How did the operating depth of Balao-class submarines compare with that of Gato-class submarines?

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USS Nautilus — submarine The former USS *Nautilus*, launched in 1954, being towed to Groton, Connecticut, to become a museum, May 1985.

The Gato-class and Balao-class submarines were the primary vessels used by the U.S. Navy during the World War II submarine campaign in the Pacific. While both classes shared similar dimensions, displacement, and performance specifications, they differed significantly in their structural capabilities regarding depth.1

The principal difference between the two designs was their operating depth:

Gato-class: These submarines had an operating depth of 300 feet.1
Balao-class: These submarines featured an improved design that allowed for an operating depth of 400 feet.1