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

Hawaii Themed Submarines

USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642) was launched on 16 January 1965 and commissioned on 10 December 1965. This submarine holds the name for King Kamehameha the Great. It is fitting that one of our submarines bear the name of this striking figure in Hawaiian history. His people were intrepid seafarers and knowledge of stars, winds and currents still arouse wonder and admiration. For much of USS Kamehameha's service, she was based in Rota, Spain conducting deterrence patrols during the Cold War. Commissioning gifts to the submarine are on display at the museum.

USS Honolulu

USS Honolulu (SSN-718), a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States to be named for Honolulu, Hawaii. She was launched on 24 September 1983 and commissioned on 6 July 1985. Honolulu’s patrols are commemorated by ten surfboards signed by the crews aboard her at the time. One of the four surfboards held at Bowfin Park is on display in the museum.

USS Hawaii

The USS Hawaii (SSN 776) is the first commissioned vessel of its name. Launched June 17, 2006 and Commissioned May 5, 2007 she is fortunate to be homeported in her namesake state. The submarine was named to recognize the tremendous support the Navy has enjoyed from the people and state of Hawaii, and in honor of the rich heritage of submarines in the Pacific.

Hawaii is the third of the Virginia Class submarines. The Virginia-class of attack submarines surpasses the performance of any current projected threat submarine, ensuring U.S. undersea dominance well into the next century.

Bowfin Museum collections include models of all three submarines.