| Torpedo Troubles |
| Torpedo Tubes |
| Sonar |
| Engines |
| Motors |
| Periscope |
| Deck Armament |
| Target Bearing |
| Log Systems |
| Water Distillation |
| Refrigeration |
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USS Bowfin (SS-287)
Defensive Weapons
The primary weapon of a World War II
era fleet submarine like Bowfin was the torpedo. A total of ten 21-inch
tubes were carried, six forward and four aft. A full complement of torpedoes
was twenty-four, sixteen forward and eight aft. Occasionally, mines were
substituted for torpedoes in the after torpedo room. Bowfin completed one
mine laying mission on her third war patrol. Sinkings caused by mines were
very difficult to verify, and the device carried with it a continual danger
to all vessels until swept, so submariners were understandably reluctant
to replace their torpedoes with mines.There were situations, however, when a target was not worth the expenditure of a torpedo, or could not be effectively attacked by a "tin fish." Targets such as shallow draft vessels or land installations were attacked by the guns carried on the deck of the submarine.
When Bowfin was commissioned, she originally carried one 4 inch, 50-caliber (MK 12) deck gun and two 20-mm (MK 5) antiaircraft guns. The 4"/50 was mounted on her deck forward of the conning tower. In early 1945, her deck armament was replaced by one 5 inch 25-caliber (MK 40), one 40-mm (MK 3) and one 20-mm (MK 10).
The 5" 25-caliber deck gun (shown here) is a dual purpose gun. It is so mounted as to be used effectively against surface craft and aircraft. It has a maximum range of 14,500 yards and can fire ten rounds per minute.
The 40-mm antiaircraft gun (Bofors) is principally an antiaircraft weapon, but may be used against surface craft. It is a rapid fire, recoil type of gun, with a maximum range of 11,000 yards and a rate of fire of 160 rounds per minute. This weapon was commonly used on most American Naval fighting ships, in single, dual, or quad mounts. In her 1945 configuration, Bowfin's 40-mm gun is located aft of the periscope shears, on the cigarette deck.
Because submarines were very vulnerable to air attack, their best defense was to dive as quickly as possible. In actuality, deck guns were rarely used to fend off attacking aircraft, but rather to sink small craft such as radio picket boats, or to dispose of floating mines.
The 20-mm antiaircraft gun (Oerlikon) on Bowfin is located on a raised platform just forward of the bridge. It is a rapid fire, recoil type of gun, with a maximum range of 4800 yards and a rate of fire of 450 rounds per minute.
In addition to the armament described above, Bowfin carried other small arms and pyrotechnics. Chief among them were 30-caliber and 50-caliber Browning machine guns, 45-caliber Thompson submachine guns, and a few hand guns.
Guns mounted on the deck of a submarine were known as "wet type," which are not easily damaged by submergence. Ready ammunition was kept in waterproof boxes or lockers on deck.
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Copyright 2002 USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park