I am doing some research for a future scratch build project and looking for plans or any drawings for the Tambor/Gar/Gato class subs. Particularlly the USS Gar. My understanding is that these were all the same class of ship but l’m sure they had their differences.
Any help appreciated. [:)]
According to Alden’s “The Fleet Submarine int he US Navy”, the GAR was part of the Tambor class.
The Tambor’s characteristics included:
307’ 3" LOA x 27’ 3"
Operating Depth - 250 feet.
The machinery layout is what differentiates them more. The Tambors had a Diesel/Electric system in what Alden terms an E-3 [Engine-Generator Generator-Engine / 2 Motors / Reduction Gear]. Engine-Generator pairs were not coupled.
While the Gato’s included:
311’ 9" LOA x 27’ 3"
Operating Depth 300 ft.
The Gato machinery arrangement was E-4 [Engine-Generator Engine-Generator / 2 Motors / Reduction Gear]
Refer to Alden for more details on the hull framing details between the Tambor other classes.
The Floating Drydock http://floatingdrydock.com/MasterPlan.htm offers numerous plans of various members of the GATO class as well as other earlier boats.
Thanks Ed, I have been in touch with the Floating Drydock and they don’t have plans for a Tambor class but did recommend the Gato class and to make modifications as necessary. I think the bow and stern for the Tambor class was slightly different then the Gato. They also have some high rez photos of the SS-206 that they will put on a cd for me which will be helpfull.
Zellars,
I’m building the Tautog, a Tambor class, out of the 1/72 Revell kit and have been in the same situation as. I collected as many images as I could on the Tambor and have gotten a conversion kit for the fairwater (I’m doing a December 7th version of the boat). The single biggest change is the overall hull length.
Thanks Aurora-7, I came across some Gato sketches showing interior details at Nav Source, you may have seen them already http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08212b.htm
I was told there were some minor differences between the Tambor Class and Gato classes along the bow and stern; the Tambor class having an angled bow below the waterline vs rounded as Gato class did. I am not sure what the stern differences were.