During World War II, the Gato class, and its successor, the Balao class, carried a lot of the duty associated with the submarine war inside Pacific. These new fleet submarines had been effective ships that became fast, strong, well armed, and worthy of the long-range patrols essential to fight into the Pacific. They waged war against the Axis capabilities, amassing a record of devastation and sheer killing power that has been unmatched by virtually any land or ocean attack platform. These brand new fleet submarines enabled the Navy to move its submarine doctrine from coastal defense to open ocean attacks on enemy warships and convoys critical to enemy logistical support. This doctrine of forward presence and hit warfare by the submarine stays today.
