USS Bowfin Specs

USS Bowfin (SS-287)

CLASS:

Balao

CONSTRUCTED:

Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire (actually located in Kittery, Maine)

KEEL LAID:

23 July 1942

LAUNCHED:

7 December 1942, hence her nickname, "The Pearl Harbor Avenger"

SPONSOR:

Mrs. Jane Gawne, wife of CAPT James Orville Gawne, USN

COMMISSIONED:

1 May 1943

COMPLEMENT:

Originally 70 men (7 officers & 63 enlisted), later increased to 80 men (8 officers & 72 enlisted)

DISPLACEMENT:

1,810 tons (diving trim); 2,415 tons (submerged)

LENGTH:

311 feet 9 13/16 inches

MAXIMUM BEAM:

27 feet 3 inches

MEAN DRAFT:

15 feet 3 inches (diving trim)

FREEBOARD:

12 feet 5 inches @ bow (diving trim)
3 feet 11 inches @ stern (diving trim)

PRESSURE HULL MAXIMUM DIAMETER:

16 feet 3/8 inch

TORPEDO TUBES:

6 bow and 4 stern (MK 39)

TORPEDOES:

24 total (14 in reload racks) -- MK 14-3A, MK 18, MK 23, and MK 27

GUNS:

Originally, one 4 inch 50-caliber (MK 12) and two 20 mms (MK 5). Finally,
one 5 inch 25-caliber (MK 40), one 40 mm (MK 3) and one 20 mm (MK 10).

MAIN ENGINES:

Four General Motors Model 16-278A diesel; 16 cylinder V-type, 2-cycle,
8 3/4 bore x 10 1/2 stroke; 1,600 BHP developed @ 750 RPM
(stbd. RH rotation, port LH rotation).

MAIN GENERATORS:

Four General Electric 1,100 kw; 2,650 amps/415 volts (propulsion rating);
3,600 amps/296 volts (battery charging rating).

MAIN MOTORS:

Four General Electric 1,375 HP; two-wire, direct-current, compensated compound/shunt,
series and commutating field windings.

GEARS:

Combining and reduction type/reverse by reversing input.
2 -- 1,375 HP @ 1,300 RPM inputs
1 -- 2,740 HP @ 280 RPM output

BATTERIES:

Two 126-cell Exide type

SHAFT HORSEPOWER:

5,480

MAXIMUM SPEED:

20.25 knots surface speed; 8.75 knots submerged speed

PROPELLERS:

Two four-bladed, 8 foot diameter

RUDDER:

One balanced streamlined type. Train limits 38 degrees to port and starboard.

FUEL OIL CAPACITY

54,000 gallons normal; 116,000 gallons maximum