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Originally Posted by tater
Tench schemes 2 and 3 are listed with TEST depths of 1000', BTW. So the US could have easily modified Balao/Tench to go as deep as any u-boat, looks like.
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I am not sure were you are getting your information, but the Tench class test depth was officially 400 feet. The Bureau of Ships designed a safety factor into the hulls of 1.5. That means the the theoretical crush depth of a Balao/Tench class boat was 600 feet. However, practical experience showed that this figure proved to be extremely cautious. As previously noted, the USS Chopper went to 1000 feet and survived. Dick O'Kane took the Tang to 612 feet on trials with no ill effect at all. So what is the true crush depth of a Balao/Tench? No one really knows for sure. Naval architects are a cautious bunch for very good reasons. I would be comfortable taking a Balao/Tench to 500 feet on a routine basis, and to 700 feet if my life depended on it. But to take it much below that would be foolish in the extreme.
Dave
www.pigboats.com