Bowfin Specs PDF Print E-mail

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

Victory At Cost

Victory at a cost

During World War II, The United States Submarine Force, encompassing less than 2% of the U.S. Navy's fleet, inflicted destruction on Japanese maritime power. U.S. submarines were responsible for sinking over 30% of the Japanese Navy including eight aircraft carriers, one battleship and eleven cruisers.  More importantly, the Submarine Force sank 2,400 Japanese merchant ships totaling 4.9 million tons.

Chart of Enemy Ships

However, this success did not come without risk. Out of a total of 14,000 submariners who fought in peril under the sea took losses of over 3,500 officers and men.  Approximately one in four submariners never returned.

victory-bonefish-plaque-2_web

The USS Bonefish submarine plaque is one of fifty-two memorials at the Waterfront Memorial at Bowfin Park.