Calling all Gato-class (SS-212) fans

[Jack Ray]

Very interesting home movie. Thanks for sharing.

What is surprising is the small-scale operation breaking her up.

I look forward to seeing pics of your build.

Jack

[Chris E.]

Very neat! It's a very sad end for anything mechanical to be scrapped but that is the way things are. I'm glad that your father had the forethought to capture this final chapter on film and I'm glad that you decided it needed shared.

[Capt652]

Hi everyone!

I posted progress on my Tautog build here,

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=45969#p304650

Timm

[carr]

..

[Tom Dougherty]

Were the free flood openings on the underside of the Gato's (presumably the Balao's were the same) simple openings or were they covered by a screen of some sort.

They were simple openings with no screens. The "screens" (actually louver-like covers) on modern SSNs are to reduce the potential for resonance in the ballast tanks due to the much higher underwater speeds of nuclear powered submarines. Nautiluss (SSN 571) was almost destroyed by this ballast tank resonance in the mid-1050's. She was the first submarine to sustain high speeds for extended periods of time.

[carr]

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[GTDEATH13]

Bob, check this site and their forum... You will find many answers there...

http://amp.rokket.biz/index.shtml

http://models.rokket.biz/index.php

Hope I 've helped...

[carr]

..

[GTDEATH13]

I am waiting to have Mr Friedmans books on US submarines delivered in the near future... I am going to look up your question there too...

[Filipe Ramires]

Evening gentlemen,

Can anyone confirm me the following data on USS Darter weaponry as "sunk"?
- 1 3'' gun forward of bridge/ 1 20mm Oerlikon forward-top of bridge/ 1 40mm single Bofors gun backward-top bridge/ 1 20mm Oerlikon stern

I've been looking into info on this sub and apparently she had her light weaponry changed during her career (at least the Bofors gun in that position). Photos of her wreck clearly shows the Bofors in that position.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,

Filipe Ramires

[Capt652]

Hi all!

I've completed some work on my Tambor class Tautog.

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=45969

Thanks for looking.

Timm

[Capt652]

I just came across this great article posted at Navsource, http://navsource.org/archives/08/pdf/0821295.pdf

For all those interested in US Navy WWII fleet boats, Mr. David Johnston writes a very informative, illustrated guide to the visual appearances of different modifications throughout the war years.

Great job Mr. Johnston, and Thank you.

Timm

[Sr. Gopher]

Thanks for the info. Will help decide what to do with my Tamiya Gato subs.

[carr]

Greetings,

For those interested in the exploits of USS Barb, I've pulled the following information from the book "Thunder Below" by Gene Fluckey and some Internet research.

Barb was fitted with a rocket launcher for her last patrol. The launcher was a Mk51 launcher with the following characteristics.

-Capacity 12 rockets
-5 in Spin Stabilized Rockets (SSR)
-10 lb warhead
-Ripple fire or single shot; ripple fire capacity was 12 rockets in 4.5 seconds
-Launcher was fixed in train; launcher was aimed by pointing the sub at the target
-Launcher had 4 pre-set elevations selected by inserting a pin into holes
-Max range = 5000 yds
-Gravity fed rounds

The launcher was set up as needed in the vacated forward 4" gun location. Fluckey makes a reference to storing the launcher in the "doghouse". Does anyone know what that is?

I've been unable to locate a picture of a Mk51 launcher. Does anyone have a picture or link to one?

The launcher was also used on amphibious ships.

Regards,
Bob

[USS Michigan BB27]

i got some pictures of the silversides that i took last year when i visited her. gonna look for em and post them once i figure out photobucket lol.

[rtheriaque]

Might this be the Mk. 51? http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/06/100619607.jpg

Picture is from USS LSM(R)-196, which had a battery of "85 Gravity-fed Mk. 51 rocket launchers." Source: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/06/06196.htm

[carr]

Might this be the Mk. 51?

Yes, I think it is. The picture shows, apparently, five separate launchers side-by-side. What I can't figure out is how the launcher can hold 12 rockets for ripple launch. The racks appear to hold only four or five and yet the launcher description clearly states that it holds up to 12 rounds which can be launched in 4.5 seconds. Any idea where the remaining rockets go?

Thanks,
Bob

[Russ2146]

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/launchers/cat-0171.htm

[carr]

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/launchers/cat-0171.htm

Absolutely outstanding Russ. Thanks! The article describes the launcher as having a supply magazine and a firing magazine with rounds fired from the firing magazine first. The article also had drawings of the launcher as shown below. Unfortunately, I still can't recognize the two magazines nor reconcile the magazine functions with the picture. Want to take a stab at interpreting this?

I think the firing magazine is the rail system above the launcher itself and it seems to hold about five rounds but where the supply magazine is and how it feeds the firing magazine, I can't understand. There just doesn't seem to be room for another half dozen or so rounds. I'm missing something, here.

Regards,
Bob

Mk 51 Rocket Launcher 1.jpg

[rtheriaque]

I think I can see it in the picture I posted above. I don't have time to draw it at the moment.

Basically, if you're facing the launcher, the lower left portion is the firing position. The rest of the rockets are staggered- it's not quite 2 wide, so you end up with something like this:

Code: Select all

 O
O
 O
O
 O
O
 O
O
 O
O
 O
O      <---Firing position

The bottom of the launcher has a hoop with a vertical crossmember. That crossmember makes it look like it separates each launcher, but it doesn't- it sits between the two columns of rockets. You can then count 12 rockets in the first launcher.