Internally, the crew numbered about 80 personnel and included 10 officers. Armament was 10 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes with six facing the bow and four facing astern and 24 x torpedo reloads were carried. This allowed the boat to engage targets both ahead and behind the vessel without the need to completely turn the boat around. When surfaced, the submarine could attack less-lethal surface ships with its 1 x 4" (100mm) /50 caliber deck gun. 1 x 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft (AA) weapon was also carried to protect the surfaced boat from air attack. For last-line-of-defense, there were 2 x 0.50 caliber heavy machine guns used.
During World War 2, USS Balao conducted ten total war patrols ranging from July 1943 until August 1945. The Balao-class and Gato-class boats represented the bulk of the underwater force of the American Navy in the conflict and had a considerable impact in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese Empire - though losses were notable.
In the immediate post-war period the Balao was relocated from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to Staten Island, New York. An overhaul was given to the boat and, having survived all of World War 2, she was decommissioned for the first time on August 20th, 1946 during the massive American military drawdown.
USS Balao was recommissioned for service once again on March 4th, 1952 by which time the American Navy was committed to war in the Korean War (1950-1953). She was used as a training platform for anti-submarine operations in and around Key West, Florida and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Unlike other wartime Gato-, Tench- and Balao-class submarines in the post-war period, USS Balao was not selected for the GUPPY modernization program. Beyond additional tours, training and general exercises (as well as an active deterrent stint during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962), the boat was retired in 1963 with her fighting days firmly behind her. On August 1st, 1963, she was formally decommissioned from service and, on September 6th, 1963, USS Balao was sunk as a target and became an artificial reef off the coast of Florida.
Only her conning tower survived this action and is displayed at the Washington Navy Yard today.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.