81 Personal photos from the USS Pampanito

[ATR-42]

Per my other thread here they are as promised. If anyone requests any of these photos in high res i have them in 3000x2300, feel free to drop me a PM.

Moderators, if this is too bandwidth heavy let me know.

This boat is truly breath taking. it is in full sea worthy condition. I was fortunate to spend about 4 hours on her, i walked through 3 times. It was windy as hell in the harbor that day, and the boat was rolling just enough to give me the feeling that these boats really must have rocked and rolled in the open sea. Id say just sitting at the dock she was rolling about 3 degrees to either side, if i had to compare it to anything, id say it was very similar to how a 50' sport fisherman boat would feel as it sat in the slip with no 'crew' movement on a clam day.

The boat is ready to sail, they used it a few years ago, it makes me wonder if anyone has the nads to DIVE the boat! I wonder if the people responsible for restoring it are able to use the boat to its full abilities. They have another stage of restoration coming up they are trying to get her to dry dock once again.

This is truly the holy grail of WWII subs. So far ive seen the Torsk and the boats at pearl harbor. this one outshines them all. She has quite a history and a dedicated volunteer staff. Surprisingly the sounds that played through the personal headset tour are identical to that of the ROW sound pack, especially the ambient sounds. It was pouring and windy out, so as i was working my way through the boat there was lots of ambient noises of water trickling, pumps activating and so on, it really added to the immersion factor. The sound of water in the bilge sounds a lot like water dripping in a cave. The control room and lower pump room had a pungent smell of diesel, it was awesome!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0668.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0671.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0673.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0674.jpg
Note the paint job and the fade... Nice work Foo ;)

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0676.jpg
Forward AA gun


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0677.jpg
Aft AA gun note the Ammo lockers at the foot of the tower...


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0678.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0680.jpg

Aft torpedo room

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0681.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0686.jpg

moving forward from aft torpedo room here in this bulkhead.

[ATR-42]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0687.jpg
This head was located in the aft torpedo room


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0689.jpg
Moving forward from the aft torpedo room, this is the maneuvering station


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0692.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0693.jpg
Aft engine room...


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0698.jpg
Aft engine com panel


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0699.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0702.jpg
Forward Engine room, at the front bulkhead ahead, you see those two tanks, they are the desalinization tanks

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0708.jpg
Crew bunks, yes stacked 3 high :)


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0712.jpg
Crew Mess, with the radio, it works :)

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0713.jpg
Crew Mess across from the tables. Starboard side.

[ATR-42]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0715.jpg
Crew Galley fwd

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0716.jpg
Crew Galley aft

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0717.jpg
Radio Room


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0722.jpg
This safe was located in the control room outboard of the helm, im not sure what its for, if someone knows please post.


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0724.jpg
forward bulkhead of the control room. radar??


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0725.jpg
Aft torpedo tube 8


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0726.jpg
Aft torpedo room looking forward from aft


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0728.jpg
Maneuvering room (i think)


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0729.jpg
forward Engine room


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0730.jpg
Engine parameters, much like an airplane, displayed pressure, oil temps, levels, RPMs ect. really cool stuff...


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0731.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0732.jpg
Crew Mess

[ATR-42]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0736.jpg
Control Room was rigged for red, made getting some shots difficult. this is aft starboard side of control room.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0741.jpg
Control room starboard side


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0742.jpg
Looks really familiar eh?


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0744.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0745.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0748.jpg
This was behind the aft dive plane station, it looks like it might be a radar?


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0750.jpg
Peering up and aft into the conning tower


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0751.jpg
Peering up and foward into the conning tower


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0760.jpg
Control Room


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0770.jpg
Lower deck, pump room beneath the control room

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0773.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0777.jpg

[ATR-42]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0784.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0787.jpg
This was directly above the map table, faced aft. Sounding machine.


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0789.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0791.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0793.jpg
Again here is the safe in the lower right corner. with the other machine in top left.


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0795.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0801.jpg
Goes to 450?


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0803.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0804.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0808.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0813.jpg
A working christmas tree

[ATR-42]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0814.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0815.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0817.jpg
Officers State rooms

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0818.jpg
Captains state room, note gyro compass repeater and depth read outs


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0821.jpg
Officers Mess

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0822.jpg
Officers Galley


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0827.jpg
Forward Torpedo room, cutaway of a steam torpedo


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0829.jpg
Forward torpedo room, 6 tubes stacked. loading the lower tubes must have been a real PITA


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0832.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0837.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0840.jpg
Aft bulkhead of forward torpedo room.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0841.jpg
These 'masts' would lower the sonar heads deep below the boat. so they could listen from the surface.

[ATR-42]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0845.jpg
There were two of these 'masts' in the foward torpedo room, aft bulkhead.
They were on both port and starboard sides. this one was the starboard side.
Behind this was a small head, forward of that was a small shower.


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0847.jpg
Coming up from forward torpedo room back topside...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0852.jpg
sonic hydrophone head- thanks hawk!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0859.jpg
SJ-1, SV Radars and the spot/signal light - thanks elanaiba!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0860.jpg
Forward AA Gun.


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0862.jpg
Aft AA gun with ammo lockers


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0868.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0872.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0874.jpg
Sub Prop, forgot which sub its from though...


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0876.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0877.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0879.jpg

[Alex]

Awesome, just awesome. :o

Thanks for sharing, mate !! :D

5 * for your thread ! :up:

[jmr]

Great pics!


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0808.jpg


Hmm what's that bulging thing in the center? Massive compass?

[ATR-42]

Its the electro mechanical gyro compass.

[jgbishop]

Wow, these were such great photographs! Thanks for sharing them. :cool:

[AVGWarhawk]

She is in great shape and absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[LukeFF]

Nice! It really shows how good, yet how far, the SH4 sub interiors are from reality. It would be great to get a christmas tree panel looking like that.

[von Kinderei]

WOW ...

Thanks for takin' the time to post these ... :up:

[Mush Martin]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0874.jpg
Sub Prop, forgot which sub its from though...



Five Bladed .... interesting:hmm:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice pics :yep::up::up: Thanks for sharing :yep:


RDP

[hawk2495]

Coming up from forward torpedo room back topside...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0852.jpg
Air Search Radar (i think)



Thats actually the rotating head for the sonic hydrophone. The two on the underside of the hull are classified as supersonic hydrophones..;)
http://www.maritime.org/fleetsub/sonar/chap1.htm#1A

Awesome pics by the way... I hope I get the chance to get to Frisco to see the old girl myself.

[Sailor Steve]

I'm pretty sure the safe was to store coded messages and keep the ship's log. Officers always have things enlisted men aren't supposed to see and captains always have things junior officers aren't supposed to see. My destroyer even had one in the radio room, for the code books and such.

Nice tour. Thanks.:sunny:

[Doolittle81]

Thanks for the Pics. Where is this sub?

[ATR-42]

Doolittle,
Its in San Fransisco. funny that your in vegas, cause the night before we stayed in SFO we overnighted in LAS. small world.

[ATR-42]

Five Bladed .... interesting:hmm:

lol i knew someone was gonna say that! :) you got me thinking mush, i love these high res shots, i was able to zoom in on that plaque.

the prop shown is from the USS Darter a Tang class, built in 1953. The prop weighed 2000 pounds. was 7' in diameter.

The Prop on the Pampanito was a 4 blade prop, almost 8' in diameter and weighed 3000 pounds

[elanaiba]

The radars are SJ-1 and SV, so there's no SD onboard.

[Fishie]

Cool pics dude!

If ya ever make it to Pearl, be sure to go on the Bowfin- she's in just as good condition.

Gawd, I wanna grab a bunch of guys, take one of 'em out, and see if those torpedoes still work! :ping:

[stuntcow]

Thanks for posting the pics. They are all great shots.

[sonar732]

So...which one is the sonar station?

Anyhow...this sub was used on Down Periscope.

[elanaiba]

The sonar - supersonic listening that is - and radar stations are located in the Conning Tower and not accessible to the public AFAIK.

BTW, did I say "very nice shots" :) ?

[The General]

Before playing SH4, I knew very little about WWII era American Subs. I'm amazed at the size of the thing, look at all that room! You really don't get a very good sense of scale in SH4. I think someone should try messing with depth of field or something to give a better immpression of scale. I'm not suprsied that Ubi didn't take the time to model all those rooms, I can't believe how many there are. But it would've been great if they had huh?!

Thank you so much for the guided tour.

:up:

[kylesplanet]

Great pics!! Wouldn't you just love to go for a ride in that baby!:yep:

[claybirdd]

Great pics, thanks for sharing them. Did it fel really cramped or slightly spacious. And could you mess with the TDC (I didnt see any pics of this)?

[V.C. Sniper]

Your pics r so awesomen3$$!!! The USS Pampanito is one of my favorite Balao class sub!!! She looks so beautiful and elegant in those pics! =D You forgot to take pics of the TDC and the big red buttons that fire the torpedoes though, but that's ok. =D

The USS Pampanito's excellent seaworthyness condition got me thinking that maybe one day: all the sub lovers of America (or maybe the world) could join forces to get her back into tip top shape and out to sea again, load her up with fuel and supplies (and 1 or 2 perfect replica of a MRK 14 Torpedo with a live 643 Ib torpex warhead :rock: ), sail the world, dive deep (800 FT!! :rock: ), and maybe even participate in a constructive ship sinking event where the target ship would be torpedoed by the USS Pampanito to create new reefs. Ahhhh whadda dream. :hmm:

[SteamWake]

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for these photos ! :p

Really enjoyed browsing them !

Carry on :|\\

[Spike88]

At first I thought the first picture was a ingame screenie :oops: . Then I realized it was real. (Didn't read what it said before looking at the pictures, heh.)

[Puster Bill]

So...which one is the sonar station?

Anyhow...this sub was used on Down Periscope.

I was going to mention that.

Great pics. Makes me want to get a tattoo on my thingy.

(SF would probably be the place to get it, too)

[thegroo]

Thanks for sharing

Regards
Dieter

[shoot-kill-win]

Nice photos, the Batfish is not in that good of condition, however we are trying our best to get her that way. BTW Awesome photos. Yet at the Batfish they also let people mess around with all the gadgets, and we have more things to make it seem real, like photos, fake food and copies of "Yank" magazine.

[JALU3]

Your pics r so awesomen3$$!!! The USS Pampanito is one of my favorite Balao class sub!!! She looks so beautiful and elegant in those pics! =D You forgot to take pics of the TDC and the big red buttons that fire the torpedoes though, but that's ok. =D

The USS Pampanito's excellent seaworthyness condition got me thinking that maybe one day: all the sub lovers of America (or maybe the world) could join forces to get her back into tip top shape and out to sea again, load her up with fuel and supplies (and 1 or 2 perfect replica of a MRK 14 Torpedo with a live 643 Ib torpex warhead :rock: ), sail the world, dive deep (800 FT!! :rock: ), and maybe even participate in a constructive ship sinking event where the target ship would be torpedoed by the USS Pampanito to create new reefs. Ahhhh whadda dream. :hmm:

Sounds like an idea alot of us could get behind, and would contribute to.

[McBeck]

Were there any veterans onboard when you took these pics?

[robbierob2005]

Very nice pics:up: I've never been on a us sub.

[odjig292]

First class pics of a very well preserved boat! Thanks for sharing them with us.

[Jib01]

Wow, it must have been in the middle of the week. I went on Saturday and there were people all over. You must have been the only person on the boat when you took the shots.

I was wondering what those two hydralic cylinders in the forward torpedo room were. Why so big if just for sonar. Sure they are not the dive plane actuators ?

Regards
Jib01
:rock: :rock: :rock:

[Gino]

The USS Pampanito's excellent seaworthyness condition got me thinking that maybe one day: all the sub lovers of America (or maybe the world) could join forces to get her back into tip top shape and out to sea again, load her up with fuel and supplies (and 1 or 2 perfect replica of a MRK 14 Torpedo with a live 643 Ib torpex warhead :rock: ), sail the world, dive deep (800 FT!! :rock: ), and maybe even participate in a constructive ship sinking event where the target ship would be torpedoed by the USS Pampanito to create new reefs. Ahhhh whadda dream. :hmm:

Let me give you a rude awakening...

Sailing the Pampanito is never going to happen! That also goes for the other museum boats out there. The Navy keeps close contact with all museum boats. They have regular inspections etc. The submarines can still be converted to weapons, and as such could be a hazard to the general public. This would be a reason for the Navy to reclaim the boat and turn it into razorblades.

The boats/ships are given away to organizations that can support the boat/ship.
And then only with the following restrictions:
The boat can be taken back by the Navy if:
It has become a public hazard. That could even happen when somebody breaks a leg on a rotten deckplank.
It is a disgrace to the Navy. Like painting a sub in psychedelic colors, and smoke weed aboard.
If the Navy needs the boat for services to the US. Like happened a couple of times with the Iowa class battleships.

So keep dreaming, that's all you've got :)

BTW, nice pictures, when are you going to visit the USS Cod?
We don't have these acrylic walls around mucking up your shots :D

groetjes,

[elanaiba]

I was wondering what those two hydralic cylinders in the forward torpedo room were. Why so big if just for sonar. Sure they are not the dive plane actuators ?


They are used to lower the two sonar heads for supersonic listening, and raise them when not in use. Like, for example, before setting on the bottom :D

[AVGWarhawk]

BTW, nice pictures, when are you going to visit the USS Cod?
We don't have these acrylic walls around mucking up your shots :D
Yeah the visitors muck up the brass with their greasy fingers:rotfl:

As for Gino's comment, yep the Navy runs a chainsaw behind the electrical boards.:dead: These boats would definitely see their last dive if it was attempted. The Torsk main induction is open about 1 inch. Years spent attempting to get it close. Such is life in the museum boat business.

[M. Sarsfield]

As for Gino's comment, yep the Navy runs a chainsaw behind the electrical boards.

The Batfish curator, Rick, says that he's been behind the control room electrical panels, but he didn't mention that it was chewed up or sabotaged. If it was standard procedure, then they must have forgotten to do it. We'd like to get power restored to the main switch board one of the days/years.

[M. Sarsfield]

The radars are SJ-1 and SV, so there's no SD onboard.


I believe that SV replaced SD in the late 40's/early 50's.

[SeaQueen]

My suspicion is that the safe was for storing any classified documents that the boat might have had onboard. Such things might have included code manuals, technical manuals, the boat's orders, tactics manuals, etc. My suspicion is that back then things were pretty much the same as they are now with respect to storing classified material, and so almost all warships would have had at least one safe, and maybe more, so that certain material could only be accessed by those with a "need to know." Most warships have safes aboard them. One of them is typically located in the captain's cabin.

[AVGWarhawk]

ATR,

I hope you do not mind, I swiped a couple of your photos. I need these for the Torsk. Some things of interest in the pictures for us:up:

[ATR-42]

AVG,
Let me know if you want any of the originals. they are 8 megapixel shots, the originals are HUGE.

[AVGWarhawk]

What you have will work. My interest is the manuevering room panel. The Torsks is currently nasty green. The original was like Pampanito. Work is to begin on the panels in a week or so. I wanted to show the restoration crew this picture for reference and what it will look like when completed. We have a lot of pictures in the archives but they are in black and white. Colored photos are a huge help. Thanks for offering!:up:

[Gino]

The Torsks is currently nasty green. The original was like Pampanito.

Are you really sure about that?
Working on the Cod, I learnt one thing pretty fast. The color you see may not be the color it was. And during the years of service colors changed.
So it could well be that that nasty green is the original color, whereas the grey from Pampanito was done later. (maybe even after the boat was decomissioned)

Many museum boats were painted with the 'we-had-it-cheap-or-for-free-i-like-this-paint' So, you have to figure out what timeframe you want to show the boat in (early WW2, Late WW2. Fifties)Then you have to get somewhere the info on what colors were used. Then you have to get that exact color (it still is a museum so it has to be perfect). Then you paint it. And then the visitors can say:"I don't think this is the real color, because all submarines are white within...says Hollywood"

Our curator is very interested when it comes to painting. No paint of the above described brand is used on our boat...

Success painting,

groetjes,

[LukeFF]

I believe that SV replaced SD in the late 40's/early 50's.

SV started to come into use in the last months of the war. Pampanito got hers in July of 1945.

[AVGWarhawk]

The Torsks is currently nasty green. The original was like Pampanito.
Are you really sure about that?
Working on the Cod, I learnt one thing pretty fast. The color you see may not be the color it was. And during the years of service colors changed.
So it could well be that that nasty green is the original color, whereas the grey from Pampanito was done later. (maybe even after the boat was decomissioned)

Many museum boats were painted with the 'we-had-it-cheap-or-for-free-i-like-this-paint' So, you have to figure out what timeframe you want to show the boat in (early WW2, Late WW2. Fifties)Then you have to get somewhere the info on what colors were used. Then you have to get that exact color (it still is a museum so it has to be perfect). Then you paint it. And then the visitors can say:"I don't think this is the real color, because all submarines are white within...says Hollywood"

Our curator is very interested when it comes to painting. No paint of the above described brand is used on our boat...

Success painting,

groetjes,
Yep, the panels were grey. Where the visitors walk between the two panels going to the aft engine room, their hands have worn off the green right down to the original gray. As she found her way into the 80's there was a plethora of free cheap paint colors flying around the boat. Not to mention what the City of Baltimore did to her when they got her. Looking like a jungle gym in the playground. We have light green, light blue, the forward engines were painted dark blue(long since corrected by yours truly:D). Also, we have one on the boat that served on the Torsk in the 60's, Chuck Weaver, Tim Calvert served on a sister ship, USS Diablo. Their memory is still good! We attempt to keep the fabric of the boat to the best of our ability and substantiated with archive photos and those that served on her. I'm sure you have seen the layers of paint on the Cod. Sometime 4-5 coats deep on the Torsk are found. Each boat has her own story of how she came to be at the present day. Mechanically we are restoring to the 1960's configuration as the missing parts are easier to find then the parts from the 40's. Basically we stripped the USS Trout for the parts. As far as the paint, the decision was made to get to the original coat. Just this weekend I finished restoring the differential temperature panel (1 of 4 for each engine). I removed a coat of white and a coat of blue. The original color was grey. Not to mention they slapped on paint all over the gauge glass, the red indicator light covered in friggin blue and the rubber reset button water proof cover painted white. Quite colorful really:roll:. I have three to go. It is trifling when you see how the white paint was just slapped on everything and I mean, EVERYTHING. At any rate, we have a very stalwart historian on the boat who will beat you to the very inch of your life if changes are made that are incorrect:o

[LukeFF]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/klehmann/Pampantino/IMG_0724.jpg
forward bulkhead of the control room. radar??

That would be the Loran unit:

http://www.maritime.org/radio-das.htm

[ATR-42]

nice find!

[DaveyJ576]

lol i knew someone was gonna say that! :) you got me thinking mush, i love these high res shots, i was able to zoom in on that plaque.

the prop shown is from the USS Darter a Tang class, built in 1953. The prop weighed 2000 pounds. was 7' in diameter.

Gentlemen,

The prop in question is the only surviving major piece of my old boat, the USS Darter (SS-576). When I visited the Pampanito in 2003 I was shocked to see it sitting on the pier. The Darter had been sunk as a target in 1992 and I was unaware that any piece of her still existed. If you look closely the prop has a nick in one of the blades that probably drove our Sonar Techs nuts with the whine it created.

The Darter was a unique boat of her own class. Commissioned in 1956, she was an update of the preceeding Tang class, her major innovation was the introduction of airplane style controls, set against the forward bulkhead of the control room as opposed to the port bulkhead in all previous submarines. This enabled rapid changes in depth to be combined with banking turns, greatly increasing maneuverability. The Darter also incorporated three conventional and reliable Fairbanks-Morse 38ND8 1/8 diesel engines from the very start, the Navy having learned their lesson with the accursed GM 16-338 Pancake diesels in the Tang class. She was supposed to have two sisters, the Grayback (SS-574) and Growler (SS-577), but these boats received major modifications to become Regulus cruise missle submarines.

The original design proved to be a bit cramped, and in 1966 she received a 16 1/2 foot addition between the after battery and the engine room, along with some other upgrades. The Darter provided the USN with outstanding service for 35 1/2 continuous years, currently a record for USN submarines. She was a good boat that is fondly remembered by her crews.

For some good photos, check out the following link:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08576.htm

[runningdeer]

Thank you for sharing. Very interesting photos. I had never seen the inside of a torpedo, the steam torpedo was neat, so much more inside of one than I imagined would be.

[Morpheus]

i think some of you might find this here very interessting:

Silent Service - Submarine Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSjKT8JPQAc)

Silent Service - Submarine Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5rA5GSxl6w)

Silent Service - Submarine Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3rhxYq2nNI)

Silent Service - Submarine Part 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej8uq2DMLmM)

Silent Service - Submarine Part 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGgnXqBL24g)

The Pampanito, and especially her rebuilt and the worlds one only remaining TDC is presented here ... (Part 2 i think ...)

kr morph

P.S. Damn, i have been to San Francisco serveral times and never thought of having a visit to that old beauty :cry:

[LukeFF]

nice find!

:D

I knew someone had taken a whole set of good photos of the Pampanito sometime in the past, but I couldn't figure out who it was. By a stroke of luck the search engine turned up this thread. This time I made sure to save them all to my computer.

[Folducker]

Sure looks a lot different than it did the first time I took the tour. It was in the early 1980's I am guessing not long after it opened. I thought the interior probably looked like it did during WWII, It was in need of paint at the time. I went on the Bowfin at Pearl a few years ago and amazed at the difference.

Thanks for posting the photos, If I ever get back to SF, I will definaltely want to go back to the Pampanito.

[captgeo]

Excellent pic's,......a "wealth of info gained",.....thanks.:yeah:

[The Fishlord]

NEAT! Seeing both now, I think I still prefer the Bowfin, but no way I'm passing up more inside shots...:yeah:Nice job :up::up::up::up:

[R Hardman]

Thanks for the post. You pulled off some pretty amazing shots.

[ATR-42]

I end up in SFO at least 12-25 times a year for work, usually for only 15-36 hours, but i never miss a chance to see her ;)

[swmicros]

Wow, awesome pics ATR-42. Thanks for sharing!:D

[PeriscopeDepth]

5 star thread. Excellent job ATR-42.

PD

[fright52]

ATR-42...I just want to say a 'BIG THANKS" for your photos of the USS Pampanito. I started building Revell's 1:72 scale Gato sub and I came across your photos doing research on colors. I kept with a Measure 33/9-SS which was light gray and black.
Your photos provided invaluable detail for painting the deck gun, cleats, hydrophone and sail structure for my project. I got so caught up in this, I found SH4 and now belong to Subsim. Again, many thanks!

[ATR-42]

Every time i go to San Fransisco (several times a year) i go visit her! im obsessed with that boat!

im really happy that the photos were of assistance. ive left them on my photobucket for that reason, shes such a jewel.

[Torplexed]

Fantastic pictures! :salute: Thanks for sharing!