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USS Silversides, (SS 236), was launched at Mare Island Naval Yard, California, on August 28, 1941. She is a fleet-type submarine (built to maintain fleet speeds averaging 17 knots) of the Gato (Drum) class. USS Silversides has all-welded construction, all-electric drive, all diesel engines, advanced refrigeration systems, air purifiers, fresh water distillers, oceanic cruising range, and optimum crew "habitability" for her time with such conveniences as air conditioning, an ice machine, showers, and entertainment systems. [1] USS Silversides is in excellent condition with most of her mechanical systems still operational. Although used as a museum exhibit under the direction of the Combined Great Lakes Navy Association USS Silversides is now undergoing a check of all systems with the intention of returning her to surface operation on Lake Michigan. Role of the Submarine in World War II In the conflict against Japan in World War II, the role and importance of the submarine forces of the United States cannot be overestimated. American submarines sank more than 600,000 tons of enemy warships and more than 5,000,000 tons of merchant shipping, thus destroying much of Japan's ocean commerce. This was accomplished by a force that never numbered more than two percent of naval personnel engaged in the war. The American submarine war against Japan created a blockade that denied her the oil, iron ore, food, and other raw materials she needed to continue to fight. By 1945 this submarine war made it impossible for any Japanese ship to sail the ocean. Without this commerce and the raw materials it supplied to her war effort, Japan found it impossible to continue the war outside of the homeland. [2] USS Silversides represents the U.S. submarine forces that fought against Japan in World War II for the following reasons:
Footnotes 1. The descriptive information contained in this section was take from: The Combined Great Lakes Navy Association, Inc. USS Silversides Information Package (Chicago, Illinois: Combined Great Lakes Navy Association, Inc., no date), pp. 1-2. 2. Drew Middleton, Submarine--The Ultimate Navy Weapon-Its Past, Present & Future (Chicago, Illinois: Playboy Press, 1976), pp. 109-112 Edwin P. Hoyt, Submarines at War--The History of the American Silent Service (New York: Stein and Day, 1983), pp. 297-298. Richard H. O'Kane, Clear the Bridge (New York: Bantam Books, 1981), pp. 465-467. 3. Clay Blair, Jr, Silent Victory--The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1975), Appendix J. Bibliography Blair, Clay, Jr. Silent Victory--The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1975. Combined Great Lakes Navy Association, Inc. USS Silversides Information Package. Chicago, Illinois: Combined Great Lakes Navy Association, Inc., no date. Farrar, William G. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory USS Silversides." Benton, Illinois: Illinois Historic Landmarks Commission, 1972. Hoyt, Edwin P. Submarines at War--The History of the American Silent Service. New York: Stein and Day, 1983. Middleton, Drew. Submarine--The Ultimate Naval Weapon-Its Past, Present & Future. Chicago, Illinois: Playboy Press, 1976. O'Kane, Richard. Clear the Bridge. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. Roscoe, Theodore. United States Submarine Operations in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute, 1965. |
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