USS Tang is credited with sinking the most Japanese ships by official wartime tonnage among U.S. submarines. Commanded by Richard O’Kane, the Balao-class submarine completed five war patrols in the Pacific during World War II.
Tang became known for aggressive attacks on Japanese shipping and for achieving a very high total of enemy vessels sunk. Her record was calculated from wartime claims that were later assessed using Japanese records and postwar historical research. As with many submarine tallies, exact figures can vary depending on whether damaged, shared, or later-disputed targets are included.
Tang’s final patrol ended in October 1944 when one of her own torpedoes circled back and struck the submarine in the Taiwan Strait. O’Kane and several other crew members survived and were captured, while most of the crew died.
The submarine is often compared with USS Barb and USS Flasher, which also achieved exceptional records. Tang’s distinction specifically concerns official Japanese shipping tonnage credited to a U.S. submarine.