WWII submarine laundry
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Once I toured a WW II submarine in Cleveland, OH.
Not for the claustrophobic.
But fascinating.
I was surprised to see a GE wringer washer with a photo on the wall of a guy doing laundry in it.
The first thought that crossed my mind was: well how did they rinse the clothes without any laundry tubs? This video answered my question: not all that well, not surprisingly. No doubt it was better than no laundry at all.
The bunk bed room — with sleeping in shifts, without enough for everyone to have their own —also impressed me with what sheer hell that life must have been — sleeping on wet, dirty, smelly sheets that several other dirty sweaty smelly guys had slept on before, with a guy hanging just a couple feet above and below, and a roomful of guys snoring. Ugh. LOL. Made me wonder what kind of fights broke out, and how often a guy became totally unhinged..
We are indeed spoiled today. Those of us who have not served in recent wars; that is.
Once I toured a WW II submarine in Cleveland, OH.
Not for the claustrophobic.
But fascinating.
I was surprised to see a GE wringer washer with a photo on the wall of a guy doing laundry in it.
The first thought that crossed my mind was: well how did they rinse the clothes without any laundry tubs? This video answered my question: not all that well, not surprisingly. No doubt it was better than no laundry at all.
The bunk bed room — with sleeping in shifts, without enough for everyone to have their own —also impressed me with what sheer hell that life must have been — sleeping on wet, dirty, smelly sheets that several other dirty sweaty smelly guys had slept on before, with a guy hanging just a couple feet above and below, and a roomful of guys snoring. Ugh. LOL. Made me wonder what kind of fights broke out, and how often a guy became totally unhinged..
We are indeed spoiled today. Those of us who have not served in recent wars; that is.
Aactually on second thought
Maybe there weren’t any sheets. No doubt it was hot and humid, so what for. The mattresses were vinyl covered. Maybe they just slept in their clothes or underwear.
Difficult unpleasant life.
Maybe there weren’t any sheets. No doubt it was hot and humid, so what for. The mattresses were vinyl covered. Maybe they just slept in their clothes or underwear.
Difficult unpleasant life.
Anthony,
Thanks very much for posting this video about US Submarine laundry during WWII. My Dad was on the USS Scabbardfish (SS-397),a Balao Class Submarine, during the war. He was a Fire Specialist in charge of plotting the trajectory of the torpedos. His sub was built in the Portsmouth Shipyard, so according to this video it probably was equipped with a Bendix FL for doing the laundry. In San Francisco at the Maritime Museum the USS Pampanito is part of the exhibit and is the same class sub that my Dad was on. Several years ago I went on it for the tour and it was quite an experience. These subs had a crew of 80 and boy are the quarters tight.
After the war in the 60’s the USS Scabbardfish was sold to the Greek Navy and they used it as a training sub until January 1979. Below is the Wikipedia article for the USS Scabbardfish.
Eddie
en.m.wikipedia.org
Thanks very much for posting this video about US Submarine laundry during WWII. My Dad was on the USS Scabbardfish (SS-397),a Balao Class Submarine, during the war. He was a Fire Specialist in charge of plotting the trajectory of the torpedos. His sub was built in the Portsmouth Shipyard, so according to this video it probably was equipped with a Bendix FL for doing the laundry. In San Francisco at the Maritime Museum the USS Pampanito is part of the exhibit and is the same class sub that my Dad was on. Several years ago I went on it for the tour and it was quite an experience. These subs had a crew of 80 and boy are the quarters tight.
After the war in the 60’s the USS Scabbardfish was sold to the Greek Navy and they used it as a training sub until January 1979. Below is the Wikipedia article for the USS Scabbardfish.
Eddie
USS Scabbardfish - Wikipedia
I forgot to add that my Dad was only 17 years old when he enlisted in the Navy and 20 when the war ended. It was required that all submariner’s be able to swim and they had to pass a swimming test before acceptance into the Silent Service. Dad couldn’t swim a stroke, but wanted to be a submariner because the chow and pay were the best of all the armed forces, and he had to enlist because he’d gotten into trouble with law with a group of fast friends he ran with, and because the judge said “either enlist or go to jail”.
So he had a friend that physically resembled him report to the Alameda Naval Station and take the required swimming test for him. This was pre-computer days and they didn’t ask for an ID, so that’s how this scheme worked for him. Dad’s feeling was if the sub was depth charged he couldn’t swim his way out of it anyway, and he’d learn to swim on the fly while in the Navy, which he did. I’m extremely proud of his service to our country.
Eddie
So he had a friend that physically resembled him report to the Alameda Naval Station and take the required swimming test for him. This was pre-computer days and they didn’t ask for an ID, so that’s how this scheme worked for him. Dad’s feeling was if the sub was depth charged he couldn’t swim his way out of it anyway, and he’d learn to swim on the fly while in the Navy, which he did. I’m extremely proud of his service to our country.
Eddie
Back in the late 70s or early 80s, there was a PBS documentary about life on a nuclear submarine. I do not remember much, but there was a shot of Westinghouse Space Mates under a counter.
Great story
Thanks for sharing it.
Stressful existence indeed, and at such a young age.
Difficult to imagine what our nation would be today if it weren’t for all the young men who served and sacrificed their lives in that war.
Thanks for sharing it.
Stressful existence indeed, and at such a young age.
Difficult to imagine what our nation would be today if it weren’t for all the young men who served and sacrificed their lives in that war.
During WWII, Bendix ran institutional ads showing Bendix Automatic Home Laundry machines in ships and explaining why Bendix machines were not available for purchase. These institutional ads kept the company name in front of prospective purchasers for the time when companies returned to domestic production.
cfz2882
Well-known member
GE wringer WW2 sub
I saw one in a WW2 picture-probably was secured to the floor and had 115v dc motor as i think that was standard voltage on ww2 era subs.there was a sailor in usuall bell bottom,patch pocket jeans,light blue denim shirt,and "dixie cup"cap feeding the washer
I saw one in a WW2 picture-probably was secured to the floor and had 115v dc motor as i think that was standard voltage on ww2 era subs.there was a sailor in usuall bell bottom,patch pocket jeans,light blue denim shirt,and "dixie cup"cap feeding the washer
