Ship Database
Tier X Submarine

U.S.A.

Balao

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...

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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.

Credits
28,000,000
Official profile image of Balao

At a glance

The numbers that shape the ship

Hit points
20,200
Maximum speed
30.0 knots
Surface detection
5.9 km
Torpedo range
12.0 km
Torpedo reload
46 s

Combat envelope

Range and detection

Scale: 15 km

Every bar uses the same 15 km scale. Surface detection is a visibility threshold, not a weapon range.

  • Surface detection5.9 km
  • Torpedoes12 km
  • Sonar ping12 km

Damage comparison

Published maximum per hit

Ship-relative

Bars are normalized only against this ship's highest listed hit. They are not salvo damage, expected damage or DPM.

  • Torpedo · Mk29 mod. 0 7,833
Handling, concealment and protectionOverview

Handling

Maximum speed
30.0 knots
Turning circle radius
510 m
Rudder shift time
7.2 s
Maneuverability API rating 52

Concealment

Surface detection
5.9 km
Air detection
2.2 km
Submarine detection
2.2 km
Concealment API rating 96

Survivability

Hit points
20,200
Torpedo damage reduction
0 %
Survivability API rating 36

Published armour thickness

Only positive values supplied by the API are shown.

Overall published range
6–25 mm
Weapons and payloadsArmament

Underwater armament

Torpedoes

Torpedoes API rating 37

Mk29 mod. 0

Maximum range
12.0 km
Maximum damage per hit
7,833
Reload time
46 s
Speed
86 knots
Detectability
2.3 km
Torpedo-tube layout
Mount
Torpedo Tubes: Bow Group
Mounts
6
Tubes each
1
Mount
Torpedo Tubes: Stern Group
Mounts
4
Tubes each
1
Submarine systemsClass system

Dive capacity

Maximum capacity
240.0
Consumption rate (API value)
1.0
Regeneration rate (API value)
1.2
Dive capacity API rating 31

Underwater handling

Maximum underwater speed
26 knots
Maximum dive/ascent speed
3.3 knots
Dive-plane shift time
20.0 s
Underwater maneuverability API rating 45

Sonar ping

Maximum range
12.0 km
Ping width (API value)
18
Ping velocity (API value)
600
Reload time (API value)
9.0
Single-sector duration (API value)
25
Double-sector duration (API value)
65
Sonar API rating 55
Modules, hull and progressionTechnical data

Default hull

Hull hit points
20,200
Torpedo tubes
10

Engine

Published maximum speed
30.0 knots

Module research tree

Names, research prices and defaults are reported directly by the API.

Propulsion: 5,480 hp

Default
Type
Engine
Purchase
2,000,000 credits

Balao

Default
Type
Hull
Purchase
3,000,000 credits

Mk29 mod. 0 and Mk28 MIE

Default
Type
Torpedoes
Purchase
2,000,000 credits
Next modules
1

Mk29 and Mk29 MIE

Type
Torpedoes
Research
38,000 XP
Purchase
2,500,000 credits

Mk10 mod. 1

Default
Type
Sonar
Purchase
2,000,000 credits
Next modules
1

Mk10 mod. 2

Type
Sonar
Research
38,000 XP
Purchase
2,500,000 credits

Compatible upgrades

Official modernization descriptions and listed purchase prices. Effects still depend on the slot and configuration used in game.

Propulsion Modification 1

Modernization

Reduces time to full speed

Credits
1,000,000

Torpedo Tubes Modification 1

Modernization

Credits
500,000

Damage Control System Modification 3

Modernization

Credits
250,000

Main Armaments Modification 1

Modernization

Credits
125,000

Torpedo Tubes Modification 2

Modernization

Credits
3,000,000

Damage Control System Modification 2

Modernization

Credits
1,000,000

Torpedo Tubes Modification 3

Modernization

Credits
2,000,000
Available module groups
10
Compatible upgrades
7
Upgrade slots
6
Published battle levels
10–11

Cross-nation comparison

Ships that fill a similar slot

Closest same-tier, same-class matches from other nations, ranked by published base statistics.

United Kingdom

Thrasher

HP
16,800
Speed
26 kn
Guns
6 km
Torps
11 km
Open comparison

Europe

Orzeł

HP
16,400
Speed
32 kn
Guns
6 km
Torps
10 km
Open comparison

Italy

Pietro Calvi

HP
18,800
Speed
29 kn
Guns
10.5 km
Torps
9 km
Open comparison
All published source fields 141 values

Advanced reference for this saved default configuration. Field names follow Wargaming's source. An em dash replaces the source's −1 placeholder; it is not a negative measurement. These records do not include every mechanic in the game. Read the coverage guide.

Published fieldValue
ship_id4074158064
ship_id_strPASS210
nameBalao
typeSubmarine
nationusa
tier10
is_premiumNo
is_specialNo
has_demo_profileNo
price_credit28000000
price_gold0
mod_slots6
default_profile.armour.casemate.max—
default_profile.armour.casemate.min—
default_profile.armour.citadel.max—
default_profile.armour.citadel.min—
default_profile.armour.deck.max—
default_profile.armour.deck.min—
default_profile.armour.extremities.max—
default_profile.armour.extremities.min—
default_profile.armour.flood_damage0
default_profile.armour.health20200
default_profile.armour.range.max25
default_profile.armour.range.min6
default_profile.armour.total36
default_profile.battle_level_range_max11
default_profile.battle_level_range_min10
default_profile.concealment.detect_distance_by_plane2.2
default_profile.concealment.detect_distance_by_ship5.9
default_profile.concealment.detect_distance_by_submarine2.2
default_profile.concealment.total96
default_profile.engine.engine_id3351097328
default_profile.engine.engine_id_strPAUE900
default_profile.engine.max_speed30.0
default_profile.hull.anti_aircraft_barrels0
default_profile.hull.artillery_barrels0
default_profile.hull.atba_barrels0
default_profile.hull.health20200
default_profile.hull.hull_id3350999024
default_profile.hull.hull_id_strPAUH900
default_profile.hull.range.max25
default_profile.hull.range.min6
default_profile.hull.torpedoes_barrels10
default_profile.mobility.max_speed30.0
default_profile.mobility.rudder_time7.2
default_profile.mobility.total52
default_profile.mobility.turning_radius510
default_profile.submarine_battery.consumption_rate1.0
default_profile.submarine_battery.max_capacity240.0
default_profile.submarine_battery.regen_rate1.2
default_profile.submarine_battery.total31
default_profile.submarine_mobility.buoyancy_rudder_time20.0
default_profile.submarine_mobility.max_buoyancy_speed3.3
default_profile.submarine_mobility.max_speed_under_water26
default_profile.submarine_mobility.total45
default_profile.submarine_sonar.submarine_sonar_id3350704112
default_profile.submarine_sonar.submarine_sonar_id_strPAUQ900
default_profile.submarine_sonar.total55
default_profile.submarine_sonar.wave_duration_025
default_profile.submarine_sonar.wave_duration_165
default_profile.submarine_sonar.wave_max_dist12.0
default_profile.submarine_sonar.wave_shot_delay9.0
default_profile.submarine_sonar.wave_speed_max600
default_profile.submarine_sonar.wave_width18
default_profile.torpedoes.distance12.0
default_profile.torpedoes.max_damage7833
default_profile.torpedoes.reload_time46
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.0.barrels1
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.0.caliber533
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.0.guns6
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.0.nameTorpedo Tubes: Bow Group
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.1.barrels1
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.1.caliber533
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.1.guns4
default_profile.torpedoes.slots.1.nameTorpedo Tubes: Stern Group
default_profile.torpedoes.torpedo_nameMk29 mod. 0
default_profile.torpedoes.torpedo_speed86
default_profile.torpedoes.torpedoes_id3350605808
default_profile.torpedoes.torpedoes_id_strPAUT900
default_profile.torpedoes.visibility_dist2.3
default_profile.weaponry.aircraft0
default_profile.weaponry.anti_aircraft0
default_profile.weaponry.artillery0
default_profile.weaponry.torpedoes37
modules.engine[0]3351097328
modules.hull[0]3350999024
modules.sonar[0]3350704112
modules.sonar[1]3348606960
modules.torpedoes[0]3350605808
modules.torpedoes[1]3340120048
modules_tree.3340120048.is_defaultNo
modules_tree.3340120048.module_id3340120048
modules_tree.3340120048.module_id_strPAUT910
modules_tree.3340120048.nameMk29 and Mk29 MIE
modules_tree.3340120048.price_credit2500000
modules_tree.3340120048.price_xp38000
modules_tree.3340120048.typeTorpedoes
modules_tree.3348606960.is_defaultNo
modules_tree.3348606960.module_id3348606960
modules_tree.3348606960.module_id_strPAUQ902
modules_tree.3348606960.nameMk10 mod. 2
modules_tree.3348606960.price_credit2500000
modules_tree.3348606960.price_xp38000
modules_tree.3348606960.typeSonar
modules_tree.3350605808.is_defaultYes
modules_tree.3350605808.module_id3350605808
modules_tree.3350605808.module_id_strPAUT900
modules_tree.3350605808.nameMk29 mod. 0 and Mk28 MIE
modules_tree.3350605808.next_modules[0]3340120048
modules_tree.3350605808.price_credit2000000
modules_tree.3350605808.price_xp0
modules_tree.3350605808.typeTorpedoes
modules_tree.3350704112.is_defaultYes
modules_tree.3350704112.module_id3350704112
modules_tree.3350704112.module_id_strPAUQ900
modules_tree.3350704112.nameMk10 mod. 1
modules_tree.3350704112.next_modules[0]3348606960
modules_tree.3350704112.price_credit2000000
modules_tree.3350704112.price_xp0
modules_tree.3350704112.typeSonar
modules_tree.3350999024.is_defaultYes
modules_tree.3350999024.module_id3350999024
modules_tree.3350999024.module_id_strPAUH900
modules_tree.3350999024.nameBalao
modules_tree.3350999024.price_credit3000000
modules_tree.3350999024.price_xp0
modules_tree.3350999024.typeHull
modules_tree.3351097328.is_defaultYes
modules_tree.3351097328.module_id3351097328
modules_tree.3351097328.module_id_strPAUE900
modules_tree.3351097328.namePropulsion: 5,480 hp
modules_tree.3351097328.price_credit2000000
modules_tree.3351097328.price_xp0
modules_tree.3351097328.typeEngine
upgrades[0]4268937136
upgrades[1]4220702640
upgrades[2]4189245360
upgrades[3]4262645680
upgrades[4]4279422896
upgrades[5]4269985712
upgrades[6]4188196784

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