T-1-class submarine

This article is about the class of U.S. Navy submarines built in 1952-1953, the lead ship of which later was renamed Mackerel. For the U.S. Navy Mackerel-class submarines built in 1939-1941, see Mackerel class submarine.

USS Marlin (SST-2) in the late 1950s
Class overview
Builders:	Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, Connecticut
Built:	1952–1953
In commission:	1953–1973
Planned:	2
Completed:	2
Retired:	2
Preserved:	1
General characteristics
Type:	Training submarine
Displacement:	303 long tons (308 t) surfaced 347 long tons (353 t) submerged
Length:	131 ft 3 in (40 m)
Beam:	13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Draft:	12 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion:	2 × General Motors Diesel engines (total 250 shp (190 kW)), 1 × Elliott electric motor (380 shp (280 kW)), 1 × battery, 1 shaft
Speed:	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged
Range:	2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Endurance:	Submerged: 90 minutes at full speed, 102 hours at 3 knots
Test depth:	225 ft (69 m)
Complement:	2 officers, 12 enlisted men
Armament:	1 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tube

The T-1 class submarines were a pair of submarines built for the United States Navy in the early 1950s for use in training submarine personnel and testing submarine equipment. Both submarines of the class served in these roles for over 19 years.

Design and construction

The T-1-class were among the smallest operational submarines ever built for the United States Navy. The first unit was planned as an experimental auxiliary submarine with hull number AGSS-570, but instead was built as the training submarine USS T-1 with hull number SST-1. Her sister ship, USS T-2, was planned as SST-2 from the beginning.

The T-1-class were built to resemble the 160-ton, 16-crew Soviet M-class submarines, of which over 100 were in service in 1950. It was thought the M-class would be effective in restricted waters such as the Baltic Sea and parts of the Mediterranean Sea. The T-1-class were built to train anti-submarine warfare (ASW) forces in countering small submarines.

Both submarines were constructed by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut, in 1952-1953.

Service history

Both submarines entered service in 1953 and were renamed in 1956, T-1 becoming USS Mackerel (SST-1) and T-2 becoming USS Marlin (SST-2). Both operated primarily in Florida and Caribbean waters to train submarine personnel, serve as targets for sonar and antisubmarine warfare training, and test submarine equipment. They were decommissioned simultaneously in a combined ceremony in 1973.

Ships

USS Mackerel (SST-1), ex-USS T-1, ex-AGSS-570

USS Mackerel (SST-1), planned as AGSS-570, was commissioned as T-1 (SST-1) in October 1953 and decommissioned in January 1973. A highlight of her career was testing of equipment for the NR-1 Deep Submergence Craft in 1966-1967. Mackerel was sunk as a target in 1978.

USS Marlin (SST-2), ex-USS T-2

USS Marlin (SST-2) was commissioned as USS T-2 (SST-2) in November 1953 and decommissioned in January 1973. Donated as a museum ship in August 1973, she was assigned on 20 August 1974 to go on display at Freedom Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

References

• NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive Mackerel (AGSS-570) T-1 (SST-1) / Mackerel (SST-1)
• NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive T-2 (SST-2) / Marlin (SST-2)
• This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here. for USS Mackerel (SST-1)
• This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here. for USS Marlin (SST-2)
• Gardiner, Robert and Chumbley, Stephen, Conway's all the world's fighting ships 1947-1995, p. 603 London: Conway Maritime Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.

External links

• "Midget Submarines Play Targets For Killers." Popular Mechanics, July 1954, pp. 84–89/240.