Editing Gato-class submarine (section)

===''Tambor'' and ''Gar'' class===
By 1931, the experimental phase of fleet submarine development was over and the Navy began to make solid progress towards what would eventually be the ''Gato'' class. By 1940, a much better developed industrial base and experience gained from the [[United States Porpoise-class submarine|''Porpoise'']]-, {{sclass|Salmon|submarine|5}}-, and {{sclass|Sargo|submarine|0}} ships resulted in the [[Tambor-class submarine|''Tambor'' and ''Gar'' classes]]. Finally, the U.S. Navy had hit the right combination of factors and now had the long-desired fleet submarine.<ref>{{harvnb|Alden|1979|loc=Part II}}</ref>

Timing, however, conspired against the actual use of these ships in their assigned role. The [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] on 7 December 1941 destroyed the Pacific Fleet battle line and along with it the concept of the battleship-led gun battle, as well as 20 years of submarine strategic concept development. It left the fleet submarine without a mission. Fortunately, the same capabilities that would have enabled these submarines to operate with the fleet made them superbly qualified for their new mission of commerce raiding against the [[Japanese Empire]].<ref>{{harvnb|Roscoe|1949|pp=4–5}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|1995|p=163}}</ref>

Timing, however, also conspired to make the ''Gato''s a mass-produced class of submarines. Six units were planned in FY41.<ref>Budget of the United States government for FY41, p. 669</ref> In the immediate aftermath of the [[Two-Ocean Navy Act]] 48<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/shipbuilding-contracts/index-to-vol-23.html | title=Index to Vol. 23 }}</ref> additional units were ordered. By the end of 1941, 33 ''Gato'' keels had been laid.