As a fellow American and a retired Army Infantryman, I’m proud of what all of you have done to preserve the old girl, I pray the next generation continues taking care of her and I think they will. Well done Navy!!
My dad was on SS 222 Bluefish on 8 patrols during WW II so this was a great video to demonstrate some of what he experienced. Thanks so much. BTW I heard so many stories from him about his time in submarines while I was growing up. He passed away at 92 years old but spent all his life in one small town in Oklahoma except for the years in WW II. It was certainly the most eventful time of his life.
In the early 70s I watched torpedoes being loaded into a boomer pretty much the same way. Angled hatch up front, angled framework attached to the hull and torpedo lowered to the boat on our traveling crane. On the framework I believe they still used ropes to lower into torpedo room. Framework must have been stored on the tender as there is no storage below deck. USS Simon Lake AS-33
Somehow it never occurred to me that you go to sea with the tubes loaded. It makes COMPLETE sense now that I think about it. I guess it's because guns DON'T sit loaded the whole time until they are needed and my brain just applied that rule in general. But yeah, torpedoes (and missiles in general) are big and if you don't load the tubes before sailing you are limiting how many shots you have and how quickly you can start firing when needed.
One of the best sprays for dissolving corrosion is Sea Foam’s Deep Creep. Deep Creep will visibly fizz up on a rusty bolt while PB Blaster sits around on a similarly rusty bolt.
Word is, those fish go down easier with a properly vociferous application of seafaring epithets and obscure nautical terms, and a few salty TLAs. At least dispensing the fish provides a more entertaining experience for the crew. I prefer the WD-40 too, Paul. Thanks, y'all!
Great job. Loved working on LA class subs. Remember the time we watched a loading and the sailors were beating on the ramp trying to get in place and realized they had it on backwards.😅
I toured the sub first thing on Tues morning (7/9) and loved it all. I got to take my time looking at things and really got the feel of it that I could not get from books/movies/videos. I also mistook one of your deck painters for you, Paul, as he looked like you at a glance. Sorry. :D Regardless, well done to your and your crew. I look forward to coming again.
I've always thought they loaded them by putting them in the tubes from the outside and then moving them to the individual trays from there, with the tubes themselves being the last loaded. I can see this way being easier and much less wet if reloading at sea. Glad to be proven wrong.
@@paulfarace9595 Have to add it to the list of design pluses the fleet boats had. And of course when finished loading the torpedos you could have some ice cream or whatever chow came from the refrigerated storage.
Reminds me, the time, My AS, Sub Tender, dropped a Live "Mk57 subroc" down the loading hatch, on a 638 class attack sub, @ Norfolk, Pier 22, the whole base response team arrived!😵💫😮😰
At 3:30 tension is when your pulling on something, compression is when you squeeze something. The strong backs ( the white bottle looking thing) goes between the 2 pad eyes and completes the rib that's cut out to let torpedoes fit through. When the strong back is in place and the big screw is tightened up it is in compression.
PB blaster is good stuff, but it sure does have a strong smell. But thats probably why it works so good ha. I probably wouldnt use it in tight quarters either, perfectly good out in the open tho
I can imagine the old boys looking down on these guys trying their best. Good vid. Thanks for sharing. My dad was a tender-diesel mechanic, and step father was 25 years sub engineman, chief! Respect to the silent service.
Pb blast is a joke, wd is only good for installing hoses. If you want the best rusty bolt fixer use marine fogging oil. Omc brand works the best. Been an automotive/marine tech most of my life. I've used it for 20 plus years to loosen everything from rusted stuff to freeing up seized steel bolts in aluminum parts. Great vid guys!!!❤
Excellent video. I believe this is the first time I have seen the "penthouse suite" bunk. Perhaps you always have it place on the Cod but, alas, I have not yet visited the Cod.
PB Blaster is great at loosening the rust. It does not keep rust from forming for very long in the weather. Once you get a joint moving freely WD 40 will keep the moisture from getting to the bare metal.
*FUN FACT!!* Modern Submarines make extensive use of double hatching their holes, with the inner-most hatch being hinged inwards to avoid being sucked out as the hatch lands are indexed from the open position to a locked position against the hull!
The Los Angeles class replaced Block & tackle with hydraulics to raise & lower the Torpedo in & out of sub. The Ohio Class retained Block & Tackle with the reasoning that they did weapons moves less often due to mission profile. As I recall both loaded Tail first.
Thanks, Paul. Really a great video. I've seen photos of the fish hanging on a crane prior to being loaded into the torpedo room, but never the rest of the process. 🫡
I have a great interest in WWII and am a Brit. I found this very interesting and have subscribed. One question, how long would it take for a torpedo to be loaded from start to finish?
Years ago, I visited the Deutch Museum in Munich....Has a WWII German fleet submarine displayed. Couldn't decide if they built the museum, cut the sub into pieces, reassembled inside, or if the museum was built around the sub. Anyone know ?
I saw that sub in Munich in 1968. It is still there! That is my favorite museum in the world. And that is coming from a guy who lived within a couple of miles of the Smithsonian for ten years. Loved the Smithsonian too, but the museum in Munich, just wow.
Agreed. I have gone to almost every aviation museum in the West....Smithsonian #2 in VA . Gotta love a museum with a B-36 in the lobby. For our honeymoon, my wife took me to a tank museum. Decided she was a keeper.