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Wednesday 16 August 2017

American diesel-electric submarine USS Hardhead (SS-365) 1943-1972 and Greek submarine Papanikolis (S114) 1972-1993


Laid down by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Washington, USA on 7 July 1941, launched on 12 December 1943, in active service 18 April 1944-10 May 1946, 6 February 1952-22 May 1952, conversion into a Guppy IIA type, 24 March 1953-26 July 1962, handed over to Greece and renamed Papanikolis (S114), stricken 1993 and broken up.

Of the Balao-class, preceded by the Gato-class and succeeded by the Tench-class. General original technical specifications 1.526/1.550 (surfaced)-2.424/2.463 (submerged) tons and as dimensions 92,05 x 8,31 x 5,13 (maximum) metres or 311.9 x 27.3 x 16.10 feet. The machinery consisted of 4 Fairbanks-Morse Model38D8 10-cylinder opposed pistons diesel engines driving electric generator and 4-high sped Elliott electric motors with reduction gears and 2-126cell Sargo batteries delivering 5.400 shp (surfaced)-2.740shp (submerged) via 2 screws  allowing a speed of 20,25 (surfaced)-8,75 (submerged) knots and a range of 11.000 nautical miles while surfaced with a speed of 10 knots. The submerged endurance with a speed of 2 knots was 48 hours. Endurance on patrol 75 days. Diving depth 120 (test) metres or 400 feet. Crew numbered 8-81 men (included 10 officers). The armament consisted of 6-53,cm/21” torpedo tubes forward and 5-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes aft for which 24 torpedoes were carried and furthermore 1-12,7cm/5” /25cal gun and 4cm Bofors and 2cm Oerlikon cannon. General original technical specifications after conversion displacement 1.848 (surfaced)-2.440 (submerged) tons, fitted out with a snorkel one diesel engine and generator were removed with as result a surfaced speed of 13,5 (cruising)-17,0 (maximum) and while submerged 3,0 (cruising)-8,0 (snorkelling)-14,1 (during ½ hour) knots. The torpedo armament remained although all guns were removed.