D uring the fiercest period of submarine warfare in human history, the United States relied heavily upon the Gato class—the first mass-produced submarine of World War II. The Americans built ...

These new submarines were subjected to strict design guidelines, and while they did perform acceptably, the record is marred by an early disastrous friendly-fire incident. For its exceptional ...

Gato-class submarines were a mainstay of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. They were diesel-electric submarines that displaced approximately 1,525 tons when surfaced and 2,424 tons when submerged.