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==GUPPY and other conversions== At the end of [[World War II]], the US submarine force found itself in an awkward position. The 111 remaining ''Balao''-class submarines, designed to fight an enemy that no longer existed, were obsolete despite the fact they were only one to three years old. The [[Kriegsmarine|German]] [[Type XXI U-boat]], with a large battery capacity, streamlining to maximize underwater speed, and a snorkel, was the submarine of the immediate future. The [[Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program]] (GUPPY) conversion program was developed to give some ''Balao''- and ''Tench''-class submarines similar capabilities to the Type XXI. When the cost of upgrading numerous submarines to GUPPY standard became apparent, the austere "Fleet Snorkel" conversion was developed to add snorkels and partial streamlining to some boats. A total of 36 ''Balao''-class submarines were converted to one of the GUPPY configurations, with 19 additional boats receiving Fleet Snorkel modifications. Two of the GUPPY boats and six of the Fleet Snorkel boats were converted immediately prior to transfer to a foreign navy. Most of the 47 remaining converted submarines were active into the early 1970s, when many were transferred to foreign navies for further service and others were decommissioned and disposed of.<ref name="guppysubmarinetribute.homestead.com"/> Although there was some variation in the GUPPY conversion programs, generally the original two Sargo batteries were replaced by four more compact Guppy (GUPPY I and II only) or Sargo II batteries via significant re-utilization of below-deck space, usually including removal of auxiliary diesels. All of these battery designs were of the [[lead-acid battery|lead-acid type]]. This increased the total number of battery cells from 252 to 504; the downside was the compact batteries had to be replaced every 18 months instead of every 5 years. The Sargo II battery was developed as a lower-cost alternative to the expensive Guppy battery.<ref>Friedman since 1945, p. 41</ref> All GUPPYs received a snorkel, with a streamlined sail and bow. Also, the electric motors were upgraded to the [[direct drive]] double-[[armature (electrical engineering)|armature]] type, along with modernized electrical and air conditioning systems. All except the austere GUPPY IB conversions for foreign transfer received sonar, [[fire-control system|fire control]], and [[Electronic Support Measures]] (ESM) upgrades.<ref name="Friedman since 1945, pp. 35-43">Friedman since 1945, pp. 35-43</ref> The Fleet Snorkel program was much more austere than the GUPPY modernizations, but is included here as it occurred during the GUPPY era. The GUPPY and Fleet Snorkel programs are listed in chronological order: GUPPY I, GUPPY II, GUPPY IA, Fleet Snorkel, GUPPY IIA, GUPPY IB, and GUPPY III. ===GUPPY I=== Two ''Tench''-class boats were converted as prototypes for the GUPPY program in 1947. Their configuration lacked a snorkel and was not repeated, so no ''Balaos'' received this conversion. ===GUPPY II=== [[File:USS Catfish;0833910.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Catfish|SS-339|6}} in GUPPY II configuration]] This was the first production GUPPY conversion, with most conversions occurring in 1947β49. Thirteen ''Balao''-class boats ({{USS|Catfish|SS-339|2}}, ''Clamagore'', {{USS|Cobbler|SS-344|2}}, {{USS|Cochino|SS-345|2}}, {{USS|Corporal|SS-346|2}}, {{USS|Cubera|SS-347|2}}, {{USS|Diodon|SS-349|2}}, {{USS|Dogfish|SS-350|2}}, {{USS|Greenfish|SS-351|2}}, {{USS|Halfbeak|SS-352|2}}, {{USS|Tiru|SS-416|2}}, {{USS|Trumpetfish|SS-425|2}}, and {{USS|Tusk|SS-426|2}}) received GUPPY II upgrades. This was the only production conversion with Guppy batteries. ===GUPPY IA=== [[Image:USS Caiman;0832302.jpg|thumb|right|{{USS|Caiman|SS-323}} after GUPPY IA conversion]] This was developed as a more cost-effective alternative to GUPPY II. Nine ''Balao''-class boats ({{USS|Atule|SS-403|2}}, {{USS|Becuna|SS-319|2}}, {{USS|Blackfin|SS-322|2}}, {{USS|Blenny|SS-324|2}}, {{USS|Caiman|SS-323|2}}, {{USS|Chivo|SS-341|2}}, {{USS|Chopper|SS-342|2}}, {{USS|Sea Poacher|SS-406|2}}, and {{USS|Sea Robin|SS-407|2}}) were converted in 1951β52. The less expensive Sargo II battery was introduced, along with other cost-saving measures. ===Fleet Snorkel=== [[File:USS Sabalo;0830204.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Sabalo|SS-302|6}} after a Fleet Snorkel conversion]] The Fleet Snorkel program was developed as an austere, cost-effective alternative to full GUPPY conversions, with significantly less improvement in submerged performance. Twenty-three ''Balao''-class boats ({{USS|Bergall|SS-320|2}}, {{USS|Besugo|SS-321|2}}, {{USS|Brill|SS-330|2}}, {{USS|Bugara|SS-331|2}}, {{USS|Carbonero|SS-337|2}}, {{USS|Carp|SS-338|2}}, {{USS|Charr|SS-328|2}}, {{USS|Chub|SS-329|2}}, {{USS|Cusk|SS-348|2}}, {{USS|Guitarro|SS-363|2}}, {{USS|Kraken|SS-370|2}}, {{USS|Lizardfish|SS-373|2}}, {{USS|Mapiro|SS-376|2}}, {{USS|Mero|SS-378|2}}, {{USS|Piper|SS-409|2}}, {{USS|Sabalo|SS-302|2}}, {{USS|Sablefish|SS-303|2}}, {{USS|Scabbardfish|SS-397|2}}, {{USS|Sea Cat|SS-399|2}}, {{USS|Sea Owl|SS-405|2}}, {{USS|Segundo|SS-398|2}}, {{USS|Sennet|SS-408|2}}, and {{USS|Sterlet|SS-392|2}}) received this upgrade, six immediately prior to foreign transfer. Most Fleet Snorkel conversions occurred 1951β52. Unlike the GUPPY conversions, the original pair of Sargo batteries were not upgraded. Each boat received a streamlined sail with a snorkel, along with upgraded sonar, air conditioning, and ESM. The original bow was left in place, except on three boats (''Piper'', ''Sea Owl'', and ''Sterlet'') that received additional upper bow sonar equipment.<ref>Friedman since 1945, p. 82</ref> A few boats initially retained the 5"/25 deck gun, but this was removed in the early 1950s. ===GUPPY IIA=== [[Image:USS Razorback;0839412.jpg|thumb|right|{{USS|Razorback|SS-394}} after GUPPY IIA conversion]] This was generally similar to GUPPY IA, except one of the forward diesel engines was removed to relieve machinery overcrowding. Thirteen ''Balao''-class boats ({{USS|Bang|SS-385|2}}, ''Diodon'', {{USS|Entemedor|SS-340|2}}, {{USS|Hardhead|SS-365|2}}, {{USS|Jallao|SS-368|2}}, {{USS|Menhaden|SS-377|2}}, {{USS|Picuda|SS-382|2}}, {{USS|Pomfret|SS-391|2}}, {{USS|Razorback|SS-394|2}}, {{USS|Ronquil|SS-396|2}}, {{USS|Sea Fox|SS-402|2}}, {{USS|Stickleback|SS-415|2}}, and {{USS|Threadfin|SS-410|2}}) received GUPPY IIA upgrades in 1952β54. One of these, ''Diodon'', had previously been upgraded to GUPPY II. ===GUPPY IB=== This was developed as an austere upgrade for two ''Gato''-class and two ''Balao''-class boats ({{USS|Hawkbill|SS-366|2}} and {{USS|Icefish|SS-367|2}}) prior to transfer to foreign navies in 1953β55. They lacked the sonar and electronics upgrades of other GUPPY conversions. ===GUPPY III=== [[Image:USSClamagore112403.jpg|thumb|right|{{USS|Clamagore|SS-343}}]] Nine submarines, six of them ''Balao''s (''Clamagore'', ''Cobbler'', ''Corporal'', ''Greenfish'', ''Tiru'', and ''Trumpetfish''), were upgraded from GUPPY II to GUPPY III in 1959-63 as part of the [[Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization]] II (FRAM II) program. All except ''Tiru'', the pilot conversion, were lengthened by 15 feet in the forward part of the control room to provide a new sonar space, berthing, electronics space, and storerooms. ''Tiru'' was lengthened only 12.5 feet, and both forward diesel engines were removed.<ref>Friedman since 1945, p. 37</ref> The other GUPPY IIIs retained all four engines. A taller "Northern" sail was included, to allow improved surfaced operations in rough seas; this was also backfitted to some other GUPPYs. The BQG-4 [[Passive Underwater Fire Control Feasibility Study]] (PUFFS) sonar system, with its three tall domes topside, was fitted. Additionally, fire control upgrades allowed the [[Mark 45 torpedo|Mark 45 nuclear torpedo]] to be used.<ref>Friedman since 1945, p. 43</ref> ===Radar picket=== The advent of the ''[[kamikaze]]'' demonstrated the need for a long range radar umbrella around the fleet. [[Radar picket]] destroyers and destroyer escorts were put into service, but they proved vulnerable in this role as they could be attacked as well, leaving the fleet blind. A submarine, though, could dive and escape aerial attack. Four submarines including the ''Balao''-class boat ''Threadfin'' prototyped the concept at the end of World War II but were not used in this role.<ref>Friedman since 1945, p. 253</ref> Ten fleet submarines were converted for this role 1946-53 and redesignated SSR as radar picket submarines. {{USS|Burrfish|SS-312|2}} was the only ''Balao''-class SSR. Experiments on the first two SSR submarines under the appropriately named [[Radar picket#Converted and purpose-built submarines|Project Migraine I]] showed that placement of the radars on the deck was inadequate and that more room was needed for electronics. Thus ''Burrfish'' was given the Migraine II (project [[Ship Characteristics Board|SCB 12]]) conversion, which placed a [[Combat Information Center]] (CIC) in the space formerly occupied as the aft battery room. The after torpedo room was stripped and converted into berthing, and the boat lost two of her forward torpedo tubes to make room for additional berthing and electronics. The radars were raised up off the deck and put on masts, giving them a greater range and hopefully greater reliability.<ref name="Friedman since 1945, pp. 35-43"/> The SSRs proved only moderately successful, as the radars themselves proved troublesome and somewhat unreliable, and the boats' surface speed was insufficient to protect a fast-moving carrier group. The radars were removed and the boats reverted to general purpose submarines after 1959. ''Burrfish'' was decommissioned in 1956 and, with her radar equipment removed, transferred to Canada as HMCS ''Grilse'' (SS-71) in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_14/coldwar.html |title=Whitman, Edward C. "Cold War Curiosities: U.S. Radar Picket Submarines", ''Undersea Warfare'', Winter-Spring 2002, Issue 14 |access-date=24 November 2014 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010150930/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_14/coldwar.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ===Guided-missile submarine=== [[File:USS Cusk;0834807.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Cusk|SS-348|6}} fires a Loon missile]] The [[Regulus missile|Regulus]] nuclear [[submarine-launched cruise missile|cruise missile]] program of the 1950s provided the US Navy with its first strategic strike capability. It was preceded by experiments with the [[Republic-Ford JB-2|JB-2 Loon missile]], a close derivative of the [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[V-1 flying bomb]], beginning in the last year of [[World War II]]. Submarine testing of Loon was performed 1947β53, with {{USS|Cusk|SS-348|2}} and {{USS|Carbonero|SS-337|2}} converted in to [[cruise missile submarine|guided-missile submarines]] as test platforms in 1947 and 1948 respectively. Initially the missile was carried on the launch rail unprotected, thus the submarine was unable to submerge until after launch. ''Cusk'' was eventually fitted with a watertight hangar for one missile and redesignated as an SSG. Following a brief stint as a cargo submarine, {{USS|Barbero|SS-317|2}} was converted in 1955 to carry two surface-launched Regulus missiles and was redesignated as an SSG, joining the ''Gato''-class {{USS|Tunny|SS-282|2}} in this role. She made [[Regulus missile submarines|strategic deterrent patrols]] with Regulus until 1964, when the program was discontinued in favor of [[Polaris Missile|Polaris]].<ref>Friedman since 1945, pp. 177-183</ref> A number of fleet boats were equipped with Regulus guidance equipment 1953β64, including ''Cusk'' and ''Carbonero'' following the Loon tests. ===Transport submarine=== [[File:USS Sealion;0831502.jpg|thumb|A [[Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw|Sikorsky HRS]] helicopter touches down on ''Sealion'' as a transport submarine]] {{USS|Sealion|SS-315|2}} and {{USS|Perch|SS-313|2}} were converted to amphibious transport submarines in 1948 and redesignated as SSPs. Initially, they were equipped with a watertight hangar capable of housing a [[Landing Vehicle Tracked]] (LVT), and retained one {{convert|5|in|adj=on}}/25 caliber deck gun for shore bombardment. Both torpedo rooms and one engine room were gutted to provide space for embarked [[United States special operations forces|Special Operations Forces]] (SOF) and their equipment. Snorkels were fitted. Due to the extra personnel, to avoid excessive snorkeling they were equipped with a [[Carbon dioxide scrubber|{{CO2}} scrubber]] and extra oxygen storage. Initially, a squadron of 12 SSPs was considered, capable of landing a reinforced Marine battalion, but only two ''Balao''-class SSPs (out of four overall) were actually converted. ''Perch'' landed [[British commandos]] on one raid in the [[Korean War]], and operated in the [[Vietnam War]] from 1965 until assignment to [[United States Navy Reserve|Naval Reserve]] training in 1967 and decommissioning in 1971, followed by scrapping in 1973. ''Perch'' was replaced in the Pacific Fleet transport submarine role by {{USS|Tunny|SS-282|2}} in 1967 and {{USS|Grayback|LPSS-574|2}} in 1968. ''Sealion'' operated in the Atlantic, deploying for the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] and numerous SOF-related exercises. She was decommissioned in 1970 and expended as a target in 1978. The LVT hangar and {{convert|5|in|adj=on}} gun were removed from both boats by the late 1950s. They went through several changes of designation in their careers: ASSP in 1950, APSS in 1956, and LPSS in 1968.<ref>Friedman since 1945, pp. 86-88</ref><ref name="Register"/> ===Sonar test submarine=== {{USS|Baya|SS-318|2}} was redesignated as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS) in 1949 and converted to a sonar test submarine in 1958β59 to test a system known as LORAD. This included a {{convert|12|ft|adj=on}} extension aft of the forward torpedo room, with {{convert|40|ft|adj=on}} swing-out arrays near the bow. Later, three large domes were installed topside for a wide aperture array.<ref>Friedman since 1945, pp. 65-68</ref> ===Cargo submarine=== [[USS Barbero|'' Barbero'']] was converted to a cargo submarine and redesignated as an [[hull classification symbol|SSA]] in 1948. The forward engine room, after torpedo room, and all reload torpedo racks were gutted to provide cargo space. From October 1948 until March 1950, she took part in an experimental program to evaluate her capabilities as a cargo carrier. Experimentation ended in early 1950, and she was decommissioned into the reserve on 30 June 1950. In 1955, she was converted to a Regulus missile submarine and redesignated as an SSG.<ref>Friedman since 1945, p. 89</ref>
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