South Carolina's Low Country March 2005

A Visit to the

USS YORKTOWN and CLAMAGORE SS-343

On our first day in South Carolina (actually, my first day), my g.f., Susan, (who grew up in the area) was patient enough to indulge my interest in history with a visit to Patriots Point, which is across the harbor from Charleston. Like a floating maritime museum, the USS Yorktown beckons...

There are six tours, all self-guided, which made me very happy. Tour Two basically covered the crews' area below-decks.

I did not want to show disrespect so I took a moment to refresh myself in the crews' "head." This Essex-class U.S. carrier known as "The Lucky Y" or the "The Fighting Lady" was launched in 1943 and carried on the tradition of the old USS Yorktown (1937-1942), which was lost at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

Instructions on a water-tight door.

Here is a display in the torpedo preparation cabin.

Anyone need dental work?

Crew Galley

For me, this was one of the eerie sights aboard the carrier. It is the fire escape ladder leading up from below-decks and the engine room. Obviously my flash could not penetrate far enough to show its depth, but it is a climb of fifty or sixty feet. (Note the coins dropped by visitors, as if it is a wishing-well.)

The USS Yorktown CV-10 had a long career that included the Korean War, the Cold War, retrieving U.S. astronauts, and Vietnam. It was regularly upgraded, of course, including deck modifications for jets and helicopters.

Caduceus symbol in medical quarters.

Operating theatre.

Sick Bay.

The hanger deck is an enormous area running the length of the ship below the flight deck. Here planes were stored, repaired, and prepared for flight. This display contains a model of an Essex-class carrier like the USS Yorktown behind an escort or "jeep" carrier.

Also aboard were sailors from Taiwan, who were quite happy to have some crazy American take their picture. Susan pulled me away before we could start comparing watches!

Here I am receiving my pre-flight briefing.

Combat Operations Room.

I believe this is the Combat Bridge.

One readily apparent fact was that sailors and officers are extremely segregated in their living areas. Here is the Officers' Galley.

The Officers' Dining Room.

(Today it is also used for commemorative functions and even rented out to groups for onboard banquets. One regret I have is that I did not take photos of the Boy Scouts and their Troopleaders as they straggled off the ship after spending the night aboard. What a marvelous treat for a youngster to sleep in a Navy bunk!)

Time to go up on the Flight Deck, which is currently being restored. In the distance you can see the new suspension bridge crossing Charleston Harbor.

This F-4 Phantom had special significance for Susan because her father flew it (and other jets) in Vietnam. The markings on this one are actually from her father's squadron, I believe.

Plaque commemorating the F-4 pilots lost over Vietnam.

As we stood near the stern we saw this ferry boat taking a people on a tour of the harbor and Fort Sumter (the site of the first shots of the American Civil War). You can also see a better view of the new suspension bridge.

Looking across the harbor at the city of Charleston.

Berthed next to the USS Yorktown is the Baleo-class submarine, Clamagore SS-343. Completed in February 1945, it was diesel-powered and, after modifications, served during the Cold War until the mid-1960s.

Here is Susan in the forward torpedo room. She could not get over how many crewmen slept in cots above the torpedoes. There was definitely no room for a coed-Navy in these submarines!

Looking aft. I definitely had trouble getting through the water-tight doors.

Officers' Dining Cabin.

Dive and navigation controls.

The pictures actually make the interior appear larger than it is.

Crew Dining Cabin.

Galley.

This plaque pays tribute to those submariners who did not return but remain forever on "patrol."

Here are two of the four large diesel engines that charge the submarine's batteries. The noise must have been deafening.

For obvious reasons the crews' head is protected by glass. If I am not mistaken, there were approximately 80 crew and officers aboard this class of submarine.

Before saying goodbye, I felt the sudden urge to man the guns to protect the Yorktown from humanity's enemies. I was able to obliterate a few SUV's and one Hummer before the authorities led me away.

Farewell to "The Fighting Lady."

With our visit to Patriots Point at an end, we turned our rental car north-northeast and headed up Highway 17 toward Georgetown and my first chance to learn more about my g.f. "before me."

... To Be Continued ...