USS Silversides SS-236 (photos)

Payoff · 08-10-07, 06:21 PM

I had the pleasure of visiting USS Silversides last weekend at the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum in Muskegon, MI. I found all of the staff and everyone involved to be very friendly, knowledgeable & dedicated. I took about a million pictures, so I wanted to share a few for folks that may never get a chance to see her.

USS Silversides (Gato Class) is the third overall highest scoring boat of the war.

Of the surviving subs, she is the highest scoring boat with more than 30 kills.

The appendectomy depicted in the movie "Destination Tokyo" was based on this boat using real crewmembers names.

The movie "Below" was filmed aboard Silversides.

Her Skippers were LCDR Creed C.Burlingame, CDR John S.Coye Jr & CDR John C.Nichols.

Torpedoman 3rd Class Michael Harbin was the first submariner of the war to lose his life during submarine deckgun action, on Silversides first encounter with an enemy vessel, on her first war patrol. He would end up being the only casualty aboard Silversides in her 14 war patrols.

The crew scribed Michael Harbin's name on a single torpedo loaded in one of the forward tubes. Three days later when they spotted a Japanese submarine, this was the torpedo Creed Burlingame launched at the IJN sub. Even though the Captain & crew saw the target explode and sink, they would not receive credit for this kill.

Bow torpedo room.

To be continued. . .

AirborneTD · 08-10-07, 06:31 PM

Nice shots!! I visited the COD in Cleveland, OH a month or 2 ago. It was also very well preserved and a great boat to tour.

AVGWarhawk · 08-10-07, 07:24 PM

She is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

badaboom · 08-10-07, 08:43 PM

Absolutly fantastic pics,she's a fine ship!!!Thank You for posting these!!

Weather-guesser · 08-10-07, 10:41 PM

Sierra Hotel Payoff! Thanks a bunch

alunatic · 08-11-07, 12:12 AM

Great photos mate but on picture #10 it has sunk, damaged, a little picture of a parachute with a 2 in it (I assume this means 2 pilots rescued) but what is the other thinkg (i cant tell what it is) with a little 16 in it?

Salty Longshanks · 08-11-07, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

She is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

I was going to say exactly the same thing. lol
Thanks very much for the post Payoff

Skyhawk · 08-11-07, 10:19 PM

One of my fondest memories of time spent with my son was when he was growing up and had to do with the U.S.S. Silversides. You see, when he belonged to one of the local boy scout troops here in Michigan, we actually spent the night on her.

That was the only time I've ever been on a sub. Never have been claustrophobic in the least, but I can honestly say the experience took my idea of what it must have been like to be an active duty submariner during wartime to a whole new level.

My son thought the Domino's pizza we ate that night was better than getting to sleep on a submarine rack. He was right. Visiting the ship was interesting to be sure, but sleeping on those racks was about 1/2 as comfortable as you might think it to be. All in all it was still some good fun, and made for a good memory.

Regards

Yay!! I'm a swabbie and not completely useless anymore!

Bluesub 6 · 08-12-07, 05:40 AM

Nice photos

08-10-07, 06:31 PM	#2
AirborneTD Engineer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 204 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	Nice shots!! I visited the COD in Cleveland, OH a month or 2 ago. It was also very well preserved and a great boat to tour. __________________ "You know, you might get surrounded." "We're paratroopers, Lieutenant. We're supposed to be surrounded." --Band of Brothers

08-10-07, 07:24 PM	#3
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	She is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

08-10-07, 08:43 PM	#4
badaboom Weps Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 359 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	Absolutly fantastic pics,she's a fine ship!!!Thank You for posting these!! __________________

08-10-07, 10:41 PM	#5
Weather-guesser Lieutenant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Albany, New York USA Posts: 260 Downloads: 72 Uploads: 0	Sierra Hotel Payoff! Thanks a bunch __________________ NAVY! It's not just a job. It's a Buck Seventy-Five an hour!

08-10-07, 06:21 PM	#1
Payoff Captain Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nash Town, USA Posts: 525 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	USS Silversides SS-236 (photos) I had the pleasure of visiting USS Silversides last weekend at the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum in Muskegon, MI. I found all of the staff and everyone involved to be very friendly, knowledgeable & dedicated. I took about a million pictures, so I wanted to share a few for folks that may never get a chance to see her. USS Silversides (Gato Class) is the third overall highest scoring boat of the war. Of the surviving subs, she is the highest scoring boat with more than 30 kills. The appendectomy depicted in the movie "Destination Tokyo" was based on this boat using real crewmembers names. The movie "Below" was filmed aboard Silversides. Her Skippers were LCDR Creed C.Burlingame, CDR John S.Coye Jr & CDR John C.Nichols. Torpedoman 3rd Class Michael Harbin was the first submariner of the war to lose his life during submarine deckgun action, on Silversides first encounter with an enemy vessel, on her first war patrol. He would end up being the only casualty aboard Silversides in her 14 war patrols. The crew scribed Michael Harbin's name on a single torpedo loaded in one of the forward tubes. Three days later when they spotted a Japanese submarine, this was the torpedo Creed Burlingame launched at the IJN sub. Even though the Captain & crew saw the target explode and sink, they would not receive credit for this kill. Bow torpedo room. To be continued. . . __________________ "Hit Shokaku class carrier with three out of six torpedos. Recieved 105 depth charges during three hour period. Heard four terrific explosions in the direction of target, two and one half hours after attack. Believe that baby sank!" Lieutenant Commander Herman Kossler USS Cavalla Last edited by Payoff; 08-11-07 at 01:01 AM.

08-11-07, 12:12 AM	#6
alunatic Bosun Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana (I'm English though) Posts: 65 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Great photos mate but on picture #10 it has sunk, damaged, a little picture of a parachute with a 2 in it (I assume this means 2 pilots rescued) but what is the other thinkg (i cant tell what it is) with a little 16 in it?

08-11-07, 10:19 PM	#8
Skyhawk A-ganger Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 79 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	One of my fondest memories of time spent with my son was when he was growing up and had to do with the U.S.S. Silversides. You see, when he belonged to one of the local boy scout troops here in Michigan, we actually spent the night on her. That was the only time I've ever been on a sub. Never have been claustrophobic in the least, but I can honestly say the experience took my idea of what it must have been like to be an active duty submariner during wartime to a whole new level. My son thought the Domino's pizza we ate that night was better than getting to sleep on a submarine rack. He was right. Visiting the ship was interesting to be sure, but sleeping on those racks was about 1/2 as comfortable as you might think it to be. All in all it was still some good fun, and made for a good memory. Regards Yay!! I'm a swabbie and not completely useless anymore!

08-12-07, 05:40 AM	#9
Bluesub 6 Loader Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 90 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice photos