventory of the U.S. Navy and other navies around the world. The U.S.

Navy eventually separated the class from its "torpedo fleet" and organized its submarines into a new "submarine fleet" group.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing