The T-1 class were built to resemble the 160-ton, 16-crew Soviet M-class submarines, of which over 100 were in service in 1950.

The T-1 class were built to train anti-submarine warfare (ASW) forces in countering small submarines.

[2] Both submarines were constructed by the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut, in 1952–1953.

Both operated primarily in Florida and Caribbean waters to train submarine personnel, serve as targets for sonar and antisubmarine warfare training, and test submarine equipment.

USS Mackerel (SST-1), planned as AGSS-570, was commissioned as T-1 (SST-1) in October 1953 and decommissioned in January 1973.