USS Albacore (AGSS-569) walk through
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- USS Albacore (AGSS-569) was a unique research submarine that pioneered the American version of the teardrop hull form of modern submarines. Launched: August 1, 1953
600 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801Albacore was towed to the Inactive Ship Facility (InActShipFac) at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. There she languished for seven years until the Navy Sub-Board of Inspection and Survey in December recommended that "she be stricken from the Naval Register of Ships." In April of 1980, the Chief of Naval Operations advised the Secretary of the Navy that "the Navy has no further requirement for this ship as an operational R&D platform" and that "authority is requested to dispose of Albacore as a target of destruction for experimental purposes." On May 1, 1980, Albacore was stricken from the Navy List. The third Navy vessel to bear the name, the Auxiliary General Submarine (AGSS) Albacore holds a place in history as the first Navy-designed vessel with a true underwater hull of cylindrical shape that has become the standard for today's submarines worldwide.
Designed, built, and maintained by the skilled engineers and craftsmen of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Albacore served as a sea-going test platform from 1953 to 1972. Albacore's teardrop-shaped hull was the prototype for the Navy's nuclear powered submarine force and was the first boat built specifically to operate underwater. Prior to Albacore, submarines had been characterized as surface vessels that could submerge. With her revolutionary hull design and state-of-the-art systems, Albacore provided the Navy with an engineering platform to evaluate systems and design features before including them in future classes of submarines. Her motto was Praenuntius Futuri (Forerunner of the Future) and her mission was experimental.
Commissioned in December of 1953, Albacore was only 2/3rds the length of a World War II Fleet Boat and, when outfitted with her special high capacity silver-zinc battery, could outrun a contemporary nuclear submarine. In 1966, she set the record as the world's fastest submarine having attained an underwater speed of nearly 40 miles per hour.
Used for testing control and propulsion systems, sonar equipment, dive brakes, escape mechanisms, and various innovative theories and equipment, Albacore was truly a unique Navy floating laboratory.
In September of 1972, Albacore was decommissioned and placed in reserve at the Inactive Ship Facility in Philadelphia. Ten years later, Portsmouth City Councilman Bill Keefe began an effort to return Albacore to her place of birth as a permanent display. It took two years, lots of paperwork, and committee meetings before Albacore was towed from Philadelphia to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In May of 1985, Albacore was maneuvered through a dismantled railroad bridge and a cutout section of four lane highway toward her final resting place. It took nearly six months and a system of locks before she finally was settled on a concrete cradle at Albacore Park.
spent 2 yrs of my life on this boat,had the last below decks watch before decomm.!!still alive in Ca.!still have the last ensign flown Capt. gave it to me when i came topside!
Thanks for this walk through. My dad served on the Albacore. He will be 77 on Aug. 10 and still gives tours when he can. I'm guessing this may have been filmed during service day in 2016. What a job they did. I asked my dad why was he the only former crew member giving tours? He said all the rest are dead. This sub was an experimental boat. They tried new ideas and tried to improve old ideas. A guinea pig. My dad had an MRI not to long ago and the nurse asked him if he was claustrophobic. He said to the nice young nurse "I spent my best years on a sub, let's go." Dad will give an Albacore coin to anyone who can stump him on a question, he still has a pocket full. If you have the privilege to visit this sub do so. But imagine yourself 300 feet deep being tracked by an adversary.
I never got to see Albacore when I served as we were on different coasts. However, lots of memories flooded in when I saw the SONAR shack. BQR-2B and what looked like SQS-49, same as my first boat (USS Snook SSN-592)
Interesting. I was stationed with the crew of that Boat back in 62. Knew them all and was good friends with a First Class Engineman, but at this age I do not recall his name but can still see his face. They have cut that boat in half more times than I can count and put back together with experimental equip. send her out and then come back in to port at Portsmouth, NH, actually Kittery, Me. Good to see she is still with us unlike the USS Thresher which I knew that whole crew and was lost. May God Be With Them all, from a former surface sailor.
RIP Crew and Civilian Craftsmen lost on U.S.S. Thresher SSN593
Sorry for the loss of so many brave men Mike. I remember reading about that accident. So tragic and thank you for your service 🙏. Love from 🇬🇧
My cousin served on the HMS CONQUEROR in the Falklands war and lost a few friends.
Thankfully she was saved from being a test target for naval weaponry.
My Father was the first Skipper of the Albacore.
Skipper Kenneth C. Gummerson
Yes.
Susan Gummerson that is so cool!!! God Bless your pop.
@@filthyanimal874 He was a wonderful man
And Dad
I live near this museum and have visited several times. They have really improved it lately. I'l have to go back again assuming it opens after COVID..
Thank you to all who served above and below the waves.
Where's this museum my friend??
@@juancarlocerna9504 It's in Portsmouth NH. Right in the river the boarders with Maine.
600 Market Street, Portsmouth NH
This seems like you just walk on and go at your own pace. Love it because you can actually interact with things instead of everything being behind plexiglass.
Hate all that plexiglass. It spoils the experience imo. They done that on another sub in the u.s.a. cant remember the name
The USS barbell SS580 was the first Battle ready submarine with the experimental albacore hull.
Strange but I miss her.
As a 10 year old kid (military family) I attended the launching. I still to this day I remember the sub's number AGSS-569. We were invited by my dad's good Navy friend (then) Capt. - later Adm. - Richard S. Mandelkorn.
I remember seeing this thing just out of the blue. Imagine this, you’re on a trip to the beach, a beautiful summer day, and the next thing you see is a massive warfare submarine sitting in a ditch in the middle of the street. Wish I could’ve toured it but it was closed. The funniest part about it is a few months after that, I saw a veteran wearing a hat with the name “USS Albacore”, strange coincidence.
Engineers who built this were incredible
I was in the the sub on the 29th of May 2022 and it was the coolest experience I've ever had in such a small space
Built as a technology demonstrator for the teardrop shaped hull, albacore was a Diesel/electric powered submarine, she proved the concept and the next class of nuclear attack subs, the Skipjack class were built with the new hull shape. There were also a couple classes of diesel powered subs built with the hull as well that served into the 1980s when the U.S. Navy retired the last diesel submarines.
Happened to,be in Portsmouth the day the sub was tugged from Navy Yard to its testing place.
A trench was dug across Market St, the sub floated into place.
Absolutely pristine; could be used as a location shot for a 1960's Cold War film.
I've visited the ALBACORE and adjoining museum several times, plan on visiting her several times more.
I lived in Portsmouth NH for 20 years and I think I've been through her 5 or 6 time still blown away how small it is. good video.
I did a walk-through maybe 12 years ago. I know subs are cramped, but Albacore set a new standard for "cozy." I don't think the ordinary seamen could even turn over in their racks.
Like I mentioned before, am only 5'8" and was about 150lbs back then.....Lots of room in my bunk even thought I had to share it with a large valve by my head (center bunk aft outboard in Hogan's Alley).....The discharge vent for "fresh" air was at my feet......Popsicle toes if I didn't keep 'em covered with blankets...... After about 10 days at sea, slogging our way thru a major Atlantic storm on way back from Ft Liquordale Dec. '67, we weren't aware how bad the air in the boat was and how badly we reeked (no showers) until hatches were opened and we got out into the fresh winter NH air.....Dang, did we stink!!......Fast walked back to the barracks for a lonnng hot shower!!....Was better than the first beer shortly afterward......
@@sailnekkid wow I love this info. Thanks for your service. From 🇬🇧
Thank you for this! I work on 688’s, 688i’s, 726’s, and Virginia’s. Some comparisons are quite stark while some equipment looks the same. Very cool.
Served aboard the USS Aeolus ARC-3,, based out of Portsmouth. We laid SOSUS cable for the Navy. Went aboard the the electric boat when she was active. Great memories of the mid-1960s.
radio shack at 5:47....home....the cw you hear is only about 6 words/minute....we copied schedules at 18 wpm....we sent by "fist" (key) about 20-24wpm coffeed up....i could send faster than i could copy, so had to slow down....home, stinky sweet home from aug '67-may '68 (time up)....any old crew reading this: "hippie" here.....LOL
QSL OM :)
I feel spoiled having served on an Ohio class SSBN. The work spaces were huge on her compared to these. I couldn't imagine working in that little electronics nook, monitoring the navigation gear.
I was a signalman during the 91 Gulf War. Long after your time your time but I can kind of relate when it comes to sending and receiving radio traffic, flash messages, morse and whatnot. Thank you for your service.
@@phlippbergamot5723 Quartergaskets were in control room--large...lol......Radio shack was so tiny that if 2 guys were in there at same time, it meant they were engaged.....Albacore was a tad crowded, but slightly over half the crew of the USS DACE SSN607.....
@@RadioWhisperer Hear ya fine.....Old man?......yeah
My father served on the USS Albacore as a machinists mate, great video!
The captain daughter is on this post in the comments. Her name is susan
Blessings to those who have earned 'Dolphins' honorably patrolling the world's oceans.
Particularly, the eternal Sailors on long patrol.
Go Army, Beat Navy.
A grateful, 'Man of the Earth' Army lieutenant colonel.
ET1/SS, 1989 to 1998,
Submarine Vet
Army Dad, 2019 to ?
Neat! It still looks modern all these years later!
Brings back alot of memories, the last boomer i worked on was the USN George Washington and the last fast attack was the USN Boston
Pete whats your rate? I'm retired now at PSNS, hurts watching our old girls get cut up
Thank you for the video. My dad, Bernarr McFadden Bowdoin “Buck”, was a plank holder also. He was at “the sticks” most of the time. He was the Chief Electrician. My dad, my brother and I toured the boat 7/2003. Too bad we did not make it a joint tour!! My dad told a tale where they were assigned a new Capitan. The first one was too cautious. The admirals wanted to test the boat. They sent a “cowboy”. That is what my dad called him. Decades went by before he was allowed to be told how fast they had gone under water.
If anybody ask excess 20 knot and excess 400 feet. If they say Jane fighting book said this or that, I can neither confirm or deny it.
Wow! I finally “met” someone else named after Bernarr McFadden. My Dad was named after him, and I was named after my Dad.
@@DavidTaylor-qz8nc A Lady needs to have "some" secrets.
@@BELCAN57 if it would have been a secret they would have put the old tail back on. The only reason they decom here was they couldn't anymore engine parts for her pancake diesel. Just like the uss gato couldn't part she was the last permit( thesher) boat. Always had problem with here drain pump needing work on.
@@bernarrcoletta7419 my dad's call sign was K4HKR.
I got a chance to visit the Albacore in '68 IIRC, when it was operational - had a sub-school buddy who was serving on it and he got me on board to visit.. Couldn't go to a couple of the areas due to 'need-to-know' basis (and I didn't need to know...LOL)...since I was just a TM3-(SS).. Very interesting boat..
If ya were aboard before May '68, I wuz there.....Kinda ironic, I put in for TM school in bootcamp (first choice), so the Navy sent me to Radioman school......go figure.....
@@sailnekkid I boarded the USS Redfish in Oct., of '67... Then the Razorback in Aug. of '68.. Got out in Sept. of '69.. I was lucky - everything I requested, I got.. Best wishes SV.
@@GunsmithLCGlad to hear a happy story!....... I got the opposite of what I put in for......RM instead of TM.....Top dog in my RM class & put in for subs--sent to NAVCOMSTA PI for 19 months (not too bad, commsta on the beach, bought a 16' banca, loved tropical climate and Olongapo)....Only had 1.5 yrs left, took the pressure test in Subic Bay, extended enlistment for 6 months for subs......finalllly......In sub school, put in for any boat on the west coast and HI.....Assigned to USS DACE on the river in New London/Groton.....Did not like New London.....Last 8 months aboard the Albacore--Best duty of my 4.5 yrs active!!.....Too late for Navy to convince me to ship over....Actually considered it early in my "career", but didn't want to spend the next 16 yrs stationed just the opposite of wherever I "wished" for....Good thing, cuz the Albacore was decommissioned 4 yrs later, then I'd be at the mercy of some E3 yeoman somewhere until 1983 (20 yrs).....
It's all good.....Am now a retired Santa Barbara fireman in SW FL with grrrreat pension (until Newsom destroys CALPERS)....
Best of continured luck to ya, Lee...... ;o)
@@sailnekkid I hear ya re: New London.. What a craphole at the time... Hopefully better now.
Drove by it every week for 26 years , wish they had trailer parking lol. It’s on my must see list .
Once upon a time ago I attended a submarine prototype (S1C), between that experience and watching this video, I am glad that I served on aircraft carriers!
Very cool. Thank you for sharing this video! Wasn't aware a sub of this design had been saved and displayed
I've been out 25 years. Amazing to see the same equipment! Submarines Once...!
Submarines Twice!
Holy jumpin Jesus Christ...
I'm not 100 percent sure of the rest of it. It's been a lot of years since I' learned that little ditty. I got out in 1986.
MT2SS tons of great memories!
Nice walk thru video. We toured the Albacore in the late '80s (or early '90s) while on a New England / Maine vacation. It was a highlight of that vacation for me. It was fascinating how all the machinery fit together, often contoured to fit the tube shape of the pressure vessel, quite an achievement in pre-Computer Aided Design days. Definitely worth stopping to see if you are in the area.
I saw the effort to bring sub to rest here. It was quite the sight, NHDEP dug a trench through Market St. from the river and floated the sub across from Navy Yard.
Must have been a sight to see.
@@davidm3maniac201 the video of the move used to be on YT, I believe.
Brave men submariners, maybe, the bravest.
Its amazing how 569 HAS A MIX OF GATO/BALO, newer tech, experimental, that us still in use on the LA class
Instant claustrophobia ! That takes a brave saylor. .
"saylor"?
A squid by any other name would smell as sweet (as a diesel boat sailor) :)
Claustrophobia?.....I thought she was rather cozy.....
Brings back memories, I was on 604 USSHaddo, a little bigger then albacore but similar layout and look.
Current Virginia class is a Lexus in comparison. Hats off to sailors who manned & sailed this class of boats. Big hoo’yah to you fellas :)
Brilliant with the sounds and all, it takes me back to 2003-2004 when I served on a similar size boat. Not the most comfortable years of my life, but by far the most educational. I wouldn’t recommend it ;)
Used to call it the "USS Tunafish" as a kid when we drove by on our way north on vacation...
Felicitaciones a quien tuvo la idea de hacerlo museo al submarino, muy bien cuidado, una vida que pocos conocen y gracias a ustedes está al alcance de todo el mundo, un orgullo para esa ciudad, gracias desde Argentina!
It was one of the most revolutionary submarines ever built--mostly because supposedly, the submarine was capable of 30+ knots underwater because of its "teardrop" shape. No wonder when the first nuclear subs based on this shape, the _Skipjack_ class, was rumored to top over 40 knots underwater.
My brother was a torpedoman on the USS Scorpian, so in many ways this is the closest thing to his boat. I always wanted to see it but I am claustrophobic, I dont know how these guys could spend months and months onboard it submerged. ( Skipjack class I mean.)
@@ONECOUNT I hate to ask this but was your brother on board when the Scorpion sank? If so you have my deepest condolences.
@@ssmt2His original plan was to do one tour and join the FDNY but in the end he wanted to re-up until one of his older brothers talked him out of it. So he stayed on the dock when Scorpion left on her final patrol. When word got out that she had sunk he told us that this was his family. His life fell apart after that.
He died last year and he was buried with military honors. I hope his soul is at peace with his shipmates.
@@ONECOUNT Can't imagine his pains. RIP.
@@fredpinczuk7352 Thank you.
“DIVE, DIVE,”! I always wanted to write that.
It was DIVE, DIVE! Dive was said only twice over the 1MC. When surfacing you would have heard SURFACE, SURFACE, SURFACE over the 1MC. And the klaxon alarm would have been sounded as well. The last time I heard any of that was in late 1984.
MT2SS What boat were you on?
@@focusedmessagemarketing958 The USS Simon Bolivar.
I believe that the stern is not the orignal one built on the albacore. The original one look like one off of a torpedo twin screws with a vertical and horizontal control surface. I remember seeing an old photo of it coming out construction. It's was upgrade to the X layout later in its life then a sail rudder was install to help it stable itself out on turn after testing the X set-up.
Correct
I used to go see this all the time as a kid
My goodness I would go crazy being in such a small space
It’s a lot bigger than it looks on camera
Haven't seen either in person, but on video this looks very spacious compared to the German U995. The dining area at 11:32 looks huge!
Interesting and thank you for sharing this with the audience.
What a great video I felt like I was actually walking around it 👍
That's how I feel too, like I was giving it an inspection of some sort.
Awesome video, I was amazed at the few negative comments that were posted. Granted I did know what I was looking at, but any narration would have just taken away from the feeling of being in a sub.
thank you
In the hopes you see this: do you think there is any validity to people saying this is still too valuable to have on display this way? This is NOT that antiquated a sub. Of course there is a ton of stuff on board that truly is obsolete and has been for 40 years. I mean it is an obsolete US Navy submarine but that thing is still an impressive piece of hardware. Someone told me this was even a test bed for some of the first submarine towed array systems with a capstain in one of the ballast tanks and everything, I wonder if they had that on display too and removed it for security reasons. I am assuming this has been toured and scoured over by Russia, China, or even companies like Saab. A lot of this thing is outdated, but there’s more useful/usable systems on here than not.
We spent about 2 months in Ft Liquordale in late '67 testing the towed array (first time, I think).....
She was strictly an experimental boat used to test new technologies.
@@terryzx6 right - I guess my point is that the lineage is there. You can draw a more or less direct line between this, the Skipjack (aka the hull shape of Scorpion), on to Sturgeons, on to Los Angeles, to Virginia. I’m not say it it’s a current intelligence gold mine - I’m saying it was a test bed for fast-attack submarines and it’s fingerprints are still there. It would be like a person assuming their great grandmother/grandfather didn’t have some interesting stories to tell.
Great video. Thank you for posting it!
Neat video.And I thought space was limited on the USS Cleveland LPD7,I spent a few weeks onboard her and couldn't wait to get ashore,this makes me claustrophobic lol.
Hmm Sardine would be more appropriate as crammed in like one. Give those Submariners credit for being so confined, and yet doing their job. U.S.N 👍
Geez, you just about had to be a master plumber just to flush the toilet! 🚽
Thanks to all our Navy soldiers for their service. 🚢
Funny story there, back in WW2 a German U-boat skipper sank his boat because he flooded the toilet which was sitting on the exposed battery stacks, causing them to catch fire and an evacuation of the crew
@@battleoid2411 yes, there's a video on here somewhere about that. As I recall, their only option was surrender to the Allies or drown, lol! 😆
@@battleoid2411 I was going to say that. Lol
I’m getting claustrophobic just watching this video! Lol
Well worth a visit. Not very big, if I remember correctly the crew was about 54 or so. The view through the periscope is really interesting.
Really very nice,
I want to go in this submarine and for work.
Dive,dive, dive ❤❤❤❤👌👍
Great walkaround video appreciated. Its much smaller than I imagined!
Last question. Who or how in the hell does anyone keep up with all them gages? That's a damn full time job in itself
LuLu Fitzgerald watchstanders from each rate or compartment monitor the different gauges. 70% of the boat belonged to A-gang, Auxiliary machinists mates. A good A-ganger could do anything
@@MrCarmineleon ok I think I understood that. Well I got the gest of it. Thanks for the info. I ask some off the wall questions at times. I seem to pay attention to stuff not many other people would even think about lol
This and the Mikasa are probably the only boats I’d tour. I ain’t getting on a boat that’s in the water.
Very good. / Muito bom! From Brazil 👍
In Canada the shitter instructions would have to be in 4 different languages
In Canada, you wouldn't be visiting a submarine because half our fleet is not sea worthy & still under repair while the other TWO are at sea with sailors extinguishing fires or plugging leaks.
mglmouser what a embarrassment all that is , those subs killed more Canadians than anyone else.
Charles DuBois great story mate ! Stay safe out there.
Looks ready to put to sea, all shipshape and Bristol fashion.
Those two doors must have excellent seals to keep the sea out when submerged...
Lol!
What? You've never seen screen doors on a sub?......
Impressive to me.
THANKS SIR
Wow, cool story, even more cool boat.
Wait till you see the newest virginia class subs they are awesome better then the Los Angeles class subs
Was on the USS Spadefish SSN 668
Her first recon: *manned by newbies*
Her rival: IJN Taihou
Taihou: *also have weak torpedo protection and also poor damage control due to the crew not knowing*
Albacore: shoot one torpedo
Taihou: *Sunk*
Albacore crews: *I see this as an absolute win*
The rudder on the conning tower is interesting.
Ahem...Dorsal rudder on the sail.
I've been on it yet I totally missed it. Thanks.
@@WootTootZoot LOL
Flashbacks
Definitely Old School...not as old as WWII, but per today's standards
Fantastic learning experience
Very interesting. Thank You.
Drive by it every day, took a tour on it fifteen years ago and some of the gauges are blacked out for security.
They should have changed some of them. Like depth. Set it so the max depth is 20,000' or something. Maybe make a needle mark on the bezel to indicate it used to go that far down all the time.
Why the heck would there need to be any "security" about anything on a *60 year old* submarine??
Cool video
Wow USA is number one in the world. Awesome
It's fantastic.
I can't imagine how people serve there, I'm scared from closed and small areas.
Don't tour a WWII sub.
This sub has literally doors between compartments and high ceilings. As a child, I was in a Soviet submarine (the same museum), and even then it seemed very cramped to me. Bulkheads feel like torpedo tubes' hatches. Boat is D-2 Narodovolets.
Think stinky womb......
Awesome. Thanks
4 minutes in and ive noticed they didn't spare any phones. Damn thing's are like every 5 foot and then another one. Lol
How else are you gonna order Pizza Hut while underway?!
@@Legitcar117 lmao. Very valid point.
Sound powered phones......After a stint in dry dock, at sea trials, all doors were dogged and 1 guy on a phone in each compartment reporting leaks as we worked our way down to 500'......Mostly just leaky valves that needed tightening, so the machinist mates and enginemen told me....Was a tad unnerved when several compartments reported leaks, but they were pretty casual about it..... (I manned the the phone in the forward battery once).....Ya dang sure don't want seawater in the forward and aft battery compartments....lol
Reading all these comments brings me back.....Hard to believe that was over 50 yrs ago..... (am 75 and still healthy....arrrr)
Спасибо! Интересное видео!
I’ve been on that it’s cool to walk around on
"Those in peril on the sea..." o7
Amazing what the mind of mankind can imagine then build. I grew up during the cold war and learned how to protect myselfd under my school desk. It was the time of mutual assured destruction (MAD Doctrine). Still is in a way. Today's woke generation don't know how easy their lives are and imagine all kind of trigger situations to set them off. I relied on a knuckle sandwich to keep me safe.
Very cool!
Great boat . Wish the camera panning was slower to absorb the view
tried to get through kinda fast their were a bunch of kids behind me and would rather not have them in the shots
Salute to all who served! It’s very close quarters especially the bunks and chow hall. I was on a Carrier vast difference in space enlisted berthing was tight but not like this.
Considering how incredibly noisy counter-rotating propellers are this would make it a target even without active sonar.
Wow great
It would be nicer as you move inside the sub there is submarine's plan or blueprint that will locate you inside the sub. Nice video though
Verry interesting thank you.
Great !
my grandfather was in pearl harbor after the attack he was a machinist mate in the submarine base he finial got his chance too go on combat duty he was appointed too the u.s.s Albacore( ww2) my grandmother got sick he was so mad took off his sea bag and you know it was the best thing ever because it struck a mine and all his buddies are on the bottom intomed. werd or what?
That is so interesting. Was he a Japanese spy?
The Albacore wasn't in WW2
@@susangummerson6549 There is more than one Susan. Your dad was captain of the newer one
SS 218 sank after hitting a mine in 1944
Check on wiki pedia is tells you
Your dads was a test boat that tested new systems before being installed in a different vessel. It broke the record at 40 knots and could outrun a nuclear sub
How you keep the water out with the two doors open on the sides...
Those doors were cut into the hull so people can tour the boat.
I have a question, are these propellers the original type of the submarine?
no, the originals are behind the sub on display, I may make a better updated video. thanks
You can't lose with that much chrome.
Congrats on the view count
Where is she?
Excellent video!
600 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Project_GRX Thanks 😎
@@ProjectGRX we have a place called Portsmouth as well in UK. We have ships and subs there
A rudder on the sail?
No diving planes ?
@@mostlynewThe "X" stern acted as rudder and stern planes....Never used the sail rudder....Was told it didn't work as planned.....Can't say for sure--that memory kinda foggy....