SaveOurSubmarines
"I touch my country's mind, I come to grips - With half her purpose, thinking of these ships... They mark our passage as a race of men. Earth will not see such ships as those again." John Masefield

This page is a collection of materials depicting the condition of our museum submarines in the United States. The page will evolve with time and as the number pictures and amount of information accumulates. This page is sponsored by Lockwood Internet Base of USSVI.



This is a patch developed by members of Lockwood Internet Base (with basic design by Rob Lester). It will be sold and all proceeds will go to the "Restoration Project" of the year as selected by the members of LIB/USSVI. The 2008 Project is the restoration of the Drum at Mobile Bay with LIB member Tom Bowser as the COB of this project. If you wish a patch, contact Ron Martini. Cost is $7 (except for Bases or Museums wishing to raise their own funds, then it's $4.50 for 6+)and shipped free. Check or call 307 674 9847 with Visa/MasterCard. Address is Ron Martini--1723 DeSmet--Sheridan, WY--82801

DRUM NEWS!
This is the stern of the Drum in Mobile
Close up view of the stern of the Drum
A current message from Tom Bowser (Volunteer restoration foreman):
The park shut us down on sand blasting because we are using too much air and they can't paint the airplanes. I am working with one of the commissioners to try and get our own air compressor. In the mean time we are finishing up what the cheifs started and I have built a davit so we can load heavy itmes on board easier, it is rated for one ton and we are going to install it tommarrow. I inspected the inside of #6 fuel ballast tank and it is not as bad as I had feared, there is some deteriation but not much and I will still have to inspect all the other tanks. I have also done a close inspection of the stern and found some solid metal to start from, will start on that as soon as the davit is installed and I can get a heavy welder on board.

SITREP 11-02
Hey everyone, I am here. Didn't get home until 2000 last night due to giving a tour on the Drum when I went to close it, I can't pass up giving the last visitors a good tour, been like that the whole week.

1} The movie is Called the USS Seaviper, it is a WWII sub marine adventure movie. It is a low budget movie to be shown in theaters and hopefully go out to rent on cd's later, no known actors and the story is alittle hoaky in places but I have been working on the script with them to try and get it believable. If the movie does good they said we will get a donation. I will try to find the link to their site. The producers father served on the Drum during the war. They are also in the process of filming a documentry on the Drum. The filming is supposed to start in February and they are coming in December to film what they call a teaser.

2) We now have tube 7 fully functional including openning the outer door, now if I can get enough air and some water to the wrt I can fire torpedoes. We are now working on getting after battery back full of bunks except for the forward section, can't put those in because of the air conditioners. They movie people are also going to put a hydraulic ram in the periscope wells so we can lower the scopes about six feet and get them to rotate again. One of our sub vets is going to rebuild the light boards for the Cristmas tree so it can be fully lighted again.

3} I have had discussions with Sherman Williams paint and they are indicated that they will donate all the paint we need for the outside and the inside of the tanks and possibly help us paint. It is not firm yet or confirmed, hope to have more on that soon. If I get them to comit to that I will also see if they can help out the Batfish and maybe a couple of others.

4} The commisioner that helped get the steel for the boat is working on getting us an air compressor, hope to have more on that next week.

5} The Mobile Bay Base is having some t-shirts prined up with the Octopus with tools and under neath Vounteer to give to the people that come and help on the boat, we are doing 50 to start with.

6} I have completed making and installing a davit rated at 1500# to be able to get supplies and other heavy objects onto the boat. any one have an electric hoist 110vac?

Guess thats about it for now.

Tom


Before and after on equipment on the Drum


Many great 2007 photo's of the Drum are at: http://www.snakeyez.us/gallery/v/battleship_memorial_park/uss_drum/
Report from Tom Bowser-Feb 2, 08:
We have purchased the wire and accessories to run power to the boat so we can get 220vac so now we can start on some serious welding as soon as we run and hook up the wire and the weather drysout and warms up a bit.

The commissioner that is working on getting the air compressor reports he is making progress, hopefully that will be accomplished soon.

The movie people were on board a couple of weeks ago for rehearsal and that was quite interesting and fun. The main comment was "where are we going to put the camera!", especially in the conning tower with eight people.

We had two days of volunteers from the USS Makin Island LHD-8 last week helping with painting, cleaning, and polishing inside and they were a good hard working crew and seemed to enjoy it. Even had one bring his wife on board today to show her what he had done, might have one converting to submarines here.

We will have two days of volunteers from the USS Gettysberg here on monday and tuesday.

While the weather is still cold and rainy we are working on the inside getting things back the way they were in the war and getting the Christmas tree lighted again and a few other panals. I have made new firing buttons for the conning tower topedo panals and we have found the switch knobs.

We are getting good donations from the visitors, more when I give tours. I no longer work in the gift shop, (retired) so now I can spend 8-12 hours on the boat every day, this is going to be a fun year.

We again thank everyone for your support, because of the Lockwood Internet Base we will be able to get a lot done this year.

Tom

CAVALLA NEWS!

Published April 13, 2007 GALVESTON — The Cavalla Historical Foundation has received a $1 million grant from the Burke Family Trust. The gift will be used to complete the restoration of the World War II-era USS Cavalla, a submarine; and the USS Stewart, a destroyer escort, and to move forward with plans for a visitors center at the military complex in Seawolf Park. Jim Burke, chairman of the Cavalla Historical Foundation, said his family decided to make the gift because of the importance of the two ships.

“These ships represent the only place in the United States where both a submarine and a destroyer escort that saw duty during World War II are on display,” he said. “The Cavalla is the only submarine of that era that sank an aircraft carrier, and the Stewart is one of only two destroyer escorts remaining in the U.S.” Burke and his wife, Dian, established the Burke Charitable Trust in 1994 and previously have made contributions to the Cavalla Historical Foundation.

Burke was in the Naval ROTC program while he attended the University of Wisconsin, and joined the Navy as an ensign upon graduation. He served aboard three nuclear submarines — the USS Henry L. Stimson, the USS Bluefish and the USS Cavalla. After eight years in the Navy, he left to attend Harvard Business School. He has been in business in California for many years.

“My family has noted my dedication to the restoration of these two ships and to a visitors center that will be a teaching tool,” he said. “There is so much that can be learned from these two ships — history, chemistry, biology, physics. Instruction can be customized to the age of any student, from elementary school through adults. We want to see Galveston and Houston support this project and make it a reality.” The mission of the Cavalla Historical Foundation is committed to preserving the ships and promoting the legacy of those who served aboard American submarines and anti-submarine vessels.

“The complex at Seawolf Park offers many opportunities for expansion and development that can enhance the quality of life in Galveston and surrounding counties,” said Ernie Connor, president and CEO of the Cavalla Historical Foundation. “We are very grateful to the Burke Family Trust for providing the funding to allow us to move forward in the development of the complex to its full potential.” The complex at Seawolf Park already has attracted military-related organizations to hold conventions and reunions in the Galveston area.

“We are acquiring additional artifacts, working on an outreach program, especially in the Galveston-Houston area, providing major restoration on both the Cavalla and the Stewart, and developing a stronger communications program,” said Connor.

CLAMAGORE NEWS!
NEWS-03: SITREP: USS Clamagore at Patriots Point, SC Submitted by: George Bass on 10/30/2007

The CEO at Patriots Point just resigned. He was a friend of the Clamagore gang; however, now he is gone.
We do not know who will become the CEO as the Intrim CEO has stated he does not want the position as he is the Financial Officer for Patriots Point, which is a lot less stress.
We have a cost of about $10 million to pull the 343 out of its berth - taken to a yard for an overhaul. The superstructure needs to be replaced and it really needs a lot of work both topside and below deck. Patriots Point does not have sufficient funds to maintain the Naval vessels there. The State is not of help and the Navy does not support ships on loan to the likes of Patriots Point. We don't know the future at this point - there are just not enough funds to maintain the ships at Patriots Point.

A great group of photo's of the Drum taken by Lance Dean on an '07 vacation. Drum Photo Collection
An email from the Batfish folks..." We're looking to raise $60,000 for external upgrades/maintenance. She is well overdue for a paint job, the deck is rotted out, and we'd like to get her deck gun remounted, among other things. Lots of internal fixes to be done, as well, but the exterior is the museums priority, at this point.
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