A Old war Horse Returns
 

Hunter-killer

The threat of the Soviet Navy building hundreds of Type XXI-derived submarines (eventually the 215-strong Whiskey class and dozens of others)

in the Atlantic led the USN to adapt submarines to specifically hunt other submarines, a radically new role for the 1950s. Concluding that this role did not require a fast or deep-diving submarine

(this line of thought would quickly change with the advent of nuclear power),

seven Gatos were converted to SSKs (hunter-killer submarines) between 1951 and 1953, joining three purpose-built K-1-class SSKs entering service at that time. The Gato class was chosen because large numbers were available in the reserve fleet should rapid mobilization become necessary, and the deeper-diving classes were more suitable for GUPPY rather than SSK conversions.

A streamlined GUPPY-style sail was installed, a large sonar array was wrapped around the bow (losing two torpedo tubes in the process), the boats were extensively silenced including the removal of the two forward diesel engines, and they received a snorkel.

Grouper was the test boat for the concept, having her sonar array at the forward end of the sail instead of the better position at the bow. The other boats in the program included Angler, Bashaw, Bluegill, Bream, Cavalla, and Croaker.

Eventually, more advanced sonars were installed on the new nuclear boats, with Thresher introducing the bow-mounted sonar sphere, and the SSK mission was folded into the regular attack submarine role. Tullibee (SSN-597),

commissioned in 1960, was an attempt to develop a slow but ultra-quiet nuclear-powered SSK equivalent, but no others were built. The slow and less capable diesel SSKs were decommissioned or reassigned to other roles in 1959, and all except Croaker and Cavalla (eventually preserved as memorials) were scrapped in 1968 and 1969.

new sub class ive made for more USN diesel Vessels in my Epic W@ters Mod

also ive all ways liked the Gato class so its good to bring it to life in cold waters

boats added to mod

USS Grouper (SSK-214)
USS Angler (SSK-240)
USS Bashaw (SSK-241)
USS Bluegill (SSK-242)
USS Bream (SSK-243)
USS Cavalla (SSK-244)
USS Croaker (SSK-246)

ill use Variations of this Model to make the Guppys & tang class better too that are in Epic Mod

Steel Shark