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

Vargas Girls

Vargas  Girls

Vagas Girls Image

  

Artist Alberto Vargas became famous for his WWII watercolors depicting beautiful pin-up girls. "Varga girls" were so popular that many different artists immitated Vargas’ technique and approach to the female figure: an idealized female form eliciting sensuality and seduction.  During the 1940’s his work was a hit amongst enlisted men who drew inspiration from them which inadvertently created high morale. The military was so influenced by this art that they adorned their vessels with it. Many military aircraft had Varga style girls decorating the nose of their planes, Varga girls were even printed on greeting cards and sent to enlisted men by their sweethearts. Inside the engine room aboard USS Bowfin, the crew posted a 1943 Vargas calendar, on which they doodled, wrote notes, and recorded their conquests of the sea.