Post by beirutvet on Sept 29, 2016 3:13:18 GMT 8
At Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, between the pier and the USS Olympia sits the Balao class WWII submarine USS Becuna SS319. Like all Balao class subs she had 6 torpedo tubes forward and 4 aft, all capable of firing its compliment of 24 Mark 14 or Mark 18 torpedoes. During her 5 war patrols she was also armed with one 5" 127MM 25 caliber gun and one 40MM Bofers.
During the first and third of her war patrols she was credited with sinking 2 small vessels and 2 tankers. Her fourth war patrol was to stand life guard duty for downed air crews.
In 1950 she underwent a Guppy IA modernization. This is why her conning tower does not resemble any Balao or Gato class of submarines.
Here she sits at Penn's Landing at the Independence Seaport Museum between the pier and the USS Olympia.
Front view of conning tower. As you can see the Guppy IA modifications drastically changed her profile away from basic Balao class configurations.
periscope, radar and radio antennae.
Forward torpedo room, looking straight down the business end of torpedo tube #2. The Guppy refits allowed her to carry nuclear tipped fish.
Tubes #1, 3 and 5
Knee knocker leading aft
Officers Wardroom
Senior officers stateroom. Usually the Executive officer and the next most senior officer on the boat.
Copy of Life Magazine on display.
Captain's stateroom.
Junior officer's stateroom.
Control Room.
Radio Room.
Main Galley.
Landmark plaque.
Crew's mess.
STILL ON PATROL. A listing of all the subs lost during WWII. Below this was a book listing the crew of each sub and how it was lost.
My wife specifically wanted her picture taken next to this memorial. She was very moved by what she saw.
Forward engine room showing 2 of its 4 diesel engines.
Maneuvering room
Aft torpedo room.
The first subs to see action in numbers in the Pacific theater were the Gato class. The Balao class would start to see action by mid war. They were nearly identical to the Gato class but being constructed of thicker, higher grade steel, they had a deeper diving depth than their Gato sisters.
There were many different gun deck configurations for both the Gato and Balao classes. The main one we are used to seeing is the 5" gun mounted forward. But the fact that the captain of the boat had the freedom to configure his boat any way he liked, accounted for the fact that by wars end, no two Gatos or Balaos looked alike. There were 200MM Bofors like the Becuna had as well as 20 MM Orlicons and a variety of 50 cal configurations as well. That was one of the great things about being a submarine captain, whatever you wanted, you got.
During the first and third of her war patrols she was credited with sinking 2 small vessels and 2 tankers. Her fourth war patrol was to stand life guard duty for downed air crews.
In 1950 she underwent a Guppy IA modernization. This is why her conning tower does not resemble any Balao or Gato class of submarines.
Here she sits at Penn's Landing at the Independence Seaport Museum between the pier and the USS Olympia.
Front view of conning tower. As you can see the Guppy IA modifications drastically changed her profile away from basic Balao class configurations.
periscope, radar and radio antennae.
Forward torpedo room, looking straight down the business end of torpedo tube #2. The Guppy refits allowed her to carry nuclear tipped fish.
Tubes #1, 3 and 5
Knee knocker leading aft
Officers Wardroom
Senior officers stateroom. Usually the Executive officer and the next most senior officer on the boat.
Copy of Life Magazine on display.
Captain's stateroom.
Junior officer's stateroom.
Control Room.
Radio Room.
Main Galley.
Landmark plaque.
Crew's mess.
STILL ON PATROL. A listing of all the subs lost during WWII. Below this was a book listing the crew of each sub and how it was lost.
My wife specifically wanted her picture taken next to this memorial. She was very moved by what she saw.
Forward engine room showing 2 of its 4 diesel engines.
Maneuvering room
Aft torpedo room.
The first subs to see action in numbers in the Pacific theater were the Gato class. The Balao class would start to see action by mid war. They were nearly identical to the Gato class but being constructed of thicker, higher grade steel, they had a deeper diving depth than their Gato sisters.
There were many different gun deck configurations for both the Gato and Balao classes. The main one we are used to seeing is the 5" gun mounted forward. But the fact that the captain of the boat had the freedom to configure his boat any way he liked, accounted for the fact that by wars end, no two Gatos or Balaos looked alike. There were 200MM Bofors like the Becuna had as well as 20 MM Orlicons and a variety of 50 cal configurations as well. That was one of the great things about being a submarine captain, whatever you wanted, you got.