3 Gato class 1 Balao class
TheGatoclassofsubmarineswas built for theUnited States Navyand launched in 19411943; they were the first mass-production U.S. submarine class ofWorld War II. Together with their near-sisters theBalaoandTenchclasses, their design formed the majority of the United States Navy's World War II submarine fleet.[5]Named after thelead shipof the class,USSGato, theGatos and their successors formed the core of the submarine service that was largely responsible for the destruction of the Japanese merchant marine and a large portion of the Imperial Japanese Navy inWorld War II.Gato's name comes from a species of smallcatshark. Like most other U.S. Navy submarines of the period, boats of theGatoclass were given the names of marine creatures. In some references, theGatos are combined with their successors, especially theBalaoclass. 1 USSBlackfin(SS-322), aBalao-classsubmarine, was a ship of theUnited States Navynamed for theblackfin, a food fish of theGreat Lakes.