Possible Real World Trip To USS Torsk For SH4 Captain (Please Read)

[William516]

An idea came to my mind, oh god i know what your thinking, must be some smoke comming out my brain.

I always wanted to get together and go see one of the germen ww2 subs but they are a little too far away for me, but hey the pacific submarines thats a different story. I was wondering if anyone would be interetsted in planning a REAL life trip to visit a ww2 sub docked at Baltimore Inner Harbor. I live in Delaware and may be taking a trip with my family and possibly brothers and sisters.

I have sent an email out to the "crew" of the museum requesting full ship access. I dont know if we will be able to get into all the areas but i figured it cant hurt. Would really be something to actually do some real life research vs simply using a simulator. If this is something you would be interested in then please by all means PM or Email me. I'm not even sure if anyone in these forums lives around Baltimore but i figured it cant hurt to extend an invitation out.

If we got a big enough group together it may be possible to almost "rent" the submarine out for the day or atleast get a private tour. I currently trying to gather all the questions I would like to ask about the submarine as well and welcome any questions that anyone here in the forums could come up with.

I know it sounds like a crazy idea and maybe a little far fetched as well but i figured it cant hurt to atleast try. The WW2 veterans are slowly passing away and we have limited time to learn from there first hand experience before the "history books" rewrite the stories of those men that fought for this country. From what i have seen most of the vets from WW2 are eager to share their knowledge with others and im more then eager to listen and suck it up.

So here is to hoping that this idea can become a reality.

By the way my grandfather or as i like to call him Papap served in WW2 on a DE (Destroyer Escort) named the Straub DE-181, if anyone on the forums is or knows someone who served on this ship or ships like it. I would love to talk to them and I'm sure my Papap wouldn't mind recieving some mail or info. I know he goes to the DE conventions and gatherings.

If this idea actually takes off then maybe some other members of the sim community would share information on submarines or naval vessels tours around the USA or even around the World. Make for one heck of a vacation and trip.

Think it over and hope this can actully work.

William

William
Captain
U-66

[William516]

Here is the submarine information and site for the one located in Baltimore Inner Harbor.

US TORSK SS-423

US TORSQUE HOME PAGE (http://www.usstorsk.org/)

William
Captain
U-66

[William516]

Sorry has been a long weekend here on the East Coast of the US. We got hit by one heck of a storm so I was unable to give you a heads up on the progress.

Well just so you guys dont think that I dropped the ball or forgot here is a copy of the email I sent to the Torsk Voulnteer group. This is the group that runs the museum and keeps the Torsk floating.

When i get a responce I will be sure to let you guys know. Hopefully we can get enough people interested that we would have the boat to ourselves.

I would say the best time for the trip would be in summer. First lets see what they say.


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Hello my name is William Stapleford and I'm part of a large community of submarine enthusiast. Recently I purchased the simulation released by UBI Soft called Silent Hunter 4. Silent Hunter 4 is based on the US involvement in the Pacific Theatre of World War 2. The simulation supports various versions and models of the US submarines. I have found myself very interested in learning as much as possible now about the men who served on these massive vessels. I have also been writing in several online forums to find out how many other people share this interest. I have found that there is a very large following all over the United States and also the world.

I was once onboard the USS Torsk when I was little and before i was able to really appreciate it. I know that thousands of people each day probably walk the cold steel deck of the ship and take it completely for granted. Its a sad thought to me, as I'm sure it is to everyone who served on her. The people that I have asked are totally the opposite. We are looking to learn, not only from the physical details of the Torsk but also from the men and women who served on her. I know that each passing day we lose the memory and experience of the men that served in World War 2. I find this a very sad thought and hope to be able to learn from them before it is too late. I'm sure the people that have shown interest in the forums feel the same way. We want to be able to get history right before the media rewrites it.

I was wondering if there is a way to set up a special tour for several people that are World War 2 enthusiast, particularly submarines and the men who served on them. If it is also possible maybe to talk to some of the men who served on the Torsk as well. We could then see and understand the REAL story behind the men who risked and gave their lives for us. I'm also currently writing a story "fictional" of course but the ideas that I could learn would really help.

I know this may sound like an odd request, and I can honestly say that I never thought I would write a request to learn something after graduating school; however, I feel that by passing the information on to others we could very well preserve the memory of those men. The younger generation including mine takes everything for granted.

I also have no problem in volunteering to help with your website if it were ever needed. It is the least I can do and something that actually can use my talent. The men and the women that may be interested in attending this tour may also have something they could do to help. I'm hoping to be able to see every nook and cranny of the Torsk and I'm sure from their the questions will flow from anyone that is in the group.

By taking a good look at the submarine, hopefully we can correct some of the historical flaws in the simulator as well and pass it along to the community. This, of course is the last thing we are actually interested in but it is something that (small) that we can pass on to the community. I would even be willing to lend a hand in helping keep the Torsk in "ship shape" when possible.

My grandfather served on the DE-181 and he is full of stories and until now I never gave him the time of day. His stories are awe inspiring at times and i hope to be able to keep the memories and stories he has told me and pass them on to my children in time.

I thank you for taking the time to read this email and again ask that you consider the request. If this is a possibility please let me know. If this is not a possibility that is fine as well. Any information that you can give me to pass on to the submarine community (forums) would be a huge help. After receiving price information and availability, I would then be able to provide a total number for the group and a possible date on the visit.

No matter what, I just want to let you know that, you guys have done a great job at keeping history alive. I hope you can continue to do this for as long as the Torsk will stay afloat. She is a beauty from the photos on the website and from what i remember.

Keep up the great work and
God bless

Sincerely
William Stapleford (Submarine Enthusiast)
Bstapleford@msn.com
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This was sent today shortly before i posted on this website. I will let you know anything else i find out.

This has already by posted on the UBI SH4 General Forum but i wanted the good people here to have a chance as well. I need as many people as possible.
:p

William
Captain
U-66

[edjcox]

She's a fine boat and well worth visiting. Took the tour while at the inner harbor. Recommend some limbering up at a the bar in the Hard Rock.. Can get crowded so try a non-weekend day...

There's another in San Francisco bay at the Fishermans Wharf... Also a great tour...

Enjoy..

Up in PA ..

[William516]

Recieved a response from one of the members of the USS Torsk

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original message
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William,

Thank you for your message!

I appreciate your interest in Torsk - I too am a submarine enthusiast that
is lucky enough to be part of the volunteer crew of USS Torsk. I first got
involved in 1997 and have just passed my 10th anniversary with the boat.
Needless to say I have crawled over just about every part of the boat at
some time or another!

Our volunteer crew is made up largely of submarine veterans. However, most
of the WWII crew are now gone - our regular volunteers are former
crewmembers of various diesel and nuclear submarines, serving in the 50's
and 60's. They are a wealth of information about life aboard submarines like
Torsk, and they are only too happy to answer questions!

Of course, since Torsk was in service, many of her crew from the later years
are still around. One of our regular volunteers served aboard from 64-65 as
an Electrician. He loves to talk about the boat.

A special tour can certainly be arranged. There are a few things I need to
know before I can determine how to handle it. If the group is large (over
10) then I would have to arrange the tour through the museum's ticket
office. I'll have to find out what the current rate is depending on the
group size. A larger group would be somewhat limited as to what areas of the
boat could be visited, due to space limitations and the time of day the tour
is conducted.

If the group is smaller, then we can arrange for a more private tour of the
boat. Since many of the spaces are small and provide access for only one or
two persons at a time, this type of tour is best done when the boat is
closed to the public. Our volunteers are typically aboard on Saturday
mornings from 7 am till noon or 1 pm. The best time is Saturday mornings
during the 7am-10am time frame (the boat opens at 10).

Are you and the group local to Baltimore? If so, one of the best ways to get
to know her is to volunteer on a regular basis. Regular volunteers enjoy
unlimited access to the boat, as well as additional "perks" such as
occasional trips to other museum boats and ships, attending strip ship trips
to the reserve fleet to remove parts from decommissioned ships, and visits
to active duty ships and submarines. We've just completed a week at the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard's Inactive Fleet, removing parts for Torsk from
the former USS Trout SS-566 (which is slated for scrapping in the near
future).

Please give me an idea of group size (smaller or greater than 10) and when
you would like to visit, and I will inquire as to prices and determine if we
need to do a tour for a larger group or a smaller private tour.

Best regards, and thanks again for your interest!

Gil Bohannon
USS Torsk Historian

PS - I spent about an hour playing SH4 tonight after work. I love the game
but of course, there are many inaccuracies. But it's great fun nonetheless!

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