Spent 2 years on a Balao class Sub, the Sea Owl SS-405 in the early 60's. Qualifying for my dolphins on that submarine was the most difficult thing I've ever done. College was a cake walk compared to qualifying. My late wife and I toured the Pampanito in 1999, she couldn't believe how small the galley was. When we came back on deck through what was originally the forward torpedo loading hatch she turned to me and said, "Well that explains a lot!"
My father served on the Pampanito in the engine room: Stanley Freemont Butler. He passed in 1982 but I remember him telling me as a boy about picking up the POW's.
John Butler...Your father and mine must have known each other... Maybe they shared a cup of coffee together and talked about home (while playing cards) in between very long and stressful days.
@@London2362 According to the ships crew log my dad was on the fourth, fifth, and sixth war patrols listed as F1c. Yes, your father is listed also as MoMM2c so they more than likely crossed paths. John Butler
My grandfather was a Aussie POW captured after the fall of Singapore, after his imprisonment, he was in a Japanese convoy that was attacked by an American submarine wolf pack. The Americans didn't know the convoy carried mostly POWs and war materials and unfortunately, sunk a number of the ships. The survivors who were able to get out from down below before the ships went under then had to survive on their own for a few days in the shark infested, oil slick waters with no medical supplies to treat injuries, water or food clinging to wreckage or whatever they could find. The survivors were eventually rescued when the wolfpack returned a few days later and discovered the survivors - my grandfather was picked up by the USS Pampanito and lived to see out the war. He died before I was born (my dad suspected the oil and other chemicals he swallowed plus the captivity of being a POW shortened his life greatly) but we were fortunate enough to visit the Pampanito in San Francisco back in 1999 - where the submarine is now a museum. I'd love to go back again now that I'm older and have a deeper appreciation for the history, courage and sacrifice of those who came before.
My father; John E. (Jack) Wilson served in the Navy, and USS Pampanito 1941-1945...He was a Torpedoman's Mate, and a Motor Machinist's Mate....His nickname was "The Fuel (or Oil) King" by his shipmates because oversaw the refueling at sea, and also was charged with "starting the boat." He served on all six War Patrols... I still remember his accounts of when they were being depth charged, and also rescuing those men from the sea....They truly are "The Greatest Generation"...
The "Oil King" is a rotating position designating who is in charge of transferring fuel oil and keeping the ship's trim level. There would be a different one every 4 hours.
Many years back I got to tour the Pampanito with my dad when he came to the Bay Area for a visit (he's since passed away.) He served as an officer on the diesel submarines Argonaut and Tench in the 1950s, right after the Korean War. These were direct descendants of the fleet subs like the Pampanito. The main differences were things like the radar and electronics. As one of the officers he had to know every inch of the boat and I was amazed that he could still remember every detail of the machinery and systems. As we were going through the sub he'd be pointing to various pipes and knobs and describing how this was turned to open such and such which let air into that thing over there, etc. We were moving through the sub with a bunch of other people, most of whom were listening to this audio tour. But by about the time we reached the galley a number of them stopped paying attention to the audio tour because they realized here was someone who had actually served on one of these things! By the time we reached the forward torpedo room Dad had a gaggle of people following him, listening with rapt attention. Happy Veteran's Day, Dad!
Yes.. that is awesome to hear that. My dad had literally done the same thing with me and my mother on a tour of a sub in Groton, Connecticut. He served as Yeoman Chief Petty Officer Y1C on the SS350 Dogfish. People had stopped listening to a young lady reading of a piece of paper and started listening my dad..who was wearing his dolphins at the time. Everyone was literally enthralled and listening to him intensely about the sub, the workings of it, his life aboard, some war stories, actual sea stories ..the young lady asked if he could still run it, he said sweetheart, with a small skeleton crew I could probably fire this up and head out to sea..You were lucky to come back from a patrol when the survival rate for a submarine sailor was grim. WWII submarine vets have a special place in my heart coming from a military family. I care about all military but sub guys especially. I just wish he had lived long enough to write a book. I had him almost convinced to do such a thing. His stories about being in the Navy were something I always enjoyed listening to whenever he would decide to open up and actually talk about it. He lied about his age to get in the Navy when his dad died when he was 16. His uncle had to "verify" his age..lol By the time he was 18, he had made rank very quickly...not bad for a orphaned boy from Iowa/Missouri. I only wish I could have actually seen and boarded his boat, but it was one of many that were decommissioned and sold for scrap 😮💨 I had always wished I could have somehow obtained that boat and restored it to a museum piece.... wishful dreaming I know...but something I would have been happy to do.
My father trained on the R15, and did one patrol in the Caribbean on the R17, two patrols on the USS Halibut in the Aleutians, the first four patrols on the USS Pampanito, one patrol in the USS Barb, one patrol on the USS Spot and one on the USS Piranha. I have his Dolphin medal with nine stars. He was stone dead in one ear from serving as a motor machinist. He enlisted in 1942 and got out when the war ended.
All I can say is thank you all, for your brave service. Today's military stand upon your shoulders. You were truly our greatest generation. With that we are eternally grateful.
Damn...I love seeing such great, historic vessels being well taken care of. A bit of trivia....This sub was also the sub used in the 1996 move "Down Periscope".
You can see the leg of one of the association members in the movie as they had to have some staff on board when they towed her and he was on deck. This is the guy that restored the fire control system he said it was a thrill to see the computer solve the last firing equation entered when they got it running! Navy was still a bit worried when they turned her over to civilians so there are a number of changes made so she can't be fully operational. The hatch you enter at the beginning of this tour is one reason you can't submerge anymore. At that time the some navies had just stopped using these subs! So their fears were well founded.
I am a Brit and visited SF in 1993 when I did the tour. Years later I was at home and saw a documentary on the BBC about the pows picked up by Pampanito. There was some original footage of the rescue and it was strange to see those shipwreck survivors being taken down the hatch through which visitors passed many years later.
I had the honor of being aboard on the tour - I was awed and overwhelmed at the bravery of the crews that manned these subs - not a venture for the claustrophobic - then add on top you were a target of the Japanese Navy - yes indeed brave men who deserve our endless gratitude
DANGEROUS,,,, drowning, smoke, runaway torpedo in the sub, circle back around torpedo after leaving the sub, depth charges, crashing into a uncharted underwater mountain,,,
Very interesting tour. I have toured the USS Cobia in Manitowoc, WI and will admit the subs of World War 2 were very claustophobic. On one tour, being the only person on it, the tour guide let me climb the ladder to view the control room inside the conning tower. Gee, imagine getting 8 guys in that 8 foot cylinder. The narrator, and the voices of those that served on this boat , really made the tour worthwhile. Thanks to our veterans and God protect those still on eternal patrol.
When on a field trip with my daughters class to this sub We were blessed to spend the night on board, watched run silent run deep in the forward torpedo room. Good time
Was this recently? Such a good program. The same group also runs the living history program at Hyde St. pier AKA San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. I have friends in the association that owns this ship and until recently ran the program at the pier. Alice invited me to help out a few times but never got to do the overnight program on Pampinito. Who enjoyed the experience more, you or your daughters?
My wife and I went aboard the Pampanito in Oct 1988. We already had a healthy respect for submariners, but that trip through Pampanito puts the fear in ya.
I've been intrigued by subs since I was young. I had the pleasure of touring the Pampanito when I was in San Francisco years ago. My respect for all the men who served submarines will never be diminished.
I did this tour and highly recommend it, even if you are a pacifist (towards which I often lean). Both the tour and this video illustrates the struggle that common men endured. Many were lost in such endeavours but they did it for reasons they held to be noble.
Thanks for the tour. After just watching a similar video of German WWll submarines it's remarkable how many things were similar and how many things were quite different. The American subs seem a little bit more livable. No matter what country you served, submariners had to be some mentally tough men. God bless these great men.
The Kriegsmariners would be amazed. Big bunk room, not just toilets but tile floored showers, dinning booths in a dedicated mess deck, officer's pantry with an attendant, officer's staterooms, a refrigerator and freezer for food. That's what you get in a big submarine with four diesel engines.
My aunt's neighbor was John Schumer, who served as a TM3c on the USS Spadefish (SS-411), a Balao class like this one. He and his crew were responsible for sinking 21 ships between 44-45. This tour was a great visualization of the conditions they would have been living and fighting in.
I have had the privilege of touring the Pampanito twice. The last with my departed Father. He was in the Royal Navy after WW11. First time I ever heard him say he had it good in Destroyers after touring the boat. Very well done video and quite frankly I gleaned more of its history from this video than when I was on her. I'm sure it is due to the physical presence I had being there because it's a surreal experience. Thank you. Well done.
It was a poor weather day when I took the tour for this sub many years ago. My daughter was very young at this time. Since the tour only had a few people that day the guide talked to us and made the tour special. Thank you for your help.
Excellent! as a 6'4" guy well past 200 lbs I have a lot of respect for the sailors on this and other boats like it. Not easy at all for me to negotiate my way through. A couple times there were docents who were submarine sailors, really glad I had a chance to chat with them.
I'm a Desert Storm Veteran I love Submarines I was in the US Army Major disabled retired i had the honor to be on board one during Desert Shield God bless you and thank you for your service
My Father was on SS399 SeaCat from 43-46 and Radioman SS399 SeaCat was one of 12 Submarines that escorted the Battleship Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the Surrender of the Japanese in September 1945. My father watched the surrender from the deck of the SeaCat as he wrote in his diary. Still have original transmissions received on SeaCat Letterhead as well as My Fathers Sub Jacket which has the Original Artwork painted on the conning tower by my father and who also painted the artwork on his sub jacket. As a small child back in the 50's and early 60's my father as an officer in the Coast Guard we were allowed to get onto commissioned subs and able to actually get up into the conning tower and use the periscope - not allowed today even on the Pampanito or any other subs that are now museum pieces.
😊 It's clear that there were different priorities on f.ex. crew comfort. Here, the US subs were clearly superior. Thanks for watching and sharing a comment 👍
I agree,one superb Movie. My Father Served in the Merchant Navy during the war,he was on North Atlantic Convoy Duty,up to Murmansk And Archangel in Russia. He said that the one thing that terrified them,was the threat of U boats.
@@captasparagus6908 Indeed, the large size of the Gato and Balao class boats allowed for many luxuries German Submariners couldn't afford. In my opinion they had it much harder.
Years ago, I went on board the Pampanito to take the tour. It was incredible.I was going to enlist in the navy and volunteer for sub duty. Unfortunately, circumstances changed for me and I had to pass on enlisting.
Thank you for the video. It brought back memories of the tours of the boat I've done on my visits to San Francisco and also my reaction, as an Australian, at the story of the rescue of the 73.
i met a guy once, he was pushing 95 at the time, wearing a navy submarine service vet ball cap. i asked him about when he was in. NINE TEEN TWENTY FIVE to 1950! he told some stories. knew half the men in the service in those years. name a boat he could tell you names of people he knew on them. their skippers. i told him my last name. seems the first commander of one had the same as me. it was quite an impressive career . i have been on a couple of subs. surfaced. don't think i would volunteer for that. i don't like close spaces . best wishes and respects for the squids :)
Thanks for encouraging people to visit Pampanito. I loved crawling around this ship back before things were cordoned off. Such a complete original ship. I'm proud of my friends that fix/restore this ship and run the association that owns it. My wife was on duty at the ticket booth when the Loma Prieta quake hit. She stayed on until relieved all the while sirens wailed and a burst water pipe was roaring under the pier. She said there were some people aboard who had the audacity to ask for their money back because of the earthquake. They were in fact in one of the safest places to be! I had a chance to tour the Pampanito during her last dry dock. Very cool to see her out of the water on a WWII era floating dry dock at Bay Ship and Yacht. Such a different perspective.
Absolutely! Please extend my thanks to those who spend their time keeping this submarine in good working order. I have visited it twice and loved both. The first time I had the pleasure to talk to one of the veterans. I wish I lived nearby so I could spend time helping...
@@BecksHobbyProductions I wish I were not such an adult that I have family, home, car, work, boat to keep up. I always say when I retire I'll do more volunteer work and this would be one of my choices, also back to SFMNHP to work on those ships again (I spent 10+ years volunteering there. But now the communte to do the work is insane, not like 88-98.
This was a good video!! I served aboard a nuclear missile boat in the '67-68, made three missile patrols!! After that, in Feb. 69, I made a patrol on a boat just like the one in the video, SS 569 USS Wahoo, operated off the Sea of Japan and into the Yellow Sea!! The diesel-electric Wahoo was really, really different than the nuc boat, it was like the WWII boats of old!!
As an interesting contrast I also went on the USS Growler at NYC. Being much more modern by WWII standards it was more roomy for a big guy like me. The Growler was commissioned in 1958
Excellent video!!! Thank you so very much for making and sharing this!! Being disabled and not able to go to these places in person, these videos are priceless to people like me. Also, endless thanks to the brave heroes that served and are still serving to preserve our safety and freedom!! May God bless you all endlessly!!!
A great part of the praise should go to the Pampanito museum as the audio you hear is from they audio tour, however I am very happy that my video makes the tour available to people who are not able to go on the actual tour :)
I served as a Torpedoman's Mate on USS DACE SSN 607 in the mid 80s. While working as a Banker for LaSalle Bank in Chicago in 2001; I was blessed to meet several WW2 veterans; including a crewmember of USS DACE SS 247.
Thank you to all the submariners that served aboard these boats during WW2. These were dangerous, vital combat patrols that played a pivotal role in our victory over Japan. If you'd like to read a harrowing account of just what these guys went through, read 'Clear the Bridge', by Cdr. Richard O'Kane, USN. He was the Commanding Officer of the Tang, and during their five war patrols, the Tang sank more tonnage of enemy shipping than any other ship, except one, during the war. Dick O'Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor shortly after the war for his amazing accomplishments and leadership. My father was a Annapolis graduate and served as a nuclear submariner for nearly 26 years. He served as a navigator, a weapons officer, an executive officer and twice as a commanding officer. He was a division commander and a squadron commander before retiring.
If you look up immediately after boarding, you'll notice a plain broom whipped to one of the masts. This signifies a "clean sweep", a war patrol on which all torpedoes were expended. It's a very nice touch. Submariners had the highest casualty rates in the US Navy during WWII. Some lost US subs have never been found.
Pampanito was known for the lives she saved, not the ships she sunk. She’s a museum to the guys who lived and died fighting a war in which the surface navy was knocked out the first day. Let us never forget
Around the mid-1990's we took our Scout troop from Auburn, CA to SF and stayed the night aboard the Pampanito...a wonderful experience for the boys!! But, the big hit with the kids was breakfast at McDonald's the next morning....nice memories!
I've toured the WW2 SUB USS COBIA in Manitawac WI. & the Nautilus in Groton Connecticut. What a contrast of tech jump in about 12 yrs. The Nautilus had a lighted stair well, two full stand up levels. I wondered if there might have been an officer who would have served starting in the second world war & was still in to serve on this beauty. The cafeteria was like a small college size.. serving line with glass sneeze shield, choice of antree, veggies, milk cooler, soda fountain machine. There was a great museum on shore. Didn't get to spend as much time as I'd have like to. Hope to visit there again some day.
I took the tour of this submarine when I was in SF about 15 years ago. So it was really cool to find this video. The one think I remember from my visit was as big as it looks from the outside it's really tight quarters inside. The men that manned these during the war were some brave men, my hats off to them. I tried to imagine what it might have been like to be submerged under the sea with depth charges being dropped on you. Must have been the scariest shit ever. God bless all the men who served our country...
It's bigger on the outside due to the ballast and compressed air tanks. The ballast tanks contained more weight in water than the weight of the entire boat otherwise it wouldn't float or submerge.
Also the german submarine navy had a high casualty rate.. 40.000 sailors went out, 30.000 never returned. The submariners were a different breed. May them all rest in peace.
I was onboard her a few years ago and was an early bird and had her all to myself. A fitting memorial to all submariners, Ex RAN Sea Cadet, EX MN and Air Force. Also do not forget the Liberty Ship just past her, well worth a visit.
When I lived there I went on both several times. The liberty ship more often. For a while they gladly took used motor oil from repair shops to fuel the burners, once a month they fired her up and ran the old steam engine and generators. Was a lot of fun gling and checking her out. If I had been able to, i would have volunteered to take the trip to Omaha beach in celebration of D day.
I did a walk through USS Silversides when it was in Chicago in 1950. I had clostiphobia and it was tied to the dock. I went to work for GM and the superintendent was a sub captain in WW2 , USNA Annapolis class 1936. James Martin. These were all tough people.
@@BecksHobbyProductions My favorite tour (as a local I've been many times) was with a mostly deaf and totally blind friend of mine. This was back before so much was closed off and we went on a quiet week day and literally were crawling along and feeling stuff every where while I helped interpret for him. We both enjoyed it! I wonder if he still remembers the smell of diesel and shale. Something you can't reproduce in a video.
I visited U-995 in Kiel a couple of times. The last surviving type 7 german submarine (they built like 600 of them). The U-955 was much smaller and only had one toilet for like 55 guys (and no showers!!!). The living conditions on this american U-boat are much better than in the samll mass produced german U-boats in comparison. I feel really sorry for everyone who had to fight and die in these cramped death traps .
Did an over nighter on this submarine when I was a child in Boy Scouts. With San Francisco being foggy I feared being on the deck I couldn't see anything in front of me. I thought I was going to die. Plus how small it was inside. Nice video to remember my memories. That red light control room scared the crap out of me too how dark it really is. Ha!
The Pampanito was and is my favorite attraction at San Francisco’s fishermen’s worf. I still remember when I first went onboard as a kid the audio tour was different with a man and sounds I would really like to hear that one again.
I visited the Pampanito like 10 years ago. San Francisco Bay is a bit on the "choppy" side. After 10 minutes aboard, my green colored self was left in no doubt as to why we are a traditionally "Army" family.
Anyone who wants some fantastic books about this type of warfare would do well to read "Wahoo" and "Clear the Bridge" by Dick O'Kane who served as Exec of the 'Wahoo' and Captain of 'Tang' (each book is about those experiences respectively). Amazing reading about brave men written by arguably the most successful skipper of the USN submarine service of WW2.
AYE AYE. BACK IN 2008 OR THEREABOUTS I MET THE SON OF THE CAPTAIN MUSH MORTON IN PEHLAM NY. HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE WAHOO238 . DICK O'KANE HAD LEFT PREVIOUS TO ATTAIN HIS OWN COMMAND OF THE USS TANG. THE SON LOOKED JUST LIKE THE FATHER. I WAS SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS RECENT PASSING. WHEN I MET HIM I WAS ALL OF A MUSH MOUTH. IT WAS LIKE MEETING A HERO OF YOUR CHILDHOOD. I STILL HAVE PICS ON MY OLE FLIP PHONE TAKEN BY MY WIFE. GUESS IM REAL LUCKY CAUSE ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY I MET 3 OF THE 5 SURVIVING CREW OF THE USS ARIZONA. IT WAS AT THE PUNCHBOWL CERMONY ON THE 5THOF 2016. THERE WAS AN EFFORT THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL AT AWARDING A MEDAL TO THE GUY THAT SAVED THESE GUYS OFF THE ARIZONA. DONALD STRATTON WAS ONE OF THE SAILORS SAVED. THERE IS A PRESENT EFFORT UNDERWAY TO MAKE A MOVIE OF THIS DAY. THIS IS AMERICAN HISTORY AT ITS BEST. LOOK IT UP. ITS ON THE INTERNET
Thank You for your recommendations. "Return from the River Kwai" is an excellent book about the allied P.O.W.'s who survived the Japanese work camps only to be sunk by Allied subs (unknowingly, of course) and their nightmarish ordeal struggling to survive in the open ocean.
Wonderful! Saw you guys when you came up to welcome Jerri back! I'll never for get that day. You were firing a lot of rounds from the 50s and looking great. I took a whole roll of film (remember film) that day from the deck of Alma (1891 Hay Scow) but when I reached #38 went what! I had forgotten to replace the roll so missed any of my own photos of most of the event. Never had too much time for photos anyway as I was also crew working ship as well.
Spent 2 years on a Balao class Sub, the Sea Owl SS-405 in the early 60's. Qualifying for my dolphins on that submarine was the most difficult thing I've ever done. College was a cake walk compared to qualifying. My late wife and I toured the Pampanito in 1999, she couldn't believe how small the galley was. When we came back on deck through what was originally the forward torpedo loading hatch she turned to me and said, "Well that explains a lot!"
golferroyce hi, that is great!!
Qualifying on boats now is easy, the smoke boat guys could do everything, now...were skarewed
Women!! Great story, thanks for sharing.
Not only was the USS Pampanito a famous WW2 boat, it was use in the 1996 movie "Down Periscope".
😅😅
USS "Stingray" by captain Tomas Dodge
@@valentinvorobiov2765 who has "welcome aboard" tattooed on his.....
balls to the walls, guys, balls to the walls! @@spankyharland9845
@@valentinvorobiov2765that pirate
My father served on the Pampanito in the engine room: Stanley Freemont Butler. He passed in 1982 but I remember him telling me as a boy about picking up the POW's.
Your Dad had balls, i'm nuc sub stewburner retired
John Butler...Your father and mine must have known each other... Maybe they shared a cup of coffee together and talked about home (while playing cards) in between very long and stressful days.
@@London2362 According to the ships crew log my dad was on the fourth, fifth, and sixth war patrols listed as F1c. Yes, your father is listed also as MoMM2c so they more than likely crossed paths. John Butler
That is amazing. You 2 should get together and have a cup of coffee in the mess! I think that would be so cool
You must be very Proud! May he RIP.
My grandfather was a Aussie POW captured after the fall of Singapore, after his imprisonment, he was in a Japanese convoy that was attacked by an American submarine wolf pack. The Americans didn't know the convoy carried mostly POWs and war materials and unfortunately, sunk a number of the ships. The survivors who were able to get out from down below before the ships went under then had to survive on their own for a few days in the shark infested, oil slick waters with no medical supplies to treat injuries, water or food clinging to wreckage or whatever they could find. The survivors were eventually rescued when the wolfpack returned a few days later and discovered the survivors - my grandfather was picked up by the USS Pampanito and lived to see out the war. He died before I was born (my dad suspected the oil and other chemicals he swallowed plus the captivity of being a POW shortened his life greatly) but we were fortunate enough to visit the Pampanito in San Francisco back in 1999 - where the submarine is now a museum. I'd love to go back again now that I'm older and have a deeper appreciation for the history, courage and sacrifice of those who came before.
Thanks for sharing your family's story 👍
@@BecksHobbyProductions thank you for sharing the video - was great to see the sub up close again and hear some of the ex sailors who crewed her.
thank you for sharing your family stor
My father; John E. (Jack) Wilson served in the Navy, and USS Pampanito 1941-1945...He was a Torpedoman's Mate, and a Motor Machinist's Mate....His nickname was "The Fuel (or Oil) King" by his shipmates because oversaw the refueling at sea, and also was charged with "starting the boat." He served on all six War Patrols... I still remember his accounts of when they were being depth charged, and also rescuing those men from the sea....They truly are "The Greatest Generation"...
God bless those brave men. We owe them our lives, freedom and more.
The "Oil King" is a rotating position designating who is in charge of transferring fuel oil and keeping the ship's trim level. There would be a different one every 4 hours.
@Big Bill O'Reilly Some Generations just LIVE of the accomplishments of the Preceding Generation, taking more than giving.
Thank you for your service sir.
They were the greatest generation . 😁🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Many years back I got to tour the Pampanito with my dad when he came to the Bay Area for a visit (he's since passed away.) He served as an officer on the diesel submarines Argonaut and Tench in the 1950s, right after the Korean War. These were direct descendants of the fleet subs like the Pampanito. The main differences were things like the radar and electronics.
As one of the officers he had to know every inch of the boat and I was amazed that he could still remember every detail of the machinery and systems. As we were going through the sub he'd be pointing to various pipes and knobs and describing how this was turned to open such and such which let air into that thing over there, etc.
We were moving through the sub with a bunch of other people, most of whom were listening to this audio tour. But by about the time we reached the galley a number of them stopped paying attention to the audio tour because they realized here was someone who had actually served on one of these things! By the time we reached the forward torpedo room Dad had a gaggle of people following him, listening with rapt attention.
Happy Veteran's Day, Dad!
Great story!
Fantastic
Yeshead
Thank You and rest in peace, sir.
Awesome story and what a memory for you to retain of your father. 🙌👍😃❤️
Yes.. that is awesome to hear that. My dad had literally done the same thing with me and my mother on a tour of a sub in Groton, Connecticut. He served as Yeoman Chief Petty Officer Y1C on the SS350 Dogfish. People had stopped listening to a young lady reading of a piece of paper and started listening my dad..who was wearing his dolphins at the time. Everyone was literally enthralled and listening to him intensely about the sub, the workings of it, his life aboard, some war stories, actual sea stories ..the young lady asked if he could still run it, he said sweetheart, with a small skeleton crew I could probably fire this up and head out to sea..You were lucky to come back from a patrol when the survival rate for a submarine sailor was grim. WWII submarine vets have a special place in my heart coming from a military family. I care about all military but sub guys especially. I just wish he had lived long enough to write a book. I had him almost convinced to do such a thing. His stories about being in the Navy were something I always enjoyed listening to whenever he would decide to open up and actually talk about it. He lied about his age to get in the Navy when his dad died when he was 16. His uncle had to "verify" his age..lol By the time he was 18, he had made rank very quickly...not bad for a orphaned boy from Iowa/Missouri. I only wish I could have actually seen and boarded his boat, but it was one of many that were decommissioned and sold for scrap 😮💨 I had always wished I could have somehow obtained that boat and restored it to a museum piece.... wishful dreaming I know...but something I would have been happy to do.
My father trained on the R15, and did one patrol in the Caribbean on the R17, two patrols on the USS Halibut in the Aleutians, the first four patrols on the USS Pampanito, one patrol in the USS Barb, one patrol on the USS Spot and one on the USS Piranha. I have his Dolphin medal with nine stars. He was stone dead in one ear from serving as a motor machinist. He enlisted in 1942 and got out when the war ended.
All I can say is thank you all, for your brave service. Today's military stand upon your shoulders. You were truly our greatest generation. With that we are eternally grateful.
Damn...I love seeing such great, historic vessels being well taken care of. A bit of trivia....This sub was also the sub used in the 1996 move "Down Periscope".
You can see the leg of one of the association members in the movie as they had to have some staff on board when they towed her and he was on deck. This is the guy that restored the fire control system he said it was a thrill to see the computer solve the last firing equation entered when they got it running! Navy was still a bit worried when they turned her over to civilians so there are a number of changes made so she can't be fully operational. The hatch you enter at the beginning of this tour is one reason you can't submerge anymore. At that time the some navies had just stopped using these subs! So their fears were well founded.
I am a Brit and visited SF in 1993 when I did the tour. Years later I was at home and saw a documentary on the BBC about the pows picked up by Pampanito. There was some original footage of the rescue and it was strange to see those shipwreck survivors being taken down the hatch through which visitors passed many years later.
I had the honor of being aboard on the tour - I was awed and overwhelmed at the bravery of the crews that manned these subs - not a venture for the claustrophobic - then add on top you were a target of the Japanese Navy - yes indeed brave men who deserve our endless gratitude
DANGEROUS,,,, drowning, smoke, runaway torpedo in the sub, circle back around torpedo after leaving the sub, depth charges, crashing into a uncharted underwater mountain,,,
Very interesting tour. I have toured the USS Cobia in Manitowoc, WI and will admit the subs of World War 2 were very claustophobic. On one tour, being the only person on it, the tour guide let me climb the ladder to view the control room inside the conning tower. Gee, imagine getting 8 guys in that 8 foot cylinder. The narrator, and the voices of those that served on this boat , really made the tour worthwhile. Thanks to our veterans and God protect those still on eternal patrol.
And to think these US fleet subs were large and spacious compared to the German TypeVII boats!
I did the walk through. You can feel the energy of the people that were there. Thank you for your service to all vets, past and present
When on a field trip with my daughters class to this sub
We were blessed to spend the night on board, watched run silent run deep in the forward torpedo room. Good time
Was this recently? Such a good program. The same group also runs the living history program at Hyde St. pier AKA San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. I have friends in the association that owns this ship and until recently ran the program at the pier. Alice invited me to help out a few times but never got to do the overnight program on Pampinito. Who enjoyed the experience more, you or your daughters?
My wife and I went aboard the Pampanito in Oct 1988. We already had a healthy respect for submariners, but that trip through Pampanito puts the fear in ya.
I've been intrigued by subs since I was young. I had the pleasure of touring the Pampanito when I was in San Francisco years ago. My respect for all the men who served submarines will never be diminished.
I did this tour and highly recommend it, even if you are a pacifist (towards which I often lean). Both the tour and this video illustrates the struggle that common men endured. Many were lost in such endeavours but they did it for reasons they held to be noble.
I enjoyed this alot, i have gained a new appreciation for what these submariners went thru
I’ve been on Pampanito years ago, as often as I see her I’m amazed at the personal that were and are submariner’s. Thanks for the awesome video.
I really enjoyed this video. The narration and sounds and music made it exceptional!
Agreed
one of the best audio tours I've ever heard, I'd like to visit sometime.
Great documentary. Well done. Eternal thanks to all those great men and women who served so bravely. Some gave all, all gave much.
Thanks for the tour. After just watching a similar video of German WWll submarines it's remarkable how many things were similar and how many things were quite different. The American subs seem a little bit more livable.
No matter what country you served, submariners had to be some mentally tough men. God bless these great men.
Big Bill O'Reilly,
Times sure have changed.
Big Bill O'Reilly,
Well you certainly got a point bout that 👍
notsosilentmajority1 hi, yes indeed!!
The Kriegsmariners would be amazed. Big bunk room, not just toilets but tile floored showers, dinning booths in a dedicated mess deck, officer's pantry with an attendant, officer's staterooms, a refrigerator and freezer for food. That's what you get in a big submarine with four diesel engines.
@@craftpaint1644
Wow !! Crazy stuff. Thanks.
My aunt's neighbor was John Schumer, who served as a TM3c on the USS Spadefish (SS-411), a Balao class like this one. He and his crew were responsible for sinking 21 ships between 44-45. This tour was a great visualization of the conditions they would have been living and fighting in.
I have had the privilege of touring the Pampanito twice. The last with my departed Father. He was in the Royal Navy after WW11. First time I ever heard him say he had it good in Destroyers after touring the boat. Very well done video and quite frankly I gleaned more of its history from this video than when I was on her. I'm sure it is due to the physical presence I had being there because it's a surreal experience. Thank you. Well done.
I salute the Greatest generation and their service to freedom. My father, My Uncles and all the rest who fought in WW2. Thank You.
Thanks for doing this. I did this tour many years ago. Great refresher.
I really enjoyed this. Well done. What a great format from the greatest generation.
It was a poor weather day when I took the tour for this sub many years ago. My daughter was very young at this time. Since the tour only had a few people that day the guide talked to us and made the tour special. Thank you for your help.
My Pop served in the U.S. Army, he kept our aircraft in Top condition, sure miss him !
Love the Silent Service series on RUclips. The USS Pampanito is featured there and it is interesting to see that the original is still around!
Archibald Tuttle I recognise this sub from the movie Down Periscope.
Excellent! as a 6'4" guy well past 200 lbs I have a lot of respect for the sailors on this and other boats like it. Not easy at all for me to negotiate my way through. A couple times there were docents who were submarine sailors, really glad I had a chance to chat with them.
I'm a Desert Storm Veteran I love Submarines I was in the US Army Major disabled retired i had the honor to be on board one during Desert Shield God bless you and thank you for your service
of all ww11 video's this has to be one of the best. God Bless those men.
My Father was on SS399 SeaCat from 43-46 and Radioman SS399 SeaCat was one of 12 Submarines that escorted the Battleship Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the Surrender of the Japanese in September 1945. My father watched the surrender from the deck of the SeaCat as he wrote in his diary. Still have original transmissions received on SeaCat Letterhead as well as My Fathers Sub Jacket which has the Original Artwork painted on the conning tower by my father and who also painted the artwork on his sub jacket. As a small child back in the 50's and early 60's my father as an officer in the Coast Guard we were allowed to get onto commissioned subs and able to actually get up into the conning tower and use the periscope - not allowed today even on the Pampanito or any other subs that are now museum pieces.
I took this tour back in 1998. Loved it!
It's interesting to see the majorly different design philosophies between German U-Boats and American submarines. Thank you for sharing this!
😊 It's clear that there were different priorities on f.ex. crew comfort. Here, the US subs were clearly superior. Thanks for watching and sharing a comment 👍
I was shocked at how many bunks they had and how big the mess was. Paradise compared to what the Germans had
Tight quarters...Das Boot is still the best submarine movie ever made
I agree,one superb Movie. My Father Served in the Merchant Navy during the war,he was on North Atlantic Convoy Duty,up to Murmansk And Archangel in Russia. He said that the one thing that terrified them,was the threat of U boats.
Great Movie but the Silent Service series in the 1950's showed more detail about the Amazing Us Navy at the time..
Silent Service
It's a bigger sub with a larger crew but the German type VII in Das Boot seems much more cramped.
Excellent movie, we would never burn that flick under way, considered bad luck
@@captasparagus6908 Indeed, the large size of the Gato and Balao class boats allowed for many luxuries German Submariners couldn't afford. In my opinion they had it much harder.
Years ago, I went on board the Pampanito to take the tour. It was incredible.I was going to enlist in the navy and volunteer for sub duty. Unfortunately, circumstances changed for me and I had to pass on enlisting.
That was excellent. Thx for posting.
Enjoyed that. It's strange how you can be taken back to another time. What an amazing trip.
That is the beauty of Museums dude.
Great video. My dad was on the USS Runner as a motor machinist mate. The Runner was part of the Tokyo Bay Occupation Force.
Just Awesome !!! Love this bit of naval history
I toured that on my honeymoon in 2000. Was very cool to be able to see an old WWII sub in person. I still remember how small some of those areas felt.
The new ones still feel small. More room but more people on board, too.
Thank you for the video. It brought back memories of the tours of the boat I've done on my visits to San Francisco and also my reaction, as an Australian, at the story of the rescue of the 73.
In glad you enjoyed it 🙂 It is indeed a great tour they have there. Been there twice
i met a guy once, he was pushing 95 at the time, wearing a navy submarine service vet ball cap. i asked him about when he was in. NINE TEEN TWENTY FIVE to 1950! he told some stories. knew half the men in the service in those years. name a boat he could tell you names of people he knew on them. their skippers. i told him my last name. seems the first commander of one had the same as me. it was quite an impressive career . i have been on a couple of subs. surfaced. don't think i would volunteer for that. i don't like close spaces . best wishes and respects for the squids :)
I give all respect to these men---USN DD931 USS FORREST SHERMAN 1970--74
Thanks for encouraging people to visit Pampanito. I loved crawling around this ship back before things were cordoned off. Such a complete original ship. I'm proud of my friends that fix/restore this ship and run the association that owns it. My wife was on duty at the ticket booth when the Loma Prieta quake hit. She stayed on until relieved all the while sirens wailed and a burst water pipe was roaring under the pier. She said there were some people aboard who had the audacity to ask for their money back because of the earthquake. They were in fact in one of the safest places to be! I had a chance to tour the Pampanito during her last dry dock. Very cool to see her out of the water on a WWII era floating dry dock at Bay Ship and Yacht. Such a different perspective.
Absolutely! Please extend my thanks to those who spend their time keeping this submarine in good working order. I have visited it twice and loved both. The first time I had the pleasure to talk to one of the veterans.
I wish I lived nearby so I could spend time helping...
@@BecksHobbyProductions I wish I were not such an adult that I have family, home, car, work, boat to keep up. I always say when I retire I'll do more volunteer work and this would be one of my choices, also back to SFMNHP to work on those ships again (I spent 10+ years volunteering there. But now the communte to do the work is insane, not like 88-98.
Thanks for posting this I enjoyed it!
👏👏👏👍
This was a good video!! I served aboard a nuclear missile boat in the '67-68, made three missile patrols!! After that, in Feb. 69, I made a patrol on a boat just like the one in the video, SS 569 USS Wahoo, operated off the Sea of Japan and into the Yellow Sea!! The diesel-electric Wahoo was really, really different than the nuc boat, it was like the WWII boats of old!!
As an interesting contrast I also went on the USS Growler at NYC. Being much more modern by WWII standards it was more roomy for a big guy like me. The Growler was commissioned in 1958
We enjoyed our visit, when on our cruise, great that these subs and ships are kept around for future generations. Keep up the great work. 👍
Excellent video!!! Thank you so very much for making and sharing this!! Being disabled and not able to go to these places in person, these videos are priceless to people like me.
Also, endless thanks to the brave heroes that served and are still serving to preserve our safety and freedom!! May God bless you all endlessly!!!
A great part of the praise should go to the Pampanito museum as the audio you hear is from they audio tour, however I am very happy that my video makes the tour available to people who are not able to go on the actual tour :)
I served as a Torpedoman's Mate on USS DACE SSN 607 in the mid 80s. While working as a Banker for LaSalle Bank in Chicago in 2001; I was blessed to meet several WW2 veterans; including a crewmember of USS DACE SS 247.
Thank you to all the submariners that served aboard these boats during WW2. These were dangerous, vital combat patrols that played a pivotal role in our victory over Japan. If you'd like to read a harrowing account of just what these guys went through, read 'Clear the Bridge', by Cdr. Richard O'Kane, USN. He was the Commanding Officer of the Tang, and during their five war patrols, the Tang sank more tonnage of enemy shipping than any other ship, except one, during the war. Dick O'Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor shortly after the war for his amazing accomplishments and leadership. My father was a Annapolis graduate and served as a nuclear submariner for nearly 26 years. He served as a navigator, a weapons officer, an executive officer and twice as a commanding officer. He was a division commander and a squadron commander before retiring.
The stories of the USS Barb is also a great read :)
If you look up immediately after boarding, you'll notice a plain broom whipped to one of the masts. This signifies a "clean sweep", a war patrol on which all torpedoes were expended. It's a very nice touch. Submariners had the highest casualty rates in the US Navy during WWII. Some lost US subs have never been found.
Right. The US lost 25 percent of its submarines and crews during WWII. For the Germans, it was half, some 1,500 boats and crews.
@@tsmgguy 40 000 germans served on u-boots
30 000 never returned
Pampanito was known for the lives she saved, not the ships she sunk. She’s a museum to the guys who lived and died fighting a war in which the surface navy was knocked out the first day. Let us never forget
YES am a Australian thanks to all you guys that pulled the guys from the sea Thank you very much ,many familys went on because of this act cheers
Around the mid-1990's we took our Scout troop from Auburn, CA to SF and stayed the night aboard the Pampanito...a wonderful experience for the boys!! But, the big hit with the kids was breakfast at McDonald's the next morning....nice memories!
I've toured the WW2 SUB USS COBIA in Manitawac WI. & the Nautilus in Groton Connecticut. What a contrast of tech jump in about 12 yrs. The Nautilus had a lighted stair well, two full stand up levels. I wondered if there might have been an officer who would have served starting in the second world war & was still in to serve on this beauty. The cafeteria was like a small college size.. serving line with glass sneeze shield, choice of antree, veggies, milk cooler, soda fountain machine. There was a great museum on shore. Didn't get to spend as much time as I'd have like to. Hope to visit there again some day.
A VERY WELL DONE DEPICTION OF LIFE ON A WORLD WAR SUB. VERY PROFESSIONAL.
Greetings from a former long-time resident.and worker in Portsmouth NH (1980s)!!
That was the best video tour I have seen on a submarine. Fascinating
Thank you very much, however credit does go to the museum, as they created the audio tour :)
Great restoration, looked like hell when SF Museum got it.
In 1984, during my Navy service, I attended a couple tech schools at Mare Island, Cal. While there, I toured the USS Pampanito at San Francisco.
Quite luxurious. And I'm always surprised by the technical sophistication of the electronics in the USN boats.
It's pretty amazing that both the US and German navies has target computers which helped with calculations for the torpedo solutions
@@BecksHobbyProductions Yep - the British were far behind, though they entered the way with a torpedo (the Mk 8) that was up-to-the-job.
I took the tour of this submarine when I was in SF about 15 years ago. So it was really cool to find this video. The one think I remember from my visit was as big as it looks from the outside it's really tight quarters inside. The men that manned these during the war were some brave men, my hats off to them. I tried to imagine what it might have been like to be submerged under the sea with depth charges being dropped on you. Must have been the scariest shit ever. God bless all the men who served our country...
It's bigger on the outside due to the ballast and compressed air tanks. The ballast tanks contained more weight in water than the weight of the entire boat otherwise it wouldn't float or submerge.
Also the german submarine navy had a high casualty rate.. 40.000 sailors went out, 30.000 never returned. The submariners were a different breed. May them all rest in peace.
I was onboard her a few years ago and was an early bird and had her all to myself. A fitting memorial to all submariners, Ex RAN Sea Cadet, EX MN and Air Force. Also do not forget the Liberty Ship just past her, well worth a visit.
When I lived there I went on both several times. The liberty ship more often. For a while they gladly took used motor oil from repair shops to fuel the burners, once a month they fired her up and ran the old steam engine and generators. Was a lot of fun gling and checking her out. If I had been able to, i would have volunteered to take the trip to Omaha beach in celebration of D day.
I did a walk through USS Silversides when it was in Chicago in 1950. I had clostiphobia and it was tied to the dock.
I went to work for GM and the superintendent was a sub captain in WW2 , USNA Annapolis class 1936. James Martin. These were all tough people.
Another Great Video Tour Mate & the Stories behind her. 💗👌👌
I can't get over how cramped the inside of the submarines are, amazing how the sailors lived on them.
You think the Baleo class is cramped? Have a look at the 2 other submarines on my channel! :)
I’ve been on this thing! It’s so cool and it makes me proud to be an American
I've taken the self tour of the PAMPANITO, back in 1988, awesome experience and I highly recommend it to anyone planning a visit to San Francisco.
Fantastic tour. Done it twice!
@@BecksHobbyProductions My favorite tour (as a local I've been many times) was with a mostly deaf and totally blind friend of mine. This was back before so much was closed off and we went on a quiet week day and literally were crawling along and feeling stuff every where while I helped interpret for him. We both enjoyed it! I wonder if he still remembers the smell of diesel and shale. Something you can't reproduce in a video.
@@alwaysbearded1 Oh yes - this is NO replacement for an actual visit. I try to emphasize this in all videos
I visited U-995 in Kiel a couple of times. The last surviving type 7 german submarine (they built like 600 of them). The U-955 was much smaller and only had one toilet for like 55 guys (and no showers!!!). The living conditions on this american U-boat are much better than in the samll mass produced german U-boats in comparison.
I feel really sorry for everyone who had to fight and die in these cramped death traps .
Did an over nighter on this submarine when I was a child in Boy Scouts. With San Francisco being foggy I feared being on the deck I couldn't see anything in front of me. I thought I was going to die. Plus how small it was inside. Nice video to remember my memories. That red light control room scared the crap out of me too how dark it really is. Ha!
Excellent work and thanks 🙏
A realistic view of the silent service, What a great video!! Thanks
The thanks goes to the museum for their excellent tour ☺️
The Pampanito was and is my favorite attraction at San Francisco’s fishermen’s worf. I still remember when I first went onboard as a kid the audio tour was different with a man and sounds I would really like to hear that one again.
Maybe check with the museum if they have a copy?
Excellent video and great job on the audio.
The USS Growler had walk through tours which I went through. Even though I'a a USAF Vietnam Vet, I've always been a big fan of Subs.
I have visited Pampa need to three times. This is a great video. I learned more from this video, then visiting it.
Well, that's interesting. The audio in this video is from the audio tour of the Pampanito . Maybe they changed it.
I love the acted voice overs during the stories - very unique method.
Fantastic vid on a fantastic boat! Thanks for sharing man! T.
Thanks for watching :)
I visited the Pampanito like 10 years ago. San Francisco Bay is a bit on the "choppy" side. After 10 minutes aboard, my green colored self was left in no doubt as to why we are a traditionally "Army" family.
No one will forget , nothing is forgotten
This was very interesting, thnks.
Been in the tower of the pap in San Francisco. Fleetweek 98 I was on board the Ogden went to visit got invited to the tower when I took the tour...
The USS COD is docked in Cleveland harbor in Lake Erie. In the shadow of the Rock and Roll hall of fame.
One of the submarines I hope to visit
My Grandfather was a US Army surgeon in the pacific also
Huge Salute to your services. The Silent!
I've been aboard the Pampanito, it's worth the visit.
Glad I took the tour in 1985.
I'm sure it took a special breed of men to be on a sub and my special Thanks to them all ❗🇺🇸 ❤
ANOTHER great video bud. Right on man.
Thanks 😊 But credit very much also goes to the museum for having a great audio tour
Anyone who wants some fantastic books about this type of warfare would do well to read "Wahoo" and "Clear the Bridge" by Dick O'Kane who served as Exec of the 'Wahoo' and Captain of 'Tang' (each book is about those experiences respectively).
Amazing reading about brave men written by arguably the most successful skipper of the USN submarine service of WW2.
AYE AYE. BACK IN 2008 OR THEREABOUTS I MET THE SON OF THE CAPTAIN MUSH MORTON IN PEHLAM NY. HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE WAHOO238 . DICK O'KANE HAD LEFT PREVIOUS TO ATTAIN HIS OWN COMMAND OF THE USS TANG. THE SON LOOKED JUST LIKE THE FATHER. I WAS SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS RECENT PASSING. WHEN I MET HIM I WAS ALL OF A MUSH MOUTH. IT WAS LIKE MEETING A HERO OF YOUR CHILDHOOD. I STILL HAVE PICS ON MY OLE FLIP PHONE TAKEN BY MY WIFE. GUESS IM REAL LUCKY CAUSE ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY I MET 3 OF THE 5 SURVIVING CREW OF THE USS ARIZONA. IT WAS AT THE PUNCHBOWL CERMONY ON THE 5THOF 2016. THERE WAS AN EFFORT THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL AT AWARDING A MEDAL TO THE GUY THAT SAVED THESE GUYS OFF THE ARIZONA. DONALD STRATTON WAS ONE OF THE SAILORS SAVED. THERE IS A PRESENT EFFORT UNDERWAY TO MAKE A MOVIE OF THIS DAY. THIS IS AMERICAN HISTORY AT ITS BEST. LOOK IT UP. ITS ON THE INTERNET
My Dad worked on the Wahoo at Midway just before she was lost 🇱🇷
Thank You for your recommendations. "Return from the River Kwai" is an excellent book about the allied P.O.W.'s who survived the Japanese work camps only to be sunk by Allied subs (unknowingly, of course) and their nightmarish ordeal struggling to survive in the open ocean.
Nice Tribute 👌keep remember These heroes
She was built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth set a record on January 27 1944 four subs were launched in one day!
Nice to see someone who knows how to walk the right way down a leader
First thing I noticed too.
nice vid man
Made a contact with the Pamanito from the Radio room on SS Lane Victory in San Pedro, back in 1997.73/K7NIK
Wonderful! Saw you guys when you came up to welcome Jerri back! I'll never for get that day. You were firing a lot of rounds from the 50s and looking great. I took a whole roll of film (remember film) that day from the deck of Alma (1891 Hay Scow) but when I reached #38 went what! I had forgotten to replace the roll so missed any of my own photos of most of the event. Never had too much time for photos anyway as I was also crew working ship as well.