The vessel which was originally named BAP Tiburón ("Shark"), was constructed by the American Electric Boat company in the United States and launched in 1953.

The submarine entered service in 1954 and by presidential decree, was renamed Abtao for the battle during the Chincha Islands War.

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

The vessel 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.

[2] 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.

[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.