Fleet Boat Dive Depths

[cmdrk]

According to Dick O'Kane's book about the Wahoo (Gato-Class) and Tang (Balao-Class) there was quite an improvement in dive depths.

He recounts the Wahoo with a rated depth of 300 ft sinking to 350 ft while under a DC attack. A valve had jammed as they dived causing the boat to exceed safe depth. Later he recounts another DC attack while diving, the diving officer asked what depth and Mush Morton just said 'Take her down'. The diving officer used his own discretion and levelled the boat when the depth gauge pegged. O'Kane estimated it was around 400 ft.

In his book on the Tang, O'Kane conducted some 'deep deep' test dives during shakedown. The Tang was rated at 430 ft. His first test dive exposed some problems with valves, fittings, and the sound heads gear. After fixing those, he took the Tang down below 600 ft without a problem or strain.

Wahoo was commissioned May 1942. Tang was commissioned Oct 1943.

Nothing like a UBoat (Type VIIC max depth rating 220m), but the Fleet Boats were tougher than their ratings indicate.

Conversions (rounded)
300ft = 91m
350ft = 106m
400ft = 122m
600ft = 183m

150m = 492ft
200m = 656ft