Replacement of Missing EquipmentReplacing equipment on WW II submarines is indeed a challenge. By the time Pampanito was opened to the public in 1982 most of the wartime submarine fleet had been sold to foreign navies, sunk as targets or scrapped. USS Roncador, a failed exhibit in Long Beach, was scrapped in 1983 and the Navy allowed historic submarine operators to remove needed items before she was transferred to the scrapper. This opportunity was our first chance to replace some of the missing items. Among the items removed for installation on Pampanito were the high pressure air manifold, dead reckoning analyzer indicator, dive plane and helm operating wheels, one of the two dead reckoning tracers, compartment bill holders, gyrocompass repeaters, a deep depth gauge, two torpedo skids and several other items. The Navy took the conning tower from Roncador for eventual restoration and display in the Washington Navy Yard. In 1998 they offered the conning tower to the Maritime Park Association and we now have it in storage waiting for restoration and display in our museum. In 1982 we also obtained an inappropriate main deck gun (that was considered to be better than no main deck gun) until the proper weapon could be located from a Los Angelos tank museum. Equipment was also removed from USS Blenny (SS-324) before she was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Maryland, USS Turbot (SS-427) before she was scrapped and USS Sailfish (SS-572).
Through our participation in the Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA), a federation that boasts an historic fleet eighty vessels strong, we have developed a network of historic ship operators that share the goal of restoring their vessels. Silversides (SS-236) continues to help, as have submarines Bowfin (SS-287) in Honolulu, Hawaii, Cobia (SS-245) in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Cod (SS-224) in Cleveland, Ohio, Croaker (SS-246) in Buffalo, New York, Lionfish (SS-298) in Fall River, Massachusetts, Torsk (SS-423) in Baltimore, Maryland, Requin (SS-481) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the destroyer Kidd (DD-661) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Through them we have been able to replace the pressure proof speaker on the bridge, the valves in #1 main air compressor, the 40mm sites, peloris (TBT) binoculars, torpedo skids, and smaller items like dishware and linens. Private collectors, have continually donated needed equipment, as well as memorabilia. Whether it is a long held souvenir, or a piece of equipment found at a flea market or surplus store, or something found on Ebay, we have been fortunate to have had several significant donations. Members of Pampanito's wartime crew have donated many personal items like photographs, the original hand painted battle flag, a pocket Bible carried on all six war patrols, artwork and much more. Other items have been donated such as a master gyrocompass, teak wood for the main deck, seven Mark 14 torpedoes, a torpedo gyro, radio equipment and technical manuals. Our restoration goal to make the submarine complete also includes things that the visitors will never see. The forward torpedo impulse flasks were missing from their mountings under the main deck. The full set of six large high pressure air flasks was located aboard USS Turbot in Maryland, and were a perfect match to the originals. They were removed, trucked to San Francisco and installed. We, of course, have no plans to ever fire torpedoes. However, the primary weapon of a WW II submarine was the torpedo and the system that delivered them should be complete. We are very thankful to the many individuals, companies and government agencies that have helped us replace the missing equipment. We have a Wish List of parts and equipment that we are seeking for ongoing restoration.
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The
replacement of the topside guns is a good example of how things came together.
The incomplete 20mm gun itself came from a federal agency, the shoulder
rests and magazine came from the Jeremiah O'Brien, the sight from
a private collector. A mount for the weapon was jury rigged from a older
bell type mount and an incomplete tripod mount. This arrangement was adequate
until the proper mount could be obtained from USS Silversides in
Muskegon, Michigan several years later. The gun was finally complete. Bob
Morin, the director of Silversides, knew we were still looking for
the proper main deck gun and knew USS Tautog, one of the highest scoring
submarines of WW II, had been scrapped in Manistee, a few miles north of
him. With his help, and the help of John Bultima, a WW II subvet who had
scrapped the submarine, Tautog's four-inch 50 has now been restored
and sits on Pampanito's main deck. In the process of locating the
40mm gun we established a relationship with the Navy Historical Center's
Curator Branch, then under the direction of Henry Vadnais. A Pampanito
veteran, Leroy Van Housen, had spotted a single barreled 40mm sitting
in a storage yard near his home in Virginia. Through the Historical Center
we obtained the gun on long term loan and have restored the weapon and
installed it on the cigarette deck. We have continued to rely on the Center's
Curatorial Branch, for their assistance in locating items on our wish list.
Another
source that continually provides needed equipment is WW II vintage surface
ships slated for disposal by the Navy or the Maritime Administration. Much
of the equipment aboard these ships is common to all vessels of the era,
such as electronic equipment, galley and mess items, switches and gauges.