USS Robalo wreck

[Kay Dee]

First, respect and regret for the subs crew and condolences to their families. May she now rest forever undisturbed On Eternal Patrol! And congratulations to the team that found and first dived her.

Would US Navy bother to verify the wreck because there are nearly a full squad of gallant sailors entombed in it?

If they have been notified, in my experience, yes.

Now, a question for any submariners or submarine aficionados here.

What is that 'fitting / object' just aft of the sail (conning tower) that starts to come into view in the video at about 0.55, and is basically directly abreast at 1.09?

 

[The Ruttmeister]

What is that 'fitting / object' just aft of the sail (conning tower) that starts to come into view in the video at about 0.55, and is basically directly abreast at 1.09?

Digging around and looking at pictures of other Gato Class subs, I'm guessing that most of the deck was ripped way (or has rusted/rotted), so there's a long pipe that would have been under the deck, then what looks like an open hatch (which matches some of the drawings of the Gato class). The rest looks like the back of the conning tower where the AA gun would have been, but without its external cladding. That area was outside the pressure hull so it seems reasonable that it has rusted away faster (or it might have been damaged in the original accident).

Good drawings here:
Submarine Photo Index

 

[Kay Dee]

Digging around and looking at pictures of other Gato Class subs, I'm guessing that most of the deck was ripped way (or has rusted/rotted), so there's a long pipe that would have been under the deck, then what looks like an open hatch (which matches some of the drawings of the Gato class). The rest looks like the back of the conning tower where the AA gun would have been, but without its external cladding. That area was outside the pressure hull so it seems reasonable that it has rusted away faster (or it might have been damaged in the original accident).

Good drawings here:
Submarine Photo Index

Pretty good 'guess'! You are basically correct (as per my now underlined)!

I had also found my way to that photo archive you linked too, after making my above post.

Below a couple of images to show said 'object' and / or where it is just aft of the 20mm.

Still, I wonder what that bulbous object is / was used for? (As the open hatch seen in video is just a touch farther aft - as ladder leading to it is seen in schematic.)

Anyway, thanks for your input, I may even plagiarize some of your description while explaining same on another (non-diving) forum.

 

[The Ruttmeister]

Still, I wonder what that bulbous object is / was used for? (As the open hatch seen in video is just a touch farther aft - as ladder leading to it is seen in schematic.)

View attachment 543328 View attachment 543329

From the previous link:

'Engine induction and ships supply outboard valve' is my best guess. The picture also identifies that long pipe, another part of the air supply for the boat when on the surface running the engines. Makes sense given the size and shape in the other drawing. Its a bit hard to figure out from these cutaways as they are not really technical drawings, unlike that side elevation.

 

[Kay Dee]

Agreed. Thank you sir!!!

 

[hammet]

Was that Das Boot music?

 

[HKGuns]

RIP Shipmates.

 

[GrafCanuck]

High 5 to the divers' that found this sub.
RIP to the brave souls of the USS Robalo.

 

[Centrals]

I wonder if both Flier and Robalo close to each other at the Balabac Strait?

 

[Bob DBF]

The Fleet Type Submarine - Chapter 7
There is a detailed diagram of the air induction, as well as the ventilation system, at this link.

The entire Fleet Submarine manual from WWII era is available through that website. The manual was used in training submariners back then, and has a lot of diagrams and explanations of systems.


Bob