USS Bowfin Ship Specifications
(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 Captain James Orville Gawne, USN |
| COMMISSIONED |
1 May 1943 |
| COMPLEMENT |
Originally 70 men (7 officers & 63 enlisted), later increased to 80 men (10 officers & 70 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) |
| 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 |
