A tour of the USS Blueback Submarine (many photos)

[Downing]

Yesterday, I took my kids to OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. OMSI's geared mostly towards small children, but there are three adult attractions: OMNIMAX, which is an imax theater, a Planetarium, and the USS Blueback Submarine.

We skipped the Planetarium this time, but took in a movie then checked out the Sub. Both my kids had seen it before but it was many years ago, so we thought it would be fun to take the tour.

Here's OMSI. The submarine's around back.



Before you can take the tour, you have to show that you're able to step through this hatch. Submarines aren't a good place for the very small, the very tall or the very big. That's my son in the sweatshirt and backpack, btw.



Then you go outside and walk down to the Sub.





Here's the propeller.



Walking down the ramp. My daughter's on the left; my son's girlfriend is in the middle.



We're here.



And in we go. Rather than making us climb down a ladder, the nice folks at OMSI put in some stairs. The first room we come to is the Captain's quarters. He was the only guy who had the luxury of having his own room.



Right across the hall was where the Officers ate and hung out.



Heading towards the front of the ship, we entered the room where they did the driving, sonar detection and fired the torpedos. The room was completely lit with red lights, which looked very cool, but of course my flash wiped that out.













Onward to the Torpedo Room.





Notice the feet just to the right of the Exit sign. Guys would bunk up there to escape the noise and stench of the bunk areas.



Back to the bunk areas. Triple decked. You shared your bunk with two buddies, so someone was in the bunk 24/7, hence the phrase "hotbunking."



Then into the kitchen/galley, which is right below the Captains Quarters where we came in.



Right across the hall.







Headed for the engine room.



Passing over the batteries.



The Engine Room.





And finally, a wrist shot.



That was the tour. Hope you enjoyed it.