Messages

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Re: Berth Shift

« on: January 28, 2012, 07:34:54 PM »

The Laffey came home just as she left, gracefully and smooth as silk!   But the Clamagore may have had the last say.  They put Laffey where the Clamagore had been and when the tide droped, the Laffey took a sharp list.   Seems the Clamagore left a trench where she'd been and half of the Laffey tried to fill it on the ebb tide!   Sure had folks hopp'n.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Re: Berth Shift

« on: January 24, 2012, 12:06:26 PM »

This morning about 8 AM, the old girl is under tow, well out in the harbor.  Proof that she was not stuck in the mud, I hope.

Her new berth, behind the carrier.  Please be advised that no major, or minor pieces broke off, no gapeing holes in her anywhere, occurred during this move which was carried out smoothly and very professionally by Steven's Towing.  They really took great care with the old girl.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Re: Berth Shift

« on: January 23, 2012, 09:42:35 PM »

Well dude, I am right.     She's moved to the bow of the carrier where she'll sit until morning when they can reconfigure and move her around to her berth.
She slid out like she was underway... just slower.  Rose a bit over a little hump but settled back and moved right along.
Funny thing is, there were about a dozen Laffey vets there to see the sub get out of the way but not a single subvet, USSVI member, but me there. Charleston Base is a weird place.
Sorry there are no pics but I had no luck since it was dark and lots of artificial light.  Maybe PP will have some on their site, or facebook.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Re: Berth Shift

« on: January 23, 2012, 06:39:45 PM »

Sorry I have no new pics but it was very foggy here all morning and I could hardly see the boat from the vantage point.
On the hi tide this morning they positioned the barge that will winch the Clamagore out of her berth to where tugs can get to her.  Attaching cables and backing down the boat swayed and moved a little bit forward, so she is apparently floating freely on the hi tide.   The plan is to move her on the tide tonight, about 8PM.  I plan to be there but pics are iffy at best.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Re: Berth Shift

« on: January 23, 2012, 08:28:32 AM »

You are wrong Fred.  I'm down there regularly and I KNOW it floats when there is enough water depth.
My intent this morning was to add that the moving contractor has had the foresight to place an air compressor on deck and they have hook ups to the ballast tanks so they can keep them full of air.  There may be problems but they seem to be taking great care and caution in moving the boat.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Berth Shift

« on: January 22, 2012, 08:51:08 PM »

Hopefully tomorrow or Tuesday the Clamagore will move from her berth for the last 30 years to another pier at Patriot's Point.   Because of use-changes the only way to get her out is to move a section of the pier, which is more complicated than many would understand.  Besides, the Administration wants to put the destroyer Laffey where the Clamagore is now and the Clamagore where the Laffey was before her yard work was done.   Hopefully she will move tomorrow evening on the high tide.  I'll keep you informed.
Here's a picture of the 500 ton crane that is moving the pier section.

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Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Compartment Bills

« on: September 22, 2011, 01:54:05 PM »

I've sent you scans of the Quiet Bill and the Emergency Ventilation Bill, which is all I have found so far. 
Will try looking again next week.
Remember this is a Guppy III boat, converted in 1963.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Work on the Clam

« on: September 21, 2011, 03:16:28 PM »

Work has begun on the superstructure (clamshell) of the boat to repair same and to eliminate some problems with the hull/tank tops. 

Also, sailors from the Nuclear Power Training Command continue to come and work on all of the ships but we now have a dedicated group that daily make a sweep thru the boat and they have her cleaner than she has been in many, many years.

Attaching some pictures.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Commissioning Pictures

« on: September 21, 2011, 11:40:38 AM »

This is a picture of the Chiefs and Officers assigned to Clamagore at her commissioning in June of 1945.  The names are copied from the original as they are written.


1st row, L-R; Dan Clements,Truman Pounds, ? , Sam Loomis, Bailey, Chas Stempf, Walter Czerwinski
2nd row, L-R; Joe Druger, John Berardi, Robert Ruby, Murray Weinrue, Ed Gibbons, William Azbell
Note the Chiefs only have the Combat Patrol pin worn on their chest.  At this time the dolfin insignia was still a sew-on patch, even for dress blue, for enlisted.

Though not labeled as such I believe this is the crew photo from the commissioning.  There were no names on these but Loomis and some of the Officers/Chiefs are the same.  Have no clue who the Captain is in the center of the 1st seated row.

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Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Compartment Bills

« on: September 19, 2011, 06:53:06 PM »

Although there are none posted on the boat, I recall seeing them, I think, when I was helping sort out some pubs awhile back.  Give me a few days and I'll see if I can find the ones for 343.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Progress is being made

« on: April 21, 2010, 04:42:33 PM »

Certainly no giant steps, like the repairs to the superstructure or cleaning of the hull, have happened yet but inside, little changes are coming about.

We're into our 3rd week of cleaning 'behind the glass' and now we are in the conning tower!  It has been locked up and dark for many years with a giant exhaust fan drawing air filled with dirt and dust thru it until we entered last week.  Electricians got us light up there and we've sucked out probably 20lbs of dirt, which is hardly noticeable.  The scope (#2) still works and is perfectly clear but it hasn't been greased in many moons so I haven't tried to turn it in fear of snapping off a handle or something.  We'll get to it though.  There's some salt corrosion, chipping paint and lots of the rubber is rotten but I hope we can make it presentable enough to put a camera up there and link vidio down to the control room for guest to see.  A large exhaust fan sits over the upper hatch now, providing ventilation in the summer, but I'm in hopes an alternate to that can be found.  Keeping it reasonably clean will be a hard, continuous chore otherwise.

I'd like to publicly thank MM3 Thomas Dillenburg and MM3 Patrick Plants from the NPTU who have volunteered their time in the conning tower and MM3 T.J. Work for several days of hard work before he transferred.  Below are some pictures of the conning tower.





Two more dirt movers!  Petty Officers Cole and Ballis(?)

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Re: One small step!

« on: March 30, 2010, 03:24:53 PM »

Getting back to the original topic we have started the field day on the Clamagore.  No great change is apparent yet but a lot of dirt is on the move and we are finding things that haven't seen the light of day perhaps since 1975 or so.  Several interesting items have been recovered and we are only getting started.

Its been awhile since I have worked young sailors and I had forgotten what it was like.  At first I was disappointed until I reminded myself of what I was like back then.  This is a massive task, to clean something so dirty, so I guess they need motivation too.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / Re: One small step!

« on: March 02, 2010, 09:14:52 AM »

Perhaps as the cleaning progresses some other areas can be opened for public viewing, such as the conning tower. 

Please note that in my original post I stressed public viewiing, not public access!   The Clam needs help and nothing has irritated me more than everyone telling me what we can't do!  We need positive action not idle chatter why we can't or shouldn't do this or that.   Perhaps, with some restrictions, we can get folks greater access and perhaps only a look through a piece of plexi glass or steel grate but first we have to remove the DIRT.

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USS Clamagore (SS-343) / One small step!

« on: February 19, 2010, 08:39:26 PM »

I can't speak for the future of the boat in regards to her future but hopefully a little step forward may be happening.

I've been talking to some of the staff at Patriots Point and hopefully we are about to begin an interior deep cleaning project on the old girl.  A good, old fashion Field Day!  This will be a volunteer effort to clean areas that haven't seen a foxtail since the old girl came here.   She's getting a refurbished name board next week too.

Perhaps as the cleaning progresses some other areas can be opened for public viewing, such as the conning tower.  Tiny steps perhaps but perhaps its a positive step in the right direction.