Why a broom on a real sub?
 

This weekend my wife and I went to San Francisco for a getaway. We toured the USS Pampanito, a WWII American Baloa class sub docked at Fisherman's wharf.

(The web page is http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm).

Here's my question: I noticed an inverted broom mounted high on the conning tower. What is the significance of this? :hmm:

I'll bet it's an interesting story whatever it is.

Thanks as always for your expertise, folks.


Edit: Actually...just checking out the web site...there's a lot of cool stuff there, including a WWII sub training manual!

http://www.maritime.org/tour/img/tpier.jpg

Edit: Ah, blind me! Taken from the site:

Thanks Dowly....yup, that's it!

OK...the question everyone will want to know. Who will mod this into SHIII? :rotfl: :rotfl:

It is one of these, and I think it depends on the nationality and timeframe(WWII vs modern) as to which one is true.


If every torp fired sinks a ship, that is a 'clean sweep'.

If every target engaged is sunk(regardless of torps fired), same as above.

Yes, I was thinking along the lines of a mine sweeper.
:help:

Re: Why a broom on a real sub?
 

A "clean sweep". As in you swept the sea's clean. This practice was done on US subs after a very successful patrol.

It´s a tradition in Netherland subs in WWII. British and US submarines folow the tradition. After a sucesfull mission, the broom on top was "all clean"

I watched the 1943 movie "Crash Dive" the other day. This tradition was featured when the US sub "USS Corsair" returned to base after one of its successful patrols (it sank a Q-boat). The question was asked in the movie what the broom signified, and "clean sweep" was the response.

Not an overly realistic film BTW (submarine crewmen doubling as Commandos???) - indeed it's up there with U-571 and Pearl Harbour for American flag waving, but considering it was released in 1943, it's totally forgiven. ;) Watch it if you get a chance! :)

I remember staying overnight on that sub. It was a boy scout thing several years ago. This other guy and I were in the engine room. He pushed forward on one of the control thingies for the engine (must have been the electric engine), found out it still works. He quickly put it back to all stop, and we looked around to make sure nobody else heard the noise, hehe.

Was fun looking through the UZO trying to spot babes in the city :)

Good thing I'm not a submariner, I would of used it for the same purpose one normally uses a broom for :88)

I´ve seen in a movie (I cant´t remember wich) the crew testing for
a flooding with a broom stick, the presure was so high it cut it
like a saw.

Re: Why a broom on a real sub?
 

Just checked out the virtual tour, it's awesome! :up:

Great Site! :up:

They still do it today, and it's to check for leaks in high pressure steam lines.