USS Tang (SS-306) was a Balao-class submarine of World War II, the first ship of the United States Navy to bear the name Tang. She was built and launched in 1943, serving until being sunk by her own torpedo off China in the Taiwan Strait on 24 October 1944.
USS Tang (SS-306) off Mare Island Navy Yard, December 1943
Original invitation for Tang's commissioning ceremony
USS Tang rescuing airmen off Truk in May 1944
Damage to USS Tang from its own torpedo
The Balao class was a design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 120 boats completed, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlier Gato class, the boats had slight internal differences. The most significant improvement was the use of thicker, higher yield strength steel in the pressure hull skins and frames, which increased their test depth to 400 feet (120 m). Tang actually achieved a depth of 612 ft (187 m) during a test dive,
and exceeded that test depth when taking on water in the forward torpedo room while evading a destroyer.
USS Balao in 1944
Scheme of USS Pampanito (SS-383)
General Motors Cleveland Model 16-248 diesel engine
Fairbanks-Morse Model 38D8⅛ diesel engine