My Best Job Ever! Submarine project

[WhichDawg]

A couple years ago I had the unique opportunity to work in a Museum, The Science and Industry in Chicago on the U-505 project.
It was only suppose to be a few days for me, but I got along with the folks (bosses and co-workers) and it lasted a whole season!

It was a 35 million dollar project entailing a new building, which looked like a submarine pen (inside), and many separate exhibits surrounding
the sub. My first day I helped frame/border and clean a multi-million dollar screen/lens for movies, it was giant and they had to ship it
in before the roof was completed (plus a spare) to get it inside. They asked me not to fall over into it while I was on the ladder! I didn't

The submarine was amazing, I'd seen it before as a kid during the "tour" but only from inside. The new exhibit lets you walk around the
outside (multi-levels) and "touch" it. They have many special exhibits around it with movies, audio, real artifacts (in cases) and even some small rides
to feel what it was like being inside and operating. I worked on most of them, setting them up and or putting them in position.

The periscope was amazing, it came in a giant case and it only filled up about 2/3 of it (the case) because modern cases (which this was)
houses modern periscopes which are way larger than the WWII ones. I have the honor of knowing where the crack/break in the plexi-glass
case surrounding the actual U-505 periscope is, because I broke it! But we repaired it (a co-worker did) and you can't see it; only we know where it is

One of our jokes was we all know where the flaws/mistakes are in the whole exhibit because we put them there! "I broke that and that..."
to continue:

[Dunc]

Fantastic    Cant wait for the next installment . How old is the sub ?


Dunc

[I'm Still Bison]

Were you on hand when the U-boat was moved inside.I remember seeing the stories of it's move from it's old outdoor display site to new quarters.
My dream job would be working at the US Air Force Museum..the folks that work there are one lucky group!

[WhichDawg]

I was not around when they moved it (that would have been nice!) it was already in place when I got there. It was made in the early 40's so I say it's almost 70 years old now.

[J-sews]

More pictures please!

[WhichDawg]

One of the cool things were the torpedo's. they are monsters, as far as weight wise, imagine them gas tanks you see, for acetylene or oxygen, the big ones, now imagine 2-3 times the weight! scary people, especially when you have to move them. they had one with a hook in front (in the nose) and they were painted in brighter colors and we found out those were "practice" torps!

They were expensive them suckers and they needed to train and stay sharp so they'd shoot these training dummies and then retrieve them, if they could find them, I'm sure it wasn't easy. and the way they loaded them inside the sub was amazing! the clearances were super tight and I already mentioned how heavy they are, but they had geared tracks inside the sub for a tiny crane like system to move them around, them Germans and their engineering.

to be continued:

[WhichDawg]

our "fake" shooting torpedo! we told them it was to low and kids would jump and knock it around, they said leave it (I wonder if it's still there or if they moved it!).

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Thats just so cool, I love submarines, it must be awesome to be able to actually touch one of those ole diesel/electrics

[WhichDawg]

inside shots, das vida machines/engines;

[WhichDawg]

Now we weren't suppost to go on the deck, old teak wood, bad footing, dangerous (as in can fall off)
but me and a bud came early a couple mornings and "got lost!" on top of the thing, it could happen!

[WhichDawg]

and me;

[Dunc]

Thanks for sharing    I'd love to go inside a Sub although I dont think it would be very nice to go to sea for months at a time in one
  Great thread btw 


Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Thanks for sharing    I'd love to go inside a Sub although I dont think it would be very nice to go to sea for months at a time in one
  Great thread btw 


Dunc

If your much over 4 foot, forget about becoming a submariner , I'm 6 foot 2, and I went aboard HMS Ocelot and spent the whole time folded in half

[Dunc]

Thanks for sharing    I'd love to go inside a Sub although I dont think it would be very nice to go to sea for months at a time in one
  Great thread btw 


Dunc

If your much over 4 foot, forget about becoming a submariner , I'm 6 foot 2, and I went aboard HMS Ocelot and spent the whole time folded in half

Sure that was because you were looking for the " Golden Rivet "    Hello sailor 

Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Thanks for sharing    I'd love to go inside a Sub although I dont think it would be very nice to go to sea for months at a time in one
  Great thread btw 


Dunc

If your much over 4 foot, forget about becoming a submariner , I'm 6 foot 2, and I went aboard HMS Ocelot and spent the whole time folded in half

Sure that was because you were looking for the " Golden Rivet "    Hello sailor 

Dunc

As opposed to the pirate golden dabloon of course

[WhichDawg]

One thing that really surprised me was the enigma machine and how they got it and how "heavy" the thing is! A task force was ordered to capture a submarine and retrieve as much material as possible, especially the enigma material. So a hunting they went and by the gods managed to find and capture the U-505.

They put holes in her, shot a few on deck, and was "scuttled" by her men and abandoned, but the very brave men of the task force still boarded her, knowing full well she could be set to blow and was sinking. They scrambled inside, found the plugs (which were supposed to be tossed) and after much tension found out the explosive charges were "NOT" set! Imagine running around a tiny steel box expecting it to blow up!

They retrieved bags of materials (codes, charts, orders and the enigma it-self) and towed the damaged sub.

[WhichDawg]

more views;

[WhichDawg]

tower;

[WhichDawg]

we just had to!

[WhichDawg]

I/we just had too!

[Dunc]

WhichDawg once again youve posted some really nice stuff there . I wasnt aware of the Enigma connection . Thanks for telling 

Love this thread .

Did you know that a Royal Navy submarine can fly the Jolly Roger ( Skull and Crossbones ) after it has been in combat . There was a bit of an uproar when HMS Conqueror returned to port flying the Skull and crossbones after sinking the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano in the Falklands war .

Dunc

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yep the a Royal naval escort ship (I can't remember if it was a frigate/destroyer or corvette ) captured the first enigma, and the the yanks got one in 1942 if i remember rightly, both of which were invaluble prizes as unlike the army/luftwaffe enigma machines, the naval version had a forth wheel which up to that point, made it uncrackable

Bloody brave fella's.