: Many older Balao-class submarines were reclassified as AGSS to serve as trainers or sonar targets before being retired.
: Served for 38 years (1968–2007), the longest career of any Navy submarine at the time of its retirement. auxiliary research submarine
: Proved that a single-screw design was superior for submerged control, a standard still used in modern nuclear submarines. USS Dolphin (AGSS-555) : Many older Balao-class submarines were reclassified as
: Hydrodynamic studies, acoustic research, and sensor trials Key Capabilities : Deep-water diving and littoral (shallow) research auxiliary research submarine
The USS Albacore was perhaps the most influential research submarine ever built.