USS Silversides

[GoldenEagle8]

I guess the US navy, or Coast Graurd, or what ever, are getting a little desperate for boats. I've been to the USS Silversides before, it's in great shape, but I don't think It's quite ready for sevice.

[Ducimus]

I would think the metal is too fatigued after all these years for that boat to operate is it was intended.

[Tranton]

If I recall correctly the Silversides was the boat used in the beginning external shot of the movie BELOW. In the movie she looks like she is traveling under her own power, but I beleive she was actually being towed off camera.

[SgtWalt65]

One submarine, the USS Pampanito was back in 1986 ( not sure if it still is, and likely is not ) was a museum, but was being maintained by the US Navy at that time and still ran on the surface only. I went aboard her and to my suprise found two Naval Officers onboard in the locked out portion of the ship. I got one of thems attention ( Chief petty Officer, dont recall name ) and asked him what they where doing. He explained to me that the ship was not on the navy register, but was still maintained by the US Navy and was used as a training sub for new submariners. In xplaining he told me on occasion it was taken out into the Bay ( not the Pacific ) and they conducted training on it. Also said it could NOT be submerged due to the metal fatique over the years and they where not sure it could handle the pressure of being submerged. However all systems at this time still functioned. The reason they where there was for some repair work on electronics ( ie radio and radar ) and some other equipment checks prior to a new training class scheduled to come aboard.
This was 21 years ago, so most likely not the case anymore.

Side note: Its also funny how select Navy pilots are trained in the North American P-51D Mustangs in Florida. Never have figured that one out.
Info: http://www.stallion51.com/

[WFGood]

Originally Posted by SgtWalt65

One submarine, the USS Pampanito was back in 1986 ( not sure if it still is, and likely is not ) was a museum, but was being maintained by the US Navy at that time and still ran on the surface only. I went aboard her and to my suprise found two Naval Officers onboard in the locked out portion of the ship. I got one of thems attention ( Chief petty Officer, dont recall name ) and asked him what they where doing. He explained to me that the ship was not on the navy register, but was still maintained by the US Navy and was used as a training sub for new submariners. In xplaining he told me on occasion it was taken out into the Bay ( not the Pacific ) and they conducted training on it. Also said it could NOT be submerged due to the metal fatique over the years and they where not sure it could handle the pressure of being submerged. However all systems at this time still functioned. The reason they where there was for some repair work on electronics ( ie radio and radar ) and some other equipment checks prior to a new training class scheduled to come aboard.
This was 21 years ago, so most likely not the case anymore.

Side note: Its also funny how select Navy pilots are trained in the North American P-51D Mustangs in Florida. Never have figured that one out.
Info: http://www.stallion51.com/

Pampanito was decommissioned on December 15, 1945 and placed in "mothballs" at Mare Island where she remained until she was brought out to serve as a training platform for Naval Reserve Submarine Division 11-12 at Mare Island during the 1960s. Pampanito remained part of the reserves until 1970 when, unfortunately, she was opened up to the fleet stripping program. Some of her equipment was removed to provide spare parts for other submarines.

In 1971, Pampanito was stricken from Navy records, and in 1976 Pampanito was turned over to the Maritime Park Association (formerly National Maritime Museum Association) to be opened to the public as a memorial and museum ship. However, the attempt to berth the submarine at Fisherman's Wharf was blocked by the San Francisco Port Commission led by Harry Bridges. As a result, Pampanito was moved from Mare Island to a private shipyard in Stockton where she remained for almost six years in storage as the debate continued. Eventually the feeling of the Commission changed and a berth at the Wharf was secured.
Opened to the public in 1982, she has become one of the most popular historic vessels in the country hosting as many as 250,000 visitors a year.
Since her opening the Maritime Park Association has worked to interpret the vessel to her visitors and to preserve and restore her to her wartime condition and appearance. Most of the equipment taken during the fleet stripping period has been replaced as have the missing deck guns, bunks and other equipment. Pampanitohas been drydocked three times by the Association and she is on a regular haul out schedule of between five and seven years. Many of Pampanito's systems have been brought back to life and made operational as part of her extensive preservation program. The effort continues seven days a week. In the Spring of 1996 Pampanito left her berth to star in the feature film Down Periscope starring Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Holley, Rob Schneider, Rip Torn and Bruce Dern. Pampanito played the fictitious submarine USS Stingray SS-161. (The real USS Stingray was hull number SS-186 and SS 161 was the S-50.)

[Kruger]

Uss Drum is a beauty. This is what I found on Google Earth. I am sure many others are also visible.