Submarine

Water Distillation PDF Print E-mail

Distilling Systems

USS Bowfin (SS-287)

Clean Water

Fresh water is vital on board a submarine not only for drinking, cooking, and washing, but also for storage batteries, boilers, and as a cooling agent for the diesel engines. An American World War II submarine on a war patrol required a minimum of 600 gallons of fresh water a day.  The majority of the water usage was for the batteries and cooking/cleaning. Beyond this, remaining water supplies should leave enough for each man in the crew to have a bath at least twice a week. Cooks were normally required to bathe every day, for obvious reasons. But the distiller units were very cantankerous and hard to keep operating when electrical power was reduced when submerged or if the unit became contaminated-a frequent problem. So water was limited.

The distilling systems used aboard American submarines during World War II consisted of either the Model S or the Model X-1 units. Two units of either type were normally installed on all fleet boats.

Diagram of distiller
Shown here is a Model X-1 Distilling Unit, the type which is installed on Bowfin.

Information from: Submarine Distilling Systems, NAVPERS 16163A, June 1946

Bowfin's Model X-1 Distillers

Bowfin's Model X-1 Distillers, located in the forward section on the port side of the Forward Engine Room.
 

Secrets of the Sub

Submarine Rescues

Submarine Rescues

A critical task performed by the US submarine force during World War II, was the rescuing of downed pilots and air crews; They were so efficient at it, that they rescued 520 US airmen from the Pacific Ocean waters. One of those rescued, went on to become President of the United States.

Rescueing George H. W. Bush

Former US President George H. W. Bush Sr. He was rescued by the USS Finback after being shot down while he was on an air strike mission over Chichi Shima in the Bonin Islands during 2 September 1944.

USS Tang Group Photo

Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Richard H. O'Kane (center), poses with the twenty-two aircrewmen that Tang rescued off Truk during the carrier air raids there on 29 April-1 May 1944. The photograph was taken upon Tang's return to Pearl Harbor from her second war patrol, in May 1944.