USS Silversides SS-236

[Gunmucker]

I recently visited the USS Silversides and thought that I would share some photos of this historic submarine.

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x...rsides%202012/

The Silversides is a Gato Class submarine and is claimed to be the most famous surviving submarine of WWII. She sunk 30 Japanese vessels, 7 of them were warships, and damaged 14. She rescued 2 American pilots and laid 16 mines on seperate patrols. The first appendectomy ever performed on a submarine by a Pharmacist Mate was performed in the ward room of Silversides and was depicted in the movie Destination Tokyo, starring Cary Grant. The more recent movie Below was filmed onboard the Silversides.

This is a functional submarine. In the pictures that I took, you can see smoke coming from the aft area. They started the diesel engines up on the day that I visited. It was amazing to stand in the control room and think of the intense drama that occurred in that very room.

Enjoy.

[Gerald]

Thanks,very nice

[Pyrolosis]

WOW, as I sit here drinking my missisippi mud (Army slang for coffee). I am wondering how many cups of joe were served on board her during her war patrols. Those must have been some hair raising events, especially being DC'd. As a combat vet that has been shot at, I can only imagine. Thanks for the awesome pictures, less we forget the sacrafice's of all those before us. It was real! It's just not a game we all play and love.

[Tarnsman]

The Silversides has come a very long way from when I saw her as a kid.
The restorers have done her an honor befitting her record. Thanks for posting these pictures.

[KaleunMarco]

Hello Subsimmers,

i recently visiting the SS Silversides Museum and boarded the old girl.
since i do not subscribe to a cloud photo site, i have attached them here.

please forgive the lack of perspective of the photos. they were taken with an apple iphone aboard the cramped space of the actual submarine.

i would be happy to answer any questions you have on the interior of this and other Gato-class subs, as some areas just defy photos, even with today's modern phone/cameras.

brief explanation of WWII periscope technology

actual 4" round for stern deck gun

support area between the outer hull and the pressure hull. this photo is in the area of the forward torpedo room. on the rigth side of the photo you can see the forward escape hatch.

radio shack...shot through the plastic window. (access is still restricted)

this is the trim manifold area.

please forgive me...i cannot remember what this photo is.

Main circuit panel

Stern plane control

Bow plane control

officers' mess

forward torpedo room, starboard side

Forward torpedo tubes

after part of the Mark-14

business end of a Mark-14

[Aktungbby]

NICE! THANKS!

[Kapitan]

I recently toured the USS Cobia in Wisconsin unfortunately i didnt get to go across the lake due to time constraints to see Silversides but she sure is on my hit list.

Wonderful pictures and makes me want to visit her much sooner.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

I recently toured the USS Cobia in Wisconsin unfortunately i didnt get to go across the lake due to time constraints to see Silversides but she sure is on my hit list.

Wonderful pictures and makes me want to visit her much sooner.

which tour did you go on? last time i was up there they offered a quick tour and a detailed tour (can't remember what they called it). the latter one was better. we went places that are normally off-limits for the other WWII subs, like the Silversides, Pompanito, Cod.
Cobia is in much better condition than the Silversides. No offense intended.

[Kapitan]

I did a write up of the Cobia it’s on the forum but it was a private tour of Cobia

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

I did a write up of the Cobia it’s on the forum but it was a private tour of Cobia

thanks. i just read it. nice report. that's the same tour i had except we were not allowed on the bridge or lookout posts or the 4 incher. it was winter and i suspect they did not want any one to slip and fall due to water/ice on steel.

yes, we went everywhere you documented. i was surprized how small the battery rooms were. sailors of that era must have been little guys because some of those spaces are really tight. my father completed 9 war cruises on a diesel boat and he was a small guy. i always thought that he was exceptional in that regard but after touring the various boats i am thinking that guys of his stature were the norm on diesel boats.
i declined the offer of the torpedo tube. when i served, being stuffed in the torpedo tube was the alternative to being dumped over the side: not something that was desired.
the cobia was the only diesel boat that allowed access to the conning tower. here again, i was surprized how small the space was. i am not a big guy but i had stoop (crouch?) the whole time i was up there.
i'll try to remember more and write later.
time to power down.