U.S.S. Bowfin Museum

U.S.S. Bowfin Museum Photos

2005-03-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

These are the photos I took around the U.S.S. Bowfin Museum which is just beside the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial Park. In this blog, the captions for the photos are to be found ABOVE the relevant photograph, and not below as in other blogs.

2005-03-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

This is the starboard side of the U.S.S. Bowfin as seen from the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial Park.

2005-03-10T17:04:00.000-08:00

Around the U.S.S. Bowfin is a park with assorted military hardware. This is a rocket with wings.

2005-03-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

In this park is also a memorial to all submariners who have perished while on duty. The expression among sailors is that they are now on "eternal patrol".

2005-03-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

These are two rockets in the park. The park walkway is lined with different kinds of torpedos.

2005-03-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

Along with the famous kamikaze suicide aircraft, the Japanese also employed, though briefly, suicide torpedos of which this is an example. Needless to say, the pilot of this vessel did not succeed in accomplishing his mission.

2005-03-10T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is an example of World War Two anti-aircraft guns. I think they are of the caliber 40mm.

2005-03-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

Near the AA guns and the U.S.S. Bowfin, is an example of a coning tower of an old submarine. The coning tower is the part of the submarine which sticks out and is used for observation when not submerged (hopefully).

2005-03-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

Near the coning tower are some rockets and a propellor (center-right).

2005-03-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

This is the U.S.S. Bowfin from the stern looking towards the bow. Note the large gun in the center.

2005-03-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

This is the U.S.S. Bowfin as seen from portside.

2005-03-10T16:52:00.000-08:00

This is how the U.S.S. Bowfin looks like from the bow looking towards the stern. The flag in the middle is a jack which is striped and contains a snake with the words "Don't Tread on Me" on the bottom of the flag. It is one of the first jacks used by the U.S. Navy, being flown in the American Revolution. The Secratary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, ordered that all U.S. Navy historical ships fly this jack until the War on Terrorism is won. That being the case, if you want to see one of these flags, there's no hurry.

2005-03-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

This is just a better shot of the coning tower, stern side, and the antennae associated with it.

2005-03-10T16:48:00.000-08:00

When descend into the submarine, this is the first room you see, the forward torpedo room. All of the suceeding photos are from bow to stern.

2005-03-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

This is also the forward torpedo room but I took this picture without the flash.

2005-03-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

This is a sink where you could wash up and as you can see, it's pretty cramped. On board submarines, space is at a premium and you'll notice how packed quarters are onboard.

2005-03-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

These bunks, 3 of them stacked, were for the officers of the U.S.S. Bowfin. There were more bunks like this to accomodate more officers.

2005-03-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

This is a hatch in a hallway and you almost had to crawl to get through it. It's also very high off the floor, so if you weren't careful, you'd bang your legs up pretty bad.

2005-03-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

This is an office where an officer could type up reports and complete other necessary administrative matters.

2005-03-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

This is the Officers' Mess where they would eat their meals. This is luxury for a submarine.

2005-03-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

This is the steering control room for the U.S.S. Bowfin. It is clearly discernable by the large wheels in the foreground. Just out of picture to the left, is the periscope.

2005-03-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

This is a typical hallway in the U.S.S. Bowfin, and it is probably no more than 50 cm wide.

2005-03-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

This is the galley where the food was prepared. In the Second World War, cooking was the only trade available for African-Americans in the U.S. Navy.

2005-03-10T16:31:00.000-08:00

This is the mess for the non-commissioned officers of the U.S.S. Bowfin. It is just abaft of the galley.

2005-03-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

These are the bunks for the non-commissioned officers. On U.S. Navy submarines, to save space, a common practice was "hot-bunking", still in use today; you share your bed with 2 other people. Since you only sleep 8 hours a day, and there are 24 hours in a day, 2 other people will use the bed in the 16 hours you are working. In this way, usage is maximized while space is minimized.

2005-03-10T16:28:00.000-08:00

This is a washroom where you would wash up after using the toilet.

2005-03-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

And this is that toilet (called the "head" in the Navy").

2005-03-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

This is the beating heart of any submarine, the engine room.

2005-03-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

This is the power room under which were stored massive lead batteries.

2005-03-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

This is the switch which could change the power usage of the submarine from diesel engine to battery. When submerged, the submarine had to rely on battery power.

2005-03-10T16:19:00.000-08:00

Finally for the U.S.S. Bowfin, this is the aft torpedo room and the ladder leading back outside.