Some updated USS Torsk Photos

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Torvald Von Mansee

Ooooh!!! I know me (and my father, the retired Engineering Duty and flag officer) would like to get in on such conning tower action, if possible!!!!

Anyone in the service active or retired gets on for free. You also get the grand tour if you want. He can go into the con if he wants. Just wear a helmet. That is what I need Let me know if you plan on coming. I'm there Saturday mornings. If you come well before 10 am the boat is free of other visitors. You can poke around at your leisure.

[M. Sarsfield]

Just wear a helmet. That is what I need

We did a reenactment tour on the Batfish in December and my main problem was banging my shins going up and down the conning tower ladder, but after doing it for 2 days I got pretty good at it. Same with the hatches.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Originally Posted by M. Sarsfield

We did a reenactment tour on the Batfish in December and my main problem was banging my shins going up and down the conning tower ladder, but after doing it for 2 days I got pretty good at it. Same with the hatches.

Practice makes perfect!!!!

(Btw, AVGWarhawk, I sent you a PM, just so you know!!)

[shoot-kill-win]

Here is a picture taken inside the Batfish during the war. The man standing at the High pressure manifold is Bob "steamboat" Fulton a Motor Mac. What I want you to notice is how there is a glare off of the high pressure manifolds gauges, then look at the pipes going up to the top (that are brass in AVG's photos of the Torsk) these look to be painted, since ther is no glare coming off of them.

[snakeyez]

/shameless plug on

Guys, check out my post.

And then check out my new project SUBMARINEMUSEUMS.ORG. Just flipped the switch on it today!



/shameless plug off

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

RR, let me tell you the quality of work that went into these boats is simply amazing. Each piece reeks of pride. Brass is solid and shiny. Steel is solid. Yes, the brasswork would look like that during wartime. Again, the pride in the handwork of these boat is unbelievable.

The boat is a magnificent work of art! And the photos really give you a sense of the space inside the boat like none I've seen. Most photos were taken to emphasize the cramped, dismal interior of the sardine can to play up the alien nature of the submarine sailor who would subject himself to such horrors.

So this is what the submariner saw! No wonder they loved their boats.

[seafarer]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It is very inaccessible for visitors and not practical to have it open. In all reality, it is a broken ankle waiting to happen. Heck, I bang my head no less the three times climbing up the ladder. My daughter has to step on my head when climbing down because her legs are too short reach the ladder. Just impractical. Anyway, if you make another visit let me know and you can have the golden key to the conning tower. Look up there all you like. Let me tell you, the attack scope can zoom in on the scantly clad girls walking around the inner harbor

Wow, thanks for the offer. I usually go to Baltimore at least a couple of times during the summer, so I may well take you up on that.

Back in July I was there with my two nephews and we did the complete set of vessel tours. The boys really enjoyed both the Torsk and the Taney (I've also taken them on HMCS Haida when she was still in Toronto, and the USS Lexington when I lived in Port Aransas TX, and the USS Nautilus - one of them lives in CT).

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by shoot-kill-win

Here is a picture taken inside the Batfish during the war. The man standing at the High pressure manifold is Bob "steamboat" Fulton a Motor Mac. What I want you to notice is how there is a glare off of the high pressure manifolds gauges, then look at the pipes going up to the top (that are brass in AVG's photos of the Torsk) these look to be painted, since ther is no glare coming off of them.

Yes, they do look painted. Same color as the hull perhaps. Hard to tell in black/white photos. Go through the photos again and you will see all the pipes in the Torsk are brass and unpainted. Aft torp room the pipes off the left. Look at the planes wheels, to the right. It might also be how that particular construction yard handled paint, etc. One can only guess. The old photos are invaluable.

[shoot-kill-win]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

The old photos are invaluable.

Funny you should say that because, I found a picture on the cover of a book called "War Under The Pacific" by TIME LIFE books, the quote by it said "American sub skipper looking through scope." When when I was at the Batfish, I was looking at a photo on the control room plot board that had Capt. Fyfe (the skipper that sank the three subs) in it at the scope but looking at the camera not through a scope. I looked really close and was able to match the two photos up by the man operating the sound gear in the backgroung, he is the same in both. So now I want to contact TIME LIFE and have them say it was Capt. Fyfe.
Sarsfield next time you are at the Batfish look at the picture in the control room.
Here is the cover photo on the book. (Ido not have the other photo as it is under glass at the Batfish)

[M. Sarsfield]

I spent a LOT of time in the conning tower in December and the attack scope was next to the radar scope and the observation scope was next to the sound stack. In this picture the sound operator is in the background and the sound stack is not directly across from either scope. The TDC is across from the sound stack in this picture, too, which is definitely not the Batfish's layout.

[tater]

Bumpage for PTO stuff

[shoot-kill-win]

Originally Posted by M. Sarsfield

I spent a LOT of time in the conning tower in December and the attack scope was next to the radar scope and the observation scope was next to the sound stack. In this picture the sound operator is in the background and the sound stack is not directly across from either scope. The TDC is across from the sound stack in this picture, too, which is definitely not the Batfish's layout.

Yes you are correct, Rick and I noticed that as well. However Capt. Fyfe was the skipper of another boat before the Batfish (I believe), so that might be it. But Rick and I matched up the pictures, and if you compare the one on the control room plotting board, and this one you will notice that the man in the back is the same, and you can even see the color of the hair is the same. P.S: Not tyring to argue with you. I will try to get a picture of the other picture to post along with the other one.