USS Silversides SS-236 (photos)

[Payoff]

I had the pleasure of visiting USS Silversides last weekend at the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum in Muskegon, MI. I found all of the staff and everyone involved to be very friendly, knowledgeable & dedicated. I took about a million pictures, so I wanted to share a few for folks that may never get a chance to see her.

USS Silversides (Gato Class) is the third overall highest scoring boat of the war.
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Of the surviving subs, she is the highest scoring boat with more than 30 kills.
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The appendectomy depicted in the movie "Destination Tokyo" was based on this boat using real crewmembers names.
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The movie "Below" was filmed aboard Silversides.
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Her Skippers were LCDR Creed C.Burlingame, CDR John S.Coye Jr & CDR John C.Nichols.
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Torpedoman 3rd Class Michael Harbin was the first submariner of the war to lose his life during submarine deckgun action, on Silversides first encounter with an enemy vessel, on her first war patrol. He would end up being the only casualty aboard Silversides in her 14 war patrols.
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The crew scribed Michael Harbin's name on a single torpedo loaded in one of the forward tubes. Three days later when they spotted a Japanese submarine, this was the torpedo Creed Burlingame launched at the IJN sub. Even though the Captain & crew saw the target explode and sink, they would not receive credit for this kill.

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Bow torpedo room.
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To be continued. . .

[AirborneTD]

Nice shots!! I visited the COD in Cleveland, OH a month or 2 ago. It was also very well preserved and a great boat to tour.

[AVGWarhawk]

She is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing!:up:

[badaboom]

Absolutly fantastic pics,she's a fine ship!!!Thank You for posting these!!:up:

[Weather-guesser]

Sierra Hotel Payoff! Thanks a bunch :up:

[alunatic]

Great photos mate but on picture #10 it has sunk, damaged, a little picture of a parachute with a 2 in it (I assume this means 2 pilots rescued) but what is the other thinkg (i cant tell what it is) with a little 16 in it?

[Payoff]

Yes, the parachute symbol represents the two airmen rescued. The other symbol is a mine and represents 16 mines laid by Silversides.

[Subject]

That's my ship! Thank you very much! :up:

I'll send you a six-pack, if you zip your collection and upload it somewhere http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/biggrin.gif

[AVGWarhawk]

Here is a question for you. The pictures that show the aft of the sail, there is a cylinder welded on the sail and there is a door that is open. What is this cylinder? From what I can see it looks like it might contain the shells for the cannon? I have not seen this structure before. The USS Torsk has her guppy sail and the cannon was removed after the war so this structure is not there. Let me know if you checked this out and what it is:know:

[Torpex752]

Did they cut her pressure Hull and install stairs for access?

[JSF]

In the past they were used for ready ammo storage. Also, the tube coming up from the deck at an angle is the ammo shuttle from the magazine. These were installed late in the war.

[Salty Longshanks]

She is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing!:up:
I was going to say exactly the same thing. lol
Thanks very much for the post Payoff :sunny:

[Skyhawk]

One of my fondest memories of time spent with my son was when he was growing up and had to do with the U.S.S. Silversides. You see, when he belonged to one of the local boy scout troops here in Michigan, we actually spent the night on her.

That was the only time I've ever been on a sub. Never have been claustrophobic in the least, but I can honestly say the experience took my idea of what it must have been like to be an active duty submariner during wartime to a whole new level.

My son thought the Domino's pizza we ate that night was better than getting to sleep on a submarine rack. He was right. Visiting the ship was interesting to be sure, but sleeping on those racks was about 1/2 as comfortable as you might think it to be. All in all it was still some good fun, and made for a good memory. :)

Regards

Yay!! I'm a swabbie and not completely useless anymore! :yep: :huh:

[Bluesub 6]

Nice photos :up:

[Payoff]

Thanks for the kind words and I agree, she is beautiful.

Here is a question for you. The pictures that show the aft of the sail, there is a cylinder welded on the sail and there is a door that is open. What is this cylinder? From what I can see it looks like it might contain the shells for the cannon? I have not seen this structure before. The USS Torsk has her guppy sail and the cannon was removed after the war so this structure is not there. Let me know if you checked this out and what it is:know:

You are correct sir. As JSF stated they are ready ammo stores for the 4" deckgun.

Here is a better view of the canisters and the ammo shuttle from below decks.
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/4062/sailgc4.jpg



Torpex752
Did they cut her pressure Hull and install stairs for access?

Unfortunately there is a Coast Guard regulation that prohibits visitors from climbing any vertical surface on board. There are two staircases installed, one at the bow & one at the stern. The aft stairs actually go through an existing torpedo loading hatch. The forward stairs lead into the bow torpedo room and this is the only place the hull had to be compromised.

Here is a shot of the pressure hull below decks, above the forward torpedo room, showing the emergency escape hatch. (I didn't get a shot of the cut away)
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6859/dsc00131bc4.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

Fantastic pictures! I especially like the last one; I've never seen a picture of the space between the deck and the pressure hull. Now I know what the deck framing looks like.

Thanks from me, too!:rock:

[Fearless]

Where can I buy one :lol:

[Payoff]

:up:
Continuing aft from the forward torpedo room.
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Looking aft. Note the starboard active sonar head next to the hatch. PINGGG!
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Officers Pantry.
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Officers Wardroom. This is the table where 22 year old Pharmicist's Mate Thomas Moore and a handful of volunteers successfully removed Seaman George Platter's appendix at a depth of 150 ft. Note also the sleeping torpedo representing the 6th war patrol. This was the Captain & crew's subtle way of saying that out of 24 torpedos fired, only 1 was not a dud. Thats 23 duds in one patrol. (And we think we have it rough)
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http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4771/thomasde4.jpg Appendectomy aboard Silversides, Christmas Eve 1942.

Officers Quarters. One of several.
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Ships Office.
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Captains Quarters. Complete with depth gauge & heading indicator mounted over the bunk.
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Captains Quarters retractable wash basin. Folds up to allow access to locker.
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Looking aft into the Control Room.
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