The Waterfront Memorial is dedicated to these brave men and the ships on which they served. Their lives were lost aboard the 52 submarines that were sunk in the Pacific during the many engagements with the Japanese Navy.
It’s estimated that more than 3,500 submarine officers and crewmen were lost during the war. The USS Bowfin survived the war and became one of the most successful submarines in the Pacific, but there were many others that never got to witness the Japanese surrender. The launch became known as the “First Official Missile Mail.” Waterfront Memorial World War II Submarine Memorial Rather than detonating or serving as a test launch, the missile safely delivered the letters, which were written by the US Postmaster General, Arthur Summerfield, to political figures including President Eisenhower. Over the course of 22 minutes, the missile traveled just over 100 miles before landing at a naval air station in Mayport, Florida. On June 8, a Regulus I was loaded with approximately 3,000 letters and launched from a US submarine. Though it was designed to cause extensive damage to enemy ships, in 1959, the Regulus I was used for a rather innocuous purpose.
Submarines and surface ships alike launched Regulus I missiles, which cruised for approximately 500 nautical miles before detonating. Regulus I Cruise Missile Regulus I cruise missileĪnother artifact that wasn’t used in World War II but still became a part of US naval history, the Regulus I first came into use during the Cold War. Instead, guests can explore the tower of the USS Parche (SS-384), a World War II-era submarine that was decommissioned immediately after the war. The conning tower is the “sail” that sits atop the submarine’s frame, a watertight compartment designed with numerous instruments and controls to help with the overall operation of the vessel.īowfin still has her conning tower attached, but it’s inaccessible to visitors. USS Parche Conning Tower USS Parche conning tower at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Parkįrom the conning tower of a submarine, a sailor could man the periscope to guide the vessel through the water and launch a torpedo attack on an enemy vessel. Though the chamber didn't see use during World War II, it’s a fascinating piece of submarine history and a fitting addition to the Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park. The chamber made several trips to the sunken ship, ultimately saving 33 survivors who had been trapped aboard the disabled Squalus. After USS Squalus (SS-192) sank during a test dive, the rescue vessel USS Falcon (ASR-2) deployed the McCann Rescue Chamber. In 1939, the McCann Rescue Chamber took part in the only successful rescue from a sunken American submarine. That’s where the McCann Rescue Chamber came into play. When a submarine sinks to the bottom of the ocean with her crew trapped inside, rescue seems like a remote possibility. McCann Rescue Chamber McCann rescue chamber Kaiten were credited with sinking the destroyer escort USS Underhill (DE-682), the oiler USS Mississinewa (AO-59), and an infantry landing craft. Powered by a Type 4 oxygen-kerosene engine, each Kaiten carried 3,960 lbs of explosives, enough to do significant damage to an American vessel. The sleek black torpedo sitting on the grounds of the Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park is a reminder of the dangers submariners faced at the height of the War in the Pacific. The suicide vessel started to see use toward the end of the war, as the Japanese grew desperate to inflict whatever damage they could. When it came to devastating Allied ships, the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Kaiten manned torpedo posed a deadly threat. These are some of the fascinating things you can see on your next Pearl Harbor tour. Outside, there are more exhibits and artifacts. In addition to the iconic submarine herself, the site features an indoor museum with artifacts and memorabilia from many different US submarines. One of the main attractions of the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites is the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park.
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