SF CHRONICLE "Pampanito See-worthy again"

[Aktungbby]

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Pampanito-submarine-to-come-out-of-dry-dock-10616791.php

[Commander Wallace]

The Pampanito is / was well worth saving. The article mentions attaching 60 plates below the waterline so the structural integrity is maintained.

Wouldn't it be easier and more cost effective to keep it out of the water as was done with U-995 in Laboe, Germany ?

Better still, create an enclosure to house the Submarine as was done with U-505.

[AVGWarhawk]

The Torsk was pulled to dry dock about 8 years ago. The Navy dives the Torsk once a year while berthed in the harbor. Overall safety check performed. She was pulled to dry dock to have several large holes repaired. At that time she would list to starboard. I believe a million was spent. This included use of the dry dock and tug. I would imagine keeping the sub out of the water would give it a bit longer life of the metals before replacement is necessary.

[Mr Quatro]

How old is 65 years in a submarines life anyway? You know like they do for humans and dogs?

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

The Pampanito is / was well worth saving. The article mentions attaching 60 plates below the waterline so the structural integrity is maintained.

Wouldn't it be easier and more cost effective to keep it out of the water as was done with U-995 in Laboe, Germany ?

Better still, create an enclosure to house the Submarine as was done with U-505.

Good point and your probably right but there's a little money involved here as well. The sub is moored directly behind the SS Jeremiah O'brien Liberty Ship; creating a lucrative 1-2 punch for enthusiasts to tour both: at $20 a head...each along famed Fisherman's Wharf. With proper reserve funds for a refit every 7-10 years and the more than adequate drydock facilities of the Bay Area it's $till a better arrangement and in a proper setting. It opened for tours in 1982 and attracts more than 100,000 (U do the mathematic$!!?) visitors a year. This is its fifth time in dry-dock, and this visit finally happened after $200,000 was secured in a National Maritime Heritage Grant. The funds come from scrap metal sales as ships in the Mothball Fleet in Suisun Bay are dismantled. Considering they're sanding the sanitary tank and replacing the torpedo gaskets for the first time...it's a happy ship. <Said Suisun Mothball fleet, just 50 miles NE, over my boat's stowed whisker-pole: Down to about eight ships now. The vessels' old lead-based flaking rust & hull-paint has created a decades-old considerable toxic-environmental mess; so the demise of old cargo ships is not a bad thing, in addition to helping preserve the USS Pampanito.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

Good point and your probably right but there's a little money involved here as well. The sub is moored directly behind the SS Jeremiah O'brien Liberty Ship; creating a lucrative 1-2 punch for enthusiasts to tour both: at $20 a head...each along famed Fisherman's Wharf. With proper reserve funds for a refit every 7-10 years and the more than adequate drydock facilities of the Bay Area it's $till a better arrangement and in a proper setting. It opened for tours in 1982 and attracts more than 100,000 (U do the mathematic$!!?) visitors a year. This is its fifth time in dry-dock, and this visit finally happened after $200,000 was secured in a National Maritime Heritage Grant. The funds come from scrap metal sales as ships in the Mothball Fleet in Suisun Bay are dismantled. Considering they're sanding the sanitary tank and replacing the torpedo gaskets for the first time...it's a happy ship. <Said Suisun Mothball fleet, just 50 miles NE, over my boat's stowed whisker-pole: Down to about eight ships now. The vessels' old lead-based flaking rust & hull-paint has created a decades-old considerable toxic-environmental mess; so the demise of old cargo ships is not a bad thing, in addition to helping preserve the USS Pampanito.

I can see your point as well. I can understand it takes money to maintain these vessels. Still,With the Torsk In Baltimore, the Balao-class submarine, the USS Pampanito in San Francisco and many others, they are a piece of history that other generations can learn from. The Pampanito earned six battle stars for World War II service as well. It is not like the vessels don't have a value beyond what they are worth as scrap metal.

With the pacific fleet in tatters after Dec 7 of 1941, These Submarines and more importantly, the men who crewed them, carried on the fight while the Pacific fleet was being rebuilt. Like many, I feel they are a legacy one can't put a dollar value on and thus should be maintained.

The U.K dealt with similar issues I believe.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

I can see your point as well. I can understand it takes money to maintain these vessels. Still,With the Torsk In Baltimore, the Balao-class submarine, the USS Pampanito in San Francisco and many others, they are a piece of history that other generations can learn from. The Pampanito earned six battle stars for World War II service as well. It is not like the vessels don't have a value beyond what they are worth as scrap metal.

With the pacific fleet in tatters after Dec 7 of 1941, These Submarines and more importantly, the men who crewed them, carried on the fight while the Pacific fleet was being rebuilt. Like many, I feel they are a legacy one can't put a dollar value on and thus should be maintained.

The U.K dealt with similar issues I believe.

The Torsk in Baltimore is loathed by the Baltimore Aquarium(and others) but the sub draws many to the harbor that generates revenue for the city. The entire harbor is a cash cow for the city and they know it. So, the Torsk gets a few dollars here and there. The Constellation gets the lions share of dollars for upkeep.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

The Torsk in Baltimore is loathed by the Baltimore Aquarium(and others) but the sub draws many to the harbor that generates revenue for the city. The entire harbor is a cash cow for the city and they know it. So, the Torsk gets a few dollars here and there. The Constellation gets the lions share of dollars for upkeep.

I'm saddened to hear that the Torsk isn't held in higher regard and given the respect it deserves. The U.S.S Requin was in disrepair in Tampa Florida. It's a Tench Class Submarine and had been commissioned after sea trials and was on it's way to the pacific fleet when japan surrendered in WW2. The Requin was one of the subs to join in the search for the USS Scorpion when it went missing in May of 1968.

Quote:
Preservation efforts


On 17 June 1972 Requin was transferred to a non-profit memorial foundation in Tampa, Florida, and docked in the Hillsborough River adjacent to Curtis Hixon Hall and the Tampa Museum of Art, across the river from the University of Tampa, as a tourist attraction. She remained in this role until 1986, when the non-profit organization responsible for the submarine folded due to insolvency and Requin was closed down due to lack of funding and support. With the exception of briefly reopening in 1988, she essentially remained abandoned at the pier for the subsequent four years.
On 21 February 1990 Senator John Heinz introduced Senate Bill S.2151, which allowed Requin to be transferred as an exhibit for the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On 24 May Requin was towed to Tampa Shipyard for dry docking and hull repairs, in preparation for her move to Pittsburgh. On 7 August she left International Ship Repair in Tampa under tow to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where, on 11 August, she was lifted onto barges and began her ride up the Mississippi River and Ohio River to Pittsburgh. On 4 September Requin arrived at the Carnegie Science Center, and on 20 October Requin was dedicated as a memorial and museum exhibit, and opened for tours.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Requin_(SS-481)

The Submarine is in excellent shape and well supported and regarded and most view the Requin as the crown jewel for the Carnegie Science Center . I wish the Torsk was given the same consideration.

[Mr Quatro]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

Good point and your probably right but there's a little money involved here as well. The sub is moored directly behind the SS Jeremiah O'brien Liberty Ship; creating a lucrative 1-2 punch for enthusiasts to tour both: at $20 a head...each along famed Fisherman's Wharf. With proper reserve funds for a refit every 7-10 years and the more than adequate drydock facilities of the Bay Area it's $till a better arrangement and in a proper setting. It opened for tours in 1982 and attracts more than 100,000 (U do the mathematic$!!?) visitors a year. This is its fifth time in dry-dock, and this visit finally happened after $200,000 was secured in a National Maritime Heritage Grant. The funds come from scrap metal sales as ships in the Mothball Fleet in Suisun Bay are dismantled. Considering they're sanding the sanitary tank and replacing the torpedo gaskets for the first time...it's a happy ship. <Said Suisun Mothball fleet, just 50 miles NE, over my boat's stowed whisker-pole: Down to about eight ships now. The vessels' old lead-based flaking rust & hull-paint has created a decades-old considerable toxic-environmental mess; so the demise of old cargo ships is not a bad thing, in addition to helping preserve the USS Pampanito.

That's what I was looking for ... I thought it was higher up into the Sacramento area. I saw a vision of these ships being scrapped in a floating dry dock, but now I see there are not that many left.

I wanted to build a shipyard right there on that same spot to build a new type of ship that would be so secret that no one could enter the ship yard unless they worked there. No roads in, no highway, perhaps a helio pad, but all supplies and workers would come from affair by barges and supply vessels and ferry's for the workers, because there would be no where to go eat the ship yard would supply all meals.

What to build that would be so top secret? Submarine tenders of the future full of submarine drones.

Darn now it's no secret: https://static.vesselfinder.net/imag...cc0ab35398.jpg

[Hitman]

Don't quote me on this, but IIRC the main reason to keep them in the water is to help them bear with their own weight (Very much like the whales). In the water you get corrosion and algae under the waterline, but on dry dock for a long period the hull suffers deformation because of its own weight and will never again be able to return to sea.

[August]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Don't quote me on this, but IIRC the main reason to keep them in the water is to help them bear with their own weight (Very much like the whales). In the water you get corrosion and algae under the waterline, but on dry dock for a long period the hull suffers deformation because of its own weight and will never again be able to return to sea.

Certainly makes sense. They're designed to float, not sit on blocks.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Don't quote me on this, but IIRC the main reason to keep them in the water is to help them bear with their own weight (Very much like the whales). In the water you get corrosion and algae under the waterline, but on dry dock for a long period the hull suffers deformation because of its own weight and will never again be able to return to sea.

True that

[Cowboycop22]

I agree unless your going to repair her completely to fully functional and submersible take her out of the water and preserve her in a dry dock. Otherwise that's a waste of cash because it will have to be done again. if I had the money restore her to full function.

[Aktungbby]

Cowboycop22!

[Commander Wallace]

Welcome aboard Cowboycop22.