Submarine

Bowfin Specs

USS Bowfin Specs

USS Bowfin (SS-287)

Model of the bowfin

CLASS:

Balao

CONSTRUCTED:

Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire (actually located in Kittery, Maine)

KEEL LAID:

23 July 1942

LAUNCHED:

7 December 1942, hence her nickname, "The Pearl Harbor Avenger"

SPONSOR:

Mrs. Jane Gawne, wife of CAPT James Orville Gawne, USN

COMMISSIONED:

1 May 1943

COMPLEMENT:

Originally 70 men (7 officers & 63 enlisted), later increased to 80 men (8 officers & 72 enlisted)

DISPLACEMENT:

1,810 tons (diving trim); 2,415 tons (submerged)

LENGTH:

311 feet 9 13/16 inches

MAXIMUM BEAM:

27 feet 3 inches

MEAN DRAFT:

15 feet 3 inches (diving trim)

FREEBOARD:

12 feet 5 inches @ bow (diving trim)
3 feet 11 inches @ stern (diving trim)

PRESSURE HULL MAXIMUM DIAMETER:

16 feet 3/8 inch

TORPEDO TUBES:

6 bow and 4 stern (MK 39)

TORPEDOES:

24 total (14 in reload racks) -- MK 14-3A, MK 18, MK 23, and MK 27

GUNS:

Originally, one 4 inch 50-caliber (MK 12) and two 20 mms (MK 5). Finally,
one 5 inch 25-caliber (MK 40), one 40 mm (MK 3) and one 20 mm (MK 10).

MAIN ENGINES:

Four General Motors Model 16-278A diesel; 16 cylinder V-type, 2-cycle,
8 3/4 bore x 10 1/2 stroke; 1,600 BHP developed @ 750 RPM
(stbd. RH rotation, port LH rotation).

MAIN GENERATORS:

Four General Electric 1,100 kw; 2,650 amps/415 volts (propulsion rating);
3,600 amps/296 volts (battery charging rating).

MAIN MOTORS:

Four General Electric 1,375 HP; two-wire, direct-current, compensated compound/shunt,
series and commutating field windings.

GEARS:

Combining and reduction type/reverse by reversing input.
2 -- 1,375 HP @ 1,300 RPM inputs
1 -- 2,740 HP @ 280 RPM output

BATTERIES:

Two 126-cell Exide type

SHAFT HORSEPOWER:

5,480

MAXIMUM SPEED:

20.25 knots surface speed; 8.75 knots submerged speed

PROPELLERS:

Two four-bladed, 8 foot diameter

RUDDER:

One balanced streamlined type. Train limits 38 degrees to port and starboard.

FUEL OIL CAPACITY

54,000 gallons normal; 116,000 gallons maximum

Secrets of the Sub

The Very First Sub Ever

The First Submarine Ever

There were many countries around the world developing submarines in the 17th and 18th century both for wartime use and for commercial purposes. In the United States, we say the Turtle, developed by a Yale University professor, David Bushnell, was our first submarine. Designed to deliver an underwater mine with a timed fuse, it's original purpose was to break the blockade of the British Navy in New York harbor in 1776, during the War of Independence. Almost a hundred later the Confederate States Ship Hunley with a crew of nine men braved the waters of Charleston, South Carolina harbor to attack and sink the Union Ship USS Housitanic. The weapon used was a mine mounted on a spar jutting from the bow of the submarine. Again, the purpose was to break the blockade of a harbor but within 40 years, the United States started the submarine explosion with the Simon Lake, SS-1, in 1900 , designed as a scouting ship for America's emerging battle fleets. In less than 20 years, the first world war would see the island nation of Great Brritain brought to her knees by German commerce raiding submarines and submarines , large and small being developed by many nations.