Ship:Balao

X

28,000,000

Balao — U.S.A. Tech Tree Tier X Submarine.

The most abundant American submarines of World War II. They contributed substantially to the success of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific War. The primary objective of the new type of submarine, which was also capable of long-distance independent voyages, was fully realized in the design: these vessels were crew-comfortable and carried ample supplies of fuel and torpedoes. USS Balao completed ten combat missions during World War II, earning nine battle stars.

Pros

• Enhanced Damage Control Party consumable available
• Access to the Enhanced Rudder Gears consumable
• Fast dive capacity recharge
• High sonar ping velocity

Cons

• Low dive capacity
• Small number of loaders

Ship Stats

Hull Information

SURVIVABILITY
• Hit Points	20200
• Torpedo protection damage reduction (%)	0%

ARMOR DETAIL
• Belt (mm)	25
• Deck (mm)	16
• Superstructure (mm)	19
• Extremities (mm)	19

MANEUVERABILITY
• Maximum speed (kt)	30.0
• Turning circle radius (m)	510
• Rudder-shift time (sec)	3.6

CONCEALMENT
• Detectability by sea (km)	5.86
• Detectability by air (km)	2.17
• Detectability after firing main guns in smoke (km)	—
• Detectability by depths (km)	2.17

SUB STATS
• Concealment at periscope depth (km)	2.17
• Maximum submerged speed (kt)	26.0
• Diving plane shift time (sec)	26.1
• Maximum diving speed (m/s)	3.3
• Dive capacity	240
• Dive depletion rate	1.0
• Dive recharge rate	1.2

Sonar

SONAR	Mk10 mod.1 (STOCK)	Mk10 mod.2 (UPGRADED)
• Sonar reload time (sec)	9	7
• Ping velocity (m/s)	600
• Ping width (m)	18
• Single ping duration (sec)	25.0
• Double ping duration (sec)	65.0
• Maximum ping range (km)	12.0

Torpedoes

SUBMARINE TORPEDOES	HOMING (STOCK)	HOMING (UPGRADED)	STANDARD (STOCK)	STANDARD (UPGRADED)
• Torpedo name	Mk29 mod. 0	Mk29	Mk28 MIE	Mk29 MIE
• Damage	7833	7833	15867	17133
• Range (km)	12.0	12.0	9.0	10.0
• Speed (kt)	86	89	65	69
• Detectability (km)	2.3	2.4	1.6	1.6
• Reload (s)	46	40	46	40
• Bow torpedo tubes	6
• Stern torpedo tubes	4
• Torpedo loaders (bow/stern)	2/2

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6

Consumables

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party  (3 charges, 15.0s action, 60.0s cooldown)
• Slot 2: Hydroacoustic Search  (1.0s action, 60.0s cooldown)
• Slot 3: Submarine Surveillance  (60.0s action, 330.0s preparation time, 120.0s cooldown)
• Slot 4: Enhanced Rudder Gears  (2 charges, 30.0s action, 120.0s cooldown)

Gallery

WoWs Gallery

• 
  Balao
• 
  Balao in her default camo

Historical Gallery

Ship Change Log

• Preliminary characteristics.
  • Adjusted maximum sonar ping and torpedo range from 14.2 to 14 km.
  • Adjusted detectability range — By air and submarines: from 2.7 to 2.2 km. — When emitting a sonar ping in smoke: from 2.1 to 2.2 km.
  • Decreased dive capacity from 490 to 450 units.
  • Other changes — Speed of torpedoes changing depth is now approximately 2.5x higher. — Detectability range after emitting a sonar ping now increases to a flat 4 km, rather than the detectability value of the submarine on the surface. — The width of the sonar ping and its impact radius has been increased 1.5x. — Speed of sonar ping emitted on the surface changed to 600m/s. — Submarine Steering Gears Modification 2 added in upgrade slot 4. — Submarine Steering Gears Modification 3 added in upgrade slot 5.
  • Changed the parameters of torpedoes — Speed increased from 70 to 89 knots. — Detectability increased from 1.9 to 2.4 km. — Maximum damage increased from 6,500 to 7,833.
  • Changed the "Hydrophone" consumable — Action time of the consumable increased from 30 to 45 s. — Detection of ships decreased from 8 to 6.5 km. — Detection of submarines decreased from 8 to 6.5 km.
• Update 0.10.7:
  • First available for testing for all players from random bundles from Update 0.10.7 until Update 0.11.0.
• Update 0.10.8:
  • Dive capacity depletion when the submarine is detected increased from 2 to 4 points per second.
  • Dive capacity restoration rate increased from 0.3 to 0.5 points per second.
  • Detectability range by sea after using the Sonar Ping decreased from 4 to 2 km.
  • The time it takes the torpedoes to arm increased from 0.5 to 2 s.
  • Decreased the detectability after using the Sonar Ping in smoke from 2.2 to 2 km.
  • Changed the Hydrophone consumable:
    • Consumable action time decreased from 45 to 40 s.
    • Consumable cooldown time decreased from 90 to 80 s.
    • Reduced ship bearing distance and spotting range when submerged from 6.5 to 6 km.
• Update 0.10.9:
  • Dive Capacity depletion rate when spotted decreased from 4 to 3 units per second.
  • Torpedoes are now launched one by one.
  • The width of torpedo launch cone increased 2.5 times.
  • Torpedo and sonar ping range decreased from 14 to 12 km.
• Update 0.10.10:
  • Reduced maneuvering capabilities of homing torpedoes.
  • Distance in which homing torpedoes cease to home in on cruisers and destroyers increased twofold.
  • Added Mk29 MIE proximity fuse torpedoes with the following characteristics:
    • Reload time: 46 s.
    • Torpedo-type switching time: 5 s.
    • Range: 12 km.
    • Maximum damage: 11,600.
    • Speed: 89 knots.
  • The base visibility of surface ships at operating depth was decreased to 2 km.
  • Changes in the detectability of the submarine now occur at periscope and operating depth.
• Update 0.10.11:
  • The torpedo homing mechanics were updated.
  • The Hydrophone consumable starts with a 300 s cooldown at the beginning of a battle.
  • Added an underwater torpedo reticle.
  • Increased HP from 14,300 to 20,200.
  • Increased the duration of the double-pinged sector from 30 to 90 s.
  • Decreased the maximum depth from 80 to 60 m. The concealment and visibility parameters were changed accordingly.
  • Can no longer be detected with the Surveillance Radar consumable at periscope depth.
  • Can now detect ships in smoke from the assured acquisition range from operating depth.
  • Ships in smoke can now detect the submarine at the operating depth from the assured acquisition range.
  • Fixed a bug causing the submarine to be affected by a 20-second detectability penalty after using a sonar ping.
  • Fixed a bug that caused ships' detectability to increase for the submarine after firing main battery guns while in smoke.
• Update 0.11.0:
  • Removed from the live server.
• Update 0.11.1:
  • Minor corrections to geometry and textures of the ship.
• Update 0.11.2:
  • Made available for testing again for all players in Update 0.11.2 from sequential combat missions until Update 0.11.9.
• Update 0.11.2.1:
  • Readded to the live server.
  • Can now be detected by Hydroacoustic Search at maximum depth from 2 km.
  • Operating depth removed.
  • Emits oil slicks when hit at periscope or maximum depth.
  • Sonar pings emitted by the submarine are visible to enemy ships at a distance of 8 km.
  • Changed the Damage Control Party consumable:
    • Number of charges decreased from unlimited to 3.
    • Cooldown increased from 40 to 60 s.
    • Action time increased from 5 to 15 s.
  • Changed the Hydrophone consumable:
    • Number of charges increased from 3 to unlimited.
    • Interval between pings decreased to 6 s.
  • Changed the parameters of homing torpedoes:
    • Arming time set to 2 s.
    • Ascent time increased by approximately 2 times.
    • Reload time decreased from 46 to 40 s.
    • Flooding chance decreased from 42% to 32%
  • Changed the parameters of conventional (proximity fuse) torpedoes:
    • Visibility reduced from 2.4 to 1.6 km.
    • Damage increased from 11,600 to 14,967.
    • Range decreased from 12 to 7.5 km.
    • Arming time set to 5 s.
    • Speed decreased from 89 to 64 knots.
    • Flooding chance increased from 66% to 90%.
  • Sonar reload time decreased from 10 to 7 s.
  • Decreased the duration of the single-pinged sector from 30 to 25 s.
  • Decreased the duration of the double-pinged sector from 90 to 65 s.
  • Dive capacity decreased from 450 units to 240 units.
  • Dive capacity recharge rate increased from 0.5 to 1.5 units/s.
  • Dive capacity depletion rate when detected decreased from 3 to 1.3 units/s.
  • Flooding duration decreased from 40 to 30 s.
  • Maximum flooding damage increased from 25% to 33% of total HP.
• Update 0.11.3:
  • Changed the parameters of the conventional torpedoes:
    • Speed increased: 64 to 69 knots.
    • Range increased: 7.5 to 10 km.
    • Arming time decreased: 5 to 4.6 s.
• Update 0.11.4:
  • Disabled the possibility to launch conventional torpedoes at maximum depth.
  • Disabled the increased dive capacity depletion rate when the submarine is detected by the enemy.
  • Replaced ping movement effect with ping launch effect when undetected, displayed within a range of 1 km from the submarine and lasting 5 seconds.
  • The characteristics and capabilities at periscope depth are now maintained while staying at that depth and right until the submarine has reached her maximum depth.
  • The border separating the periscope and maximum depths now lies at 15 m.
  • Maximum depth values were changed to 30 and 60 m.
  • Added dispersion when launching torpedoes:
    • 16 ° for bow and 11 ° for stern tubes.
  • Changed the dispersion when launching torpedoes:
    • For bow tubes - reduced from 16 ° to 5 °.
    • For stern tubes - reduced from 11 ° to 3 °.
• Update 0.11.5:
  • Replaced the rotation of torpedo launchers with torpedo turning mechanics.
  • Fixed a bug that caused the submarine at the start of each new battle to select a torpedo type that was different from the last selected type in the previous battle.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented the submarine's torpedo reticles from turning to follow the sonar.
  • Dive Capacity recovery rate reduced from 1.5 to 1.2 units/s.
  • Changes to speed and turning circle radius:
    • Surface speed: from 28 to 30 knots.
    • Underwater speed: from 29 to 26 knots.
    • Turning circle radius: from 650 to 590 meters.
  • Removed the Hydrophone consumable.
  • Added the Echo-Ranging Set consumable with the following settings:
    • Action time: 30 s.
    • Reload time: 60 s.
    • Interval between pings: 6 s.
    • Ship bearing effect duration: 4 s.
    • Ship bearing distance: 9 km.
    • Number of charges: Unlimited.
  • Added the Low-Frequency Hydrophone consumable with the following settings:
    • Action time: 60 s.
    • Reload time: 120 s.
    • Submarines' spotting range: 6 km.
    • Number of charges: Unlimited.
    • Preparation time: 360 s.
• Update 0.11.7:
  • Renamed the Echo-Ranging Set consumable to the Hydrophone consumable.
  • Renamed the Low-Frequency Hydrophone consumable to the Submarine Surveillance consumable.
  • Disabled guaranteed detection for the submarine in the submerged position.
  • The visual effects above the submarine when using sonar is now also displayed for the submarine herself.
• Update 0.11.8:
  • Added a visual distinction between the effect of acoustic homing torpedoes and regular ones.
  • Fixed a bug that caused Credits to be deducted for resupplying only a part of the submarine's ammunition.
  • Fixed a bug that caused tooltips to overlap the screen with the composition of teams when playing the submarine.
  • With the release of Update 0.11.9:
    • Preparation time for the Submarine Surveillance consumable reduced from 360 to 330 s.
• Update 0.11.9:
  • Readded the ping movement effect.
  • Added a special indicator to notify players when there is little diving capacity remaining.
  • Updated the set of sound effects for torpedo launching.
  • Updated the icon for acoustic homing torpedoes.
• Update 0.11.10:
  • Introduced to the game as a researchable ship in Update 0.11.10.
• Update 12.0:
  • Improved the geometry and textures of the ship.
  • Fixed a bug that caused the submarine's diving planes to freeze when using the Enhanced Rudder Gears consumable.
• Update 13.1:
  • Turning circle radius reduced from 670 to 520 m.
• Update 13.2:
  • Torpedoes now do 10% of maximum damage up to 2.9 km, and then scale to 100% damage from 2.9 to 3 km.
  • Stock homing torpedoes changed:
    • Arming distance reduced from 462 to 23 m.
  • Reserchable homing torpedoes changed:
    • Arming distance reduced from 478 to 24 m.
  • Stock conventional torpedoes changed:
    • Maximum damage increased from 13,867 to 15,867.
    • Arming distance reduced from 803 to 17 m.
  • Researchable conventional torpedoes changed:
    • Maximum damage increased from 14,967 to 17,133.
    • Arming distance reduced from 852 to 19 m.