Comments by "COL BEAUSABRE" (@colbeausabre8842) on "USS Gato - Guide 109 (Extended)" video.

@enscroggs Someone forgot about the G-1 when handing out hull numbers and she became SS-19 1/2. Also, the USN wasn't shy about using different names for the same fish. For example, there was a USS Drum and a USS Tambor (French for drum).
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There 3 classes of fleet boats built in WW2 - all to the same basic design and military characteristics 1) Gatos - With a 300 foot test depth 2) Balaos - with a 400 foot test depth 3) Tenches - With direct drive rather than geared motors, eliminating gear noise Note that test depths were routinely exceeded, but if your boat imploded, you owned it.
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@parsecboy4954 Yes, the signal went out on Dec 7, 1941 (and I quote) "Commence unrestricted submarine warfare upon Japan" "On December 7, 1941, just six hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the order went out to the American Pacific and Asiatic fleets to execute unrestricted submarine warfare against all Japanese shipping. "
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It's funny how Manitowoc got to build subs. A newly commissioned reserve ensign was assigned to Washington and he overheard some senior officers discussing how they were having trouble finding a fourth yard (after Electric Boat, Portsmouth and Mare Island) to build subs. A more senior and experienced man would have pretended he had heard nothing and kept his mouth shut, but our raw ensign walked over, introduced himself and mentioned his uncle owned a shipyard that had spare capacity.
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@theswordguy5269 Yes, there were two designs "Navy Yard" boats designed by Portsmouth with Mare Island building to its plans and "Electric Boats" designed by Electric Boat in New London, CT and followed by Manitowoc. They had the same military characteristics, but differed in internal layout. There was no consensus as to which was better, with some favor one design and others the other.
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