Editing Balao-class submarine (section)

===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 1947–53, 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 1953–64, including ''Cusk'' and ''Carbonero'' following the Loon tests.