High humidity could condense, drip into electrical equipment, and cause electrical shorts or fires. Amenities like air conditioning were deemed necessary in the warm tropical waters. The Gatos had air conditioning, refrigerated food storage, freshwater distilling units, clothes washers, and bunks for everyone. American submarines offered quite a few comforts to the sailors on board.

These submarines were larger and slower divers than some British and German submarines. Between 70 and 77 Gato-class submarines were produced, including the USS Grunion, built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT. Before the Gato-class, there were also twelve Tambor-class ( like the Triton III and Tuna II ) and six Gar-subclass submarines. Gato-class submarines were the first mass-produced US submarines for World War II, between 19. While they weren’t used much during World War I, American submarines came into their own during World War II. National Archives, 19-N-49790 Background of American Submarinesįrom the first American submarine is 1775 to the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine in 1955, the United States has had many successful submarines.

Here she is docked at Mare Island Navy Yard, CA, in August 1943. The Gato (SS-212) was the lead ship of its class (the Gato-class).

Life in the navy during world war 2