USS Cachalot (SS-170)

USS Cachalot SS-170
History
United States
NameUSS Cachalot
Namesakesperm whale
BuilderPortsmouth Naval Shipyard, Seavey's Island, Kittery, Maine
Laid down21 October 1931
Launched19 October 1933
Commissioned1 December 1933
Decommissioned17 October 1945
Stricken1 November 1945, reinstated 28 November 1945, stricken again 8 July 1946
Honors &
awards
3 × battle stars
FateSold for breaking up, 26 January 1947
General characteristics
Class & typeV-8 (Cachalot)-class composite direct drive diesel and diesel-electric submarine
Displacement1,110 tons (1,130 t) surfaced, standard, 1,650 tons (1,680 t) submerged
Length271 ft 11 in (82.88 m)
Beam24 ft 11 in (7.59 m)
Draft16 ft 3 in (4.95 m) maximum
Propulsion
Speed17 kn (31 km/h) surfaced, 8 kn (15 km/h) submerged, 7 knots (13 km/h) submerged, service, 1939
Range6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) @ 10 kn (19 km/h), 14,000 nmi (26,000 km) @ 10 kn (19 km/h) with fuel in main ballast tanks, 83,290 US gallons (315,300 L) oil fuel
Endurance10 hours at 5 kn (9.3 km/h)
Test depth250 ft (80 m)
Complement6 officers, 39 enlisted (peacetime); 7 officers, 48 enlisted (war)
Armament6 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (four forward, two aft, 16 torpedoes), 1 × 3 inch (76 mm)/50 caliber deck gun

USS Cachalot (SC-4/SS-170) was a United States Navy submarine and the lead ship of her class, known as the "V-boats" and named for the sperm whale. Her keel was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched on 19 October 1933 as V-8 (SC-4) sponsored by Miss K. D. Kempff, and commissioned on 1 December 1933 with Lieutenant Commander Merril Comstock in command. Cachalot was the first submarine to have the Torpedo Data Computer, Arma Corporation's Mark 1, installed.