USS Ling (SS-297)

Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine [ 1943 ]

The USS Ling was based on an improved series of Balao-class submarines.

Authored By: JR Potts, AUS 173d AB | Last Edited: 06/30/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Bow portside view of the USS Ling floating exhibit; color

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The Ling (SS-297) is a late model Balao-class and was the result of an improved Gato-class submarine of which 77 were produced. A major difference between the two boats was an improved pressure hull in the Balao class having 7/8 inch steel plates instead of the 5/8 inch used in the Gato class. Improvements in the 1,500 ton sub was the hull construction increased the test depth of this class to 400-feet as opposed to 350-feet in the Gato class and fuel capacity was significantly increased which improved patrol radius. The change was in the Navy philosophy to take the fight to the enemy, more of everything was needed, weapons, fuel and food for the crew so the boat could range over the largest battle field of WW II, the Pacific Ocean.

Additional advances in the USS Ling new sophisticated electronic gear for detecting targets, a Torpedo Data computer (TDC) for working out and setting torpedo firing angles, new Mark 18 electric torpedoes, and a Bathythermograph for detecting cold water layers, or thermoclines, under which the boat could slip to deflect enemy sonar pings and make the Ling hard to detect. These technological advances gave the BALAO class a level of reliability and battle survivability that had never been experienced by submarines up to that time. There were eight waterproof compartments in addition to the conning tower. They were equipped with four engine rooms, diesel-electric reduction gear, one auxiliary generator, four electric motors generating 2,740 hp when submerged driven by two 126-cell batteries. Submerged endurance was 48 hours at 2 knots. Cruising range was 11,000 miles on the surface at 10 knots with 116,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Patrol duration was 75 days. The total boats actually completed are in dispute by the five shipyards, making the Balao-class the most quantitative class of submarines ever built. They were built at Portsmouth, Manitowoc, Electric Boat, Mare Island, and Cramp Shipbuilding.

The Ling made one war patrol in the Atlantic and was the last Balao fleet boat to patrol US shores in the war. She was decommissioned on 10/26/46 and was laid up, moth balled, in the Atlantic fleet. In 1960 she was reactivated into the Naval Reserve training fleet berthed at Brooklyn New York. On 28 June 1972 the USS Ling was placed on permanent display as a memorial at Hackensack, New Jersey in the care of the New Jersey Naval Museum having tours on weekends.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

United States
Operators

1943
Commissioned

United States
National Origin

80
Complement

Balao-class
Hull Class

138
Number-in-Class

USS Balao (SS 285); USS Billfish (SS 286); USS Bowfin (SS 287); USS Cabrilla (SS 288); USS Capelin (SS 289); USS Cisco (SS 290); USS Crevalle (SS 291); USS Devilfish (SS 292); USS Dragonet (SS 293); USS Escolar (SS 294); USS Hackleback (SS 295); USS Lancetfish (SS 296); USS Ling (SS 297); USS Lionfish (SS 298); USS Manta (SS 299); USS Moray (SS 300); USS Roncador (SS 301); USS Sabalo (SS 302); USS Sablefish (SS 303); USS Seahorse (SS 304); USS Skate (SS 305); USS Tang (SS 306); USS Tilefish (SS 307); USS Apogon (SS 308); USS Aspro (SS 309); USS Batfish (SS 310); USS Archer-Fish (SS 311); USS Burrfish (SS 312); USS Perch (SS 313); USS Shark (SS 314); USS Sealion (SS 315); USS Barbel (SS 316); USS Barbero (SS 317); USS Baya (SS 318); USS Becuna (SS 319); USS Bergall (SS 320); USS Besugo (SS 321); USS Blackfin (SS 322); USS Caiman (SS 323); USS Blenny (SS 324); USS Blower (SS 325); USS Blueback (SS 326); USS Boarfish (SS 327); USS Charr (SS 328); USS Chub (SS 329); USS Brill (SS 330); USS Bugara (SS 331); USS Bullhead (SS 332); USS Bumper (SS 333); USS Cabezon (SS 334); USS Dentuda (SS 335); USS Capitaine (SS 336); USS Carbonero (SS 337); USS Carp (SS 338); USS Catfish (SS 339); USS Entemedor (SS 340); USS Chivo (SS 341); USS Chopper (SS 342); USS Clamagore (SS 343); USS Cobbler (SS 344); USS Cochino (SS 345); USS Corporal (SS 346); USS Cubera (SS 347); USS Cusk (SS 348); USS Diodon (SS 349); USS Dogfish (SS 350); USS Greenfish (SS 351); USS Halfbeak (SS 352); USS Dugong (SS 353); USS Eel (SS 354); USS Espada (SS 355); USS Jawfish (SS 356); USS Ono (SS 357); USS Garlopa (SS 358); USS Garrupa (SS 359); USS Goldring (SS 360); USS Hardhead (SS 365); USS Hawkbill (SS 366); USS Icefish (SS 367); USS Jallao (SS 368); USS Kete (SS 369); USS Kraken (SS 370); USS Lagarto (SS 371); USS Lamprey (SS 372); USS Lizardfish (SS 373); USS Loggerhead (SS 374); USS Macabi (SS 375); USS Mapiro (SS 376); USS Menhaden (SS 377); USS Mero (SS 378); USS Needlefish (SS 379); USS Nerka (SS 380); USS Sand Lance (SS 381); USS Picuda (SS 382); USS Pampanito (SS 383); USS Parche (SS 384); USS Bang (SS 385); USS Pilotfish (SS 386); USS Pintado (SS 387); USS Pipefish (SS 388); USS Piranha (SS 389); USS Plaice (SS 390); USS Pomfret (SS 391); USS Sterlet (SS 392); USS Queenfish (SS 393); USS Razorback (SS 394); USS Redfish (SS 395); USS Ronquil (SS 396); USS Scabbardfish (SS 397); USS Segundo (SS 398); USS Sea Cat (SS 399); USS Sea Devil (SS 400); USS Sea Dog (SS 401); USS Sea Fox (SS 402); USS Atule (SS 403); USS Spikefish (SS 404); USS Sea Owl (SS 405); USS Sea Poacher (SS 406); USS Sea Robin (SS 407); USS Sennet (SS 408); USS Piper (SS 409); USS Threadfin (SS 410); USS Spadefish (SS 411); USS Trepang (SS 412); USS Spot (SS 413); USS Springer (SS 414); USS Stickleback (SS 415); USS Tiru (SS 416); USS Trumpetfish (SS 425); USS Tusk (SS 426); USS Turbot (SS 427); USS Ulua (SS 428); USS Unicorn (SS 429); USS Vendace (SS 430); USS Walrus (SS 431); USS Whitefish (SS 432); USS Whiting (SS 433); USS Wolffish (SS 434)
Ships-in-Class

Submerged Attack
Traveling under the surface to search, track, and / or engage or reconnoiter areas.

Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.

Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.

311.5 feet
(94.95 meters)
Length

27.3 feet
(8.32 meters)
Beam

16.1 feet
(4.91 meters)
Draught

1,526
tons
Displacement

4 x diesel engines driving GM electric motors; 2 x 126 Cell Sargo batteries; 4 x GM high-speed electric motors; 2 x shafts.
Propulsion

20.0 knots
(23.0 mph)
Surface Speed

9.0 knots
(10.4 mph)
Submerged Speed

10,799 nm
(12,427 miles | 19,999 km)
Range

1 knot = 1.15 mph; 1 nm = 1.15 mile; 1 nm = 1.85 km

10 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tube launchers (6 bow; 4 stern; 24 total torpedoes)
1 x 5" (127mm /25 cal deck gun
2 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns
2 x 7.62mm general purpose machine guns

OPTIONAL ARMAMENT:
2 x 40mm anti-aircraft cannons

None.

Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War period

Military lapel ribbon for early warship designs

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Images

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Bow portside view of the USS Ling floating exhibit; color

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View from the conning tower and AA gun mount of the USS Ling; color

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View over the deck gun of the USS Ling; color

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Looking up at the tower of the USS Ling; color

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Looking down the halls of the USS Ling submarine; color

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A washing machine aboard the submarine USS Ling; color

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The mess hall aboard the USS Ling; color

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Sleeping arrangements on the USS Ling; color

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EVen the USS Ling sports a throne where all great ideas are made; color

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The torpedo hatch aboard the USS Ling; color

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Officers quarter aboard the USS Ling; color

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Looking down the narrow hallways aboard the USS Ling; color

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Sleeping quarters aboard the USS Ling; color

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The periscope controls of the USS Ling; color

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Another view of the periscope controls of the USS Ling; color

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