| Torpedo Troubles |
| Torpedo Tubes |
| Sonar |
| Engines |
| Motors |
| Periscope |
| Deck Armament |
| Target Bearing |
| Log Systems |
| Water Distillation |
| Refrigeration |
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. 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.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.
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, located in the forward section on the port side of the Forward Engine Room.
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Copyright 2002 USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park