Fleet Boat Files

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

Notice the radical difference between SS-322 Blackfin on the right and the Tang on the left. The blackfin is a Fleet boat modified into a Fleet Snorkle but the hull pretty much stayed the same except for the sail. The Tang is a purpose built streamlined sub although diesel electric. The Tang is also a much smaller boat.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

Pictured here is Retired John Hummell of SS-319 Becuna. He is here pictured inside the conning tower. I have been in the High Atlantic sail on the SS Requin. I can tell you that it is amazingly cramped. To look thru the attack scope you have to be wary because between your legs is the hatch leading down below to the control room. If you forget that its there you will be in trouble. Its best to close it. But if someone wants to come up you had better move out of the way quickly. Everywhere you look in its cramped confines you see equipment and cables and hoses and conduit. Very tight indeed. In front of you is the wheel and the helmsmans station. Very close confines.

This is a layout of the conning tower in use during the war.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

The SS-315 Sealion underwent a unusual modifacation. She was converted to a LPSS , a Amphibious Transport Submarine.

You can see the area behind the conning tower designed to be a helicopter landing pad. She never did recieve a streamlined sail but retained the original

Here she is in drydock before being sunk as a test target in July 1978

Here she is disembarking troops.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

Engine manuvering room controls on the SS-310 Batfish

On the way home from the war at FLANK SPEED!

Newspaper clipping about the sad state of repair that she was in at the time.

Pulling into Key West in 1954

Her new home in Muskogee Ok.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files


The SS-415 on manuvers was accidentally struck by her mock pursuer the DE 534 Silverstein. You can see the Sabalo coming to the rescue but it soon sank. No one was injured.



The starboard side of main control cubicle 6-13-45

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

An actual Lionfish. Watch out , their sting is deadly!

In drydock during restoration

" " "

On display at Fall river Ma.







Pictured in 1945.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

Torpedo room of SS-297 Ling


Propulsion controls of same

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files


Stern shot of SS-294 Escolar

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files


SS-364 Hammerhead covered with ice

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files


The spectacular launching of SS-361 Golet

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files


SS-284 Tullibee showing Capt. Brindupke saluting the flag on the stern of his boat. He would later be lost with this boat on March 26th 1944 when she was hit and sunk by her own torpedo.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

SS-240 Angler with the front door open.

Shown diving.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

Here the SS-242 Bluegill leads the USS Enterprise out to sea in 1961

It was first scuttled and then raised years later as part of a salvage exercise.



Newspaper article about raising her.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

A Lady Welder in the summer of 1943 working on SS-243 Bream. Actually what she has in her hand with the acetylene running too high, for effect, is a Straight cutting torch. Viewed in concert with the next picture , it looks like below decks that there is something that they are going to pull out with the overhead chainfalls.

The girl in the open hatch area has a welding hood in her hand. However she is clearly not dressed for welding with those short sleeves. We will give her the benefit of the doubt(although this is clearly a publicity photo) that her next move is to donn some leathers for her upper body, for protection. I have been welding for over 31 years and been certified for unlimited thickness in all positions since 1984. I have often thought about what it would be like ,working side by side with these girls and others who were affectionately called as a group Rosie the Riveteers. Could I hold a candle to them? Would they laugh me out of the shipyard? I hope not. Back in those days Electric arc welding was alive and well, at least with AC. However oxy-acetylene welding was still widely used. If youve ever done it you will no doubt wish you wernt. For one thing its very slow compared to what is referred to as stick welding. Its also extremely hot! It puts about ten times more BTUs into the work than stick and much of this heat comes back on you. Because of that heat it puts undue stress on the steel and causes warping and buckling and built in stresses that later cause cracking. Stick welding is much more efficient, also referred to as SMAW(shielded metel arc welding). Back in those days they used a cellulosic welding rod that is somewhat similar to our 6011 rod that is very rough and spatters alot. There were no 7018 or 7024 or MIG or flux core back then. It was rough , hot, hard work. Just a little FYI, the temperature of a oxy-acetylene flame , right at the torch tip is about 7,500 degrees farenheit. The temperature at the arc on a welding rod is 10,000 degrees.

[greenman407]

Re: Fleet Boat Files

Check out this video on rosie the riveter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CQ0M0wx00s