The Abtao class were a modified version of the United States World War II Mackerel-class submarine design.

They carried 45 long tons (46 t) of diesel fuel and had a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots at snorkel depth.

Two vessels of the class, Abtao and Dos de Mayo, had a 5 in (127 mm)/25 caliber gun mounted abaft the sail.

[2] However, a decree in April 1957 by the President of Peru, Manuel Prado Ugarteche, ordered that the names of the vessels be changed to those of famous Peruvian battles.

Lobo became Dos de Mayo, Tiburón became Abtao, Atun became Angamos and Merlin became Iquique.

[2] Abtao and Dos de Mayo underwent a refit at Groton in 1965 and Angamos and Iquique in 1968.

[2] In 1988, Abtao took part in the rescue of the crew of the submarine BAP Pacocha which had sunk after a collision with the fishing vessel Kiowa Maru.