The USS Bowfin is a Balao class fleet submarine that launched exactly 1 year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Bowfin made nine patrol runs during WWII. It was responsible for destroying up to 140 thousand tons of enemy ships over 2 1/2 years. This gave the Bowfin the nickname “The Pearl Harbor Avenger.”
The Bowfin was recommissioned in both the 50’s and 60’s before being permanently retired in 1971. After being restored to it’s 1945 configuration, the Bowfin has been open for tours in Pearl Harbor since 1981.
General admission for the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, including the USS Bowfin is $25,99. As a veteran, I was able to get the military rate of $18.99.
On the way to the museum you walk through a submarine hull ring.
They have Mark 14 torpedoes on each side of the Bowfin. This was the primary weapon for submarines in WWII.
We’ll enter the front of the sub and exit the back.
This first room is the forward torpedo room. There are sixteen torpedoes in this room. Six in tubes and ten reloads.
Fourteen men slept in this room with the torpedoes.
Sonar equipment is located in the back of the forward torpedo room.
The next compartment is the Forward Battery Room also known as “Officer’s Country.” This is where the officers ate, slept, and did their administrative work.
The next compartment is the Control Room. This area controlled the diving and surfacing of the vessel.
Up there is the Conning Tower. That’s where the captain would be during battle stations while submerged. It contains a steering station, two periscopes, sonar receivers, and controls that fire torepedoes.
Under this table is the master compass used for navigation.
At the back of this compartment is the radio room.
This compartment is the galley. This is where food is prepared.
Next is the crew’s mess. Up to 24 crew members could dine here at a time. Below this deck is are freezers and refrigerators that can store food for up to 75 days.
Next is the main crew sleeping area. There is space for 36 men to sleep in here.
After the sleeping area is the main bathroom.
The next two compartments are nearly identical engine rooms.
Each of these rooms has two 16-cylinder diesel engines used to run generators which run the motors and electrical systems. The temperature in these rooms could exceed 120 degrees.
The next compartment is the maneuvering room. The four electric motors used to turn the propellers are in the lower section of this compartment. All speed changes are made in this room.
The last compartment is the aft torpedo room.
This room has four torpedoes in tubes and four more on racks.
Back up on the deck we can see the USS Arizona Memorial in the distance.
If you are interested in my visit to the memorial which I published on Memorial Day, you can read about that at USS Arizona Memorial.
On the “cigarette deck” is a 40mm Bofor gun.
This is a 20mm Oerlikon.
This is a 5″/25 caliber heavy anti-aircraft gun.
That completes our tour of the USS Bowfin Submarine.
