Shipbucket

Finally completing the "V-boats".



This is CACHALOT (C-1) in March of 1934, as launched at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. Like all USN submarines of this period, she is painted in overall #5 Standard Navy Grey above the waterline and red anti-fouling paint below.

The last of the "V-boat" designs, CACHALOT (and her sister CUTTLEFISH (SS-171)) were attempts to discover the optimum submarine size for a future war with Japan in the Pacific. Unfortunately both boats proved to be far too small, with limited range and patrol endurance. CACHALOT is visually quite similar to the preceding DOLPHIN (SS-169) class, though the later boats were only three quarters the size. CACHALOT shows the wire loop antenna rigging running fore and aft of the fairwater (typical for pre-war USN submarines), as well as the tall telescoping antenna mast supporting additional wire antennas. Deck gun armament is a single 3"/50-caliber wet mount aft. The CACHALOT class were the first of the USN submarines to receive the Arma Corporation Torpedo Data Computer (TDC) Mark 1, directed by the Target Bearing Transmitter (TBT) mounted on the cigarette deck.

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This is CACHALOT (SS-170) in June of 1936, painted in the overall gloss black favored by the Pacific Fleet submarine force at the time. Little changed from her as-built appearance, CACHALOT has received a WCA sonar on the deck casing near the forward torpedo loading / boat handling derrick.

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This is CACHALOT (SS-170) in April of 1943, after the boat was transferred to New London, Connecticut, for use as a training submarine. She has received some the basic modifications applied to submarines during the war, with the bulwarks around the cigarette deck on the aft end of the fairwater cut down. A .50-caliber machine gun has been mounted here (with the gun itself being taken belowdecks when diving), and the periscope shears have been heightened. The telescoping antenna mast aft has been rebuilt to accommodate the SD air search antenna (a common modification of the pre-war submarines), and the SJ surface search set has been mounted on a small mast forward of the shears. The large hull numbers painted on the fairwater are a distinct feature of the class, and are indicative of its role as a training sub.

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This is CACHALOT (SS-170) in May of 1944, after further modifications. The fairwater has been cut away in a manner reminiscent of the modifications performed on the fleet boats, with 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns fore and aft. Wire antennas run aft to small masts near the stern, but the rest of the boat's electronics fit remains unchanged.

CACHALOT would complete the war in this configuration, to be sold for scrap in October of 1947.

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This is CUTTLEFISH (SS-171) in March of 1934, while the boat conducted trial dives prior to her commissioning. CUTTLEFISH was the first submarine constructed entirely at Electric Boat's facility in Groton, Connecticut.

CUTTLEFISH differed from her sister CACHALOT (SS-170) in her welded construction (CACHALOT being riveted). As built, CUTTLEFISH featured two permanent derricks fore and aft for torpedo handling - otherwise she is nearly identical to her sister.

CUTTLEFISH would serve in the Pacific, conducting war patrols early on before being sent to New London, Connecticut, to train submariners. She would conclude the war in New London, ultimately being scrapped in 1947.

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All CACHALOT class submarines available here: http://shipbucket.com/drawings/search?c ... =&drawing=

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

Awesome work, Colo! What be next for you? More subs or some more late-war cruisers?

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

Excellent series!

More excellent submarines, the V boats have made a fine series indeed.

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