USS Cavalla (SS-244) - August 4th, 2007
A visit to Seawolf Park, built on an immigration site, and now home to the USS Cavalla & the USS Stewart. The Cavalla sank the Shokaku (one of six japanese carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor) on 19 June 1944.
"The Luckiest Ship in the Submarine Service" because of her outstanding performance during her short time in service before the war ended and the Navy's ONLY Leap Year ship
The submarine veterans who erected this memorial
The 52 Submarines lost during WW2
Let the tour of Cavalla begin, start from the stern
Head around the submarine's anchor to climb aboard
Walk on deck and head towards the conning tower and bow
Pass by the conning tower to access the forward entry way
Current entry was for loading torpedoes, the original hatch is further forward
Look back towards Cavalla's conning tower before entering
Port side view of parking lot with conning tower compartment of the USS Carp (SS-338), plus the fishing pier and pavilion in the background
Enter the vessel by heading down the torpedo loading hatch
First stop is the forward torpedo room
Top two forward torpedo launchers with two more below the raised deck
Torpedos make for an extra firm bed
Officer's Head, locked up, because . . . for officers only
Through the hatch to the officer's quarters
Fold up sink in the captain's quarters
Captain has a nice comfy bed, desk & drawers in his room
Through the hatch to the control room and diving station
Many gauges and valves line the walkway
Diving station with large center depth gauge in the center
Hull opening valves and vent controls
The Shop-Vac was not standard WW2 equipment
My tour guide, Bill, explained everything, and made sure no damage was done
The galley was bigger than a past apartment's kitchen
Crew's mess hall has backgammon & checkers in the tables
Four tables with movable benches in the mess hall
Walk through the crew's quarters
The crew worked hard enough to sleep in these conditions
Forward engine room once had two diesel engines
Engine controls and ship indicators
Engine order command panel, last tested in 1967
The after engine room still has both diesel engines
Here is the second one, it is not a mirror image
Engine order command panel for after engines
Snorkel status & hull opening panel for after engines
Continue through the hatch to the Manuevering Room
Left box & wood railings protect from main generator electrocution
Into the motor room with left and right engine controllers
Governor controls for all main engines
Battery controls and snorkel indicators
Engine order telegraph with indicators and controls
Finally make our way into the After Torpedo Room
There are four launchers in the after torpedo room
Nice lighted view down one of the open tubes
Bed headroom really opens up after several torpedoes are fired
View up toward the crew after egress hatch
Skinny guys get the lower bunks early in the deployment
Torpedo propeller cap helps with loading into the ship
Pass a sink missing its soap when backtracking to the conning tower
Bill takes a liking to me and takes me up to the conning tower
Torpedo firing panel with fwd & aft selectors
Periscope gives a great view over the starboard bow
Radar and sound equipment monitors
Torpedo data computer for plotting target bearing
Ships wheel with rudder angle indicator and engine order telegraph
Descend from the conning tower back to the control room
Exit the submarine and walk toward the bow & displayed torpedo
The exterior of the Cavalla appears to be in good shape
Remodeled in 1952 w/BQR-4 sonar system & removal of 2 torpedo tubes
Cavalla received the Presidential Unit Citation & four battle stars
A park has been added since my last visit in 2000
The hull was rusted out with gaping holes everywhere in 2000
Two of four stern torpedo tubes above ground
The USS Cavalla was the only US submarine to sink a Japanese aircraft carrier that attacked Pearl Harbor