The United States Navy Gato-class submarine design was the forerunner of all US World War II submarine designs. Named after the first vessel of this design, USS Gato (SS-212), the Gato-class and its successors, Balao and Tench, formed the majority of the United States Navy's WWII submarine fleet.[4] Gato's name comes from a species of small catshark. Like other U.S. Navy submarines of the period, the Gato-class were all given the names of fish. A typical Gato-class submarine was armed with forward and aft torpedo tubes, a deck gun, and anti-aircraft cannon. Its propulsion system was diesel-electric; powered by diesel engines while surfaced and battery while submerged
