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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Tang (SS-563)

Tang Class(Diesel Fast Attack) Submarine: Awarded 16 May 1947 to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME; Laid 18 April 1949; Launched 19 June 1951; Commissioned on 25 October 1951 as Tang (SS-563).
First of the post-WWII Class of six submarines that incorporated the GUPPY (snorkel) configuration into the design, as well as being test platforms for the first three Classes of nuclear submarines that were to follow.

After shakedown and type training along eastern seaboard of the U. S., Tang reported to Submarine Squadron One (SubRon 1) at Pearl Harbor, HI. In 1952, she set a new U. S. Navy depth record of 713 feet. During overhaul in 1957 - 1958, Tang had her hull lengthened 9 feet to enable the installation of the new 10-cylinder engines that replaced the original "pancake" type engines.
In 1959, Tang tested a new snorkel de-icing system during joint cold weather training with the Royal Canadian Navy off the coast of British Columbia. With the addition of the newly developed Passive Underwater Fire-control Feasibility System (PUFFS) in a 1962 modification, Tang's hull was stretched once again.
In 1972, she had her designation changed from Submarine (SS) to Auxiliary Miscellaneous Submarine (AGSS), but when Tang was re-assigned back to Groton, CT in 1978, she was re-classified back to her original SS designator.
In Groton, Tang's primary mission was to training Iranian Navy personnel in preparation for the forthcoming transfer of three Tang Class submarines to Iran. The transfer of these submarines under terms of the Security Assistance Program (SAP) failed to materialize and, on 8 February 1980, Tang was Decommissioned; Transferred (lease) to the Republic of Turkey and Commissioned as TCG Pirireis (S-343).

Tang was struck from the U. S. Naval Vessel Registry (NVR) on 6 August 1987 and ultimately Transferred (sale) to Turkey on 17 August 1987. TCG Pirireis, ex-Tang continued to serve in the Turkish Submarine Forces until she was Decommissioned in August 2004. Final disposition and fate are unknown.
Tang was awarded 4 battle stars for service in Vietnam with the U. S. Navy.
Researched by CTRC Donald J. Wagner, USN (Ret) for NavSource.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 2,100 t., Submerged: 2,700 t.; Length 287'; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 19'; Speed, Surfaced 20 kts, Submerged 18 kts; Complement 8 Officers 75 Enlisted; Armament, eight 21" torpedo tubes, eight MK-49/57 mines; Propulsion, diesel-electric, Fairbanks-Morse Type 3 diesel engines, HP 4500, two electric motors, HP 5600, single screw.

Size	Image Description	Source
124k	Sponsor and official party at the Tang (SS-563) launching ceremonies, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, 19 June 1951. Present in the front row are (left to right): Miss Marsha G. O'Kane, Maid of Honor; Mrs. Richard H. O'Kane, Sponsor; and Commander Richard H. O'Kane, USN, former Commanding Officer of the first Tang (SS-306).	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 95937, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
19k	Tang (SS-563), layout of the class.	Courtesy of Rick Rowe.
40k	Tang (SS-563), the first submarine designed post WW-II, shows her ferrite-core loop antenna, AT-274/BRR (6). The great distinguishing feature of post-WW II submarines was their ability to operate submerged almost continuously. They had to be able to receive radio messages while submerged. Before WW II, it was discovered that wire loops (intended for radio direction finding) could receive VLF signals at periscope depth. Postwar, NRL developed the much smaller ferrite-core loop, which could be wrapped in a small streamlined body. It was first tested in 1948. Unlike the old air-core loop, it was omnidirectional (two loops were wrapped at right angles). Other antennas visible in the photo are: (1) retractable MF/HF whip (NT 66053), (2) Fixed MF/HF whip (NT 66053), (3)emergency wire antenna, (4) VHF/IFF antenna (AS-524BPX), (5) AEW (airborne early warning) link and becaon and UHF antenna (AS-493/U), (7)SV-3 radar, (8)BPS-1 air search radar, (9)ST-1 range only radar on the periscope, (10)SPR-1 ESM antenna, (11) AS-371/S antenna, (12)AS-373/BLR ESM antenna, & (13) posistion of a planned ECM direction finding antenna.	Photo & text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Since 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman & James L. Christley. Naval Institute Press.
81k	For all their high underwater speed, *Tang's* used much the same sort of handwheel controls (for bow and stern planes) as their WW II predecessors. Tang's (SS-563) diving station shows the usual plane angle indicators, depth gague and "bubble" (in the curved tube) that indicates the angle of the boat. Nautilus (SSN-571) had similar controls for her planesmen, with a seperate wheel for steering. In effect, this arrangement clearly seperated steering in the vertical and horizontal (rudder) planes. Traditionally arranged submarines, such as *Nautilus*, made a tremendous impression by their ability to jump in and out of sonar beams, but they could not coordinate such maneuvers with violent turns.	Photo & text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Since 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman & James L. Christley. Naval Institute Press.
26k	Following trials and training along the east coast, the fast attack submarine Tang (SS-563) was assigned to Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 1, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet.	Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst. Text courtesy of DANFS.
82k	Tang (SS-563) departing Pear Harbor.	Photo by UAN, PCS Robert A. Carlisle. Photo taken from The American Submarine, by Norman Polmar & submitted by Robert Hurst. Photo added 04/17/08.
18k	Tang (SS-563), port side view entering Pearl Harbor, 1950's.	Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com
74k	Blackfin (SS-322) (on right) & Tang (SS-563) moored side by side, possibly at Pearl Harbor, circa early 1950's.	US Navy photo courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org
67k	Tang (SS-563), up periscope.	Courtesy of Rick Rowe.
69k	Tang (SS-563), Wahoo (SS-565),Gudgeon (SS-567) & Blackfin (SS-322) at the sub base, Pearl Harbor, circa 1958.	Photo courtesy of ussgudgeon.photosite.com.
19k	Tang (SS-563), underway, circa post 1950's.	Courtesy of Rick Rowe.
115k	Tang (SS-563), port side view entering Pearl Harbor, date unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of US Naval Historical Center.
75k	Tang (SS-563) in her final configuration, with three PUFFS (BQG-4) passive-ranging arrays along her upper deck and Fairbanks-Morse diesels. She has been lengthened partly to provide additional plotting space to control Mk-45 torpedoes.	Photo & text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Since 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman & James L. Christley. Naval Institute Press.
18k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Tang's (SS-563), decommisssioning, 8 February 1980.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.