USS Tambor SS 198 Launch Ceremony.
Miss Lucia Long Ellis, Sponsor for the Tambor,
breaks a bottle of champagne on Tambor's bow.
The date was December 20, 1939 at 4:15PM.
Electric
Boat Photo
USS Tambor SS
198 heading up the Thames River, Groton, Connecticut is in the background.
The Fort Griswold Monument can be seen in the center of the picture above
the tree line.
The picture
caption say it all.
US
Navy photo
Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c. Doyal rode Tambor for her 11 & 12 th War Patrols
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
Tambor's Chief Torpedoman and C.O.B. (Chief of the Boat), Murry Cherry standing in front of the "Christmas Tree"
The shiny can on the pole is most likely a "butt kit" or better known as an ash tray to the land bound.
Below the "christmas Tree" are the main ballast tank group vent actuators.
On the left of the photo is the bow planes control wheel
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
Tambor's crew on deck for an awards ceremony.
Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c is 3rd from the left in the back row.
The ceremony was to present a Letter of Commendation to the
Executive Officer, Lt A. H. Peterson, for excellant service on Tambor's 12th Patrol.
He was also presented with a ribbon for this. The Captain, LCdr William J. Germershausen,
(or possibly LCdr Maurice Ferrara who assumed command in some time after the 12th patrol),
read the letter of Commendation the XO's wife pinned the ribbon on him.
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
Executive Officer, Lt A. H. Peterson is presented with a Letter of Commendation
for excellant service on Tambor's 12th Patrol.
He was also presented with a ribbon which his wife is pinning on him.
The Captain is pointing out the spot to put it as he holds the Letter
of Commendation in his left hand.
Chief of the Boat, Murry Cherry TMC can be seen just above the XOs' wifes head
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
Executive Officer, Lt A. H. Peterson is standing second from the laft.
The Commanding Officer, which could be either LCdr William J. Germershausen,
or possibly LCdr Maurice Ferrara, is in the center.
Chief of the Boat, Murry Cherry TMC is standing to the Capatins left
According the picture source, there is an Officer and one Chief missing from this photo.
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
Some of the crew of Tambor sitting in the crewsmess waiting for chow.
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
Late in the war Tambor hit a log with her propeller and went to Bremerton for repairs
She was then stationed at Port Angeles, Washington to act as a training ship for
dive-bombers needing to make runs on ships and subs. When she entered Port Angles
for the first time, she was flying her battle flag and all her kill flags.
The folks greeting her were surprise that so small a vessel could sink so many ships.
Here is a dive-bomber making a run on Tambor as she trys evasive tactics.
Port Angeles and the Olympic Mountains can be seen in the background.
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
On 17 September, Tambor departed the west coast for Portsmouth, N.H. Tambor
was decommissioned there on 10 December 1945 and placed in reserve. In
April 1947, the submarine was assigned to the 9th Naval District to train
naval reservists; and she reported to the Naval Reserve Training Center,
Detroit, Mich., on 8 December. Tambor remained on duty as a reserve training
ship until 1959 when a Board of Inspection and Survey found her unfit for
further naval service. She was struck from the Navy list on 1 September and subsequently sold for scrap.
Tambor sits in a snow storm at Portsmouth waiting decommissioning. Looks pretty cold.
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
It's still snowing!!!
The topside watch, Bill Raymond, who made 4 war patrols on Tambor, is probably
wondering where his relief is and can he get a hot cup of coffee.
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
Photo ID made by Tom Raymond, son of Bill Raymond.
Will you hurry up and take the picture,! It's cold out here.!!!
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
View is looking aft and several other subs and ships can be seen through the snow.
Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather Shelton Doyle Blalock, EM3c
This is one of the four main motors from the USS Tambor.
It has found a second life after the sub was decommissioned
and scrapped in commercial industry.
*********
The motor with the B is the double ended driver.
The motor with the E is the single ended driver.
We had all four motors. There are only two left.
The small black half horse motor is the tack motor
used for speed control. Each motor has a speed
increaser to drive the compressors at 3600 rpm.
Thanks to Frank Todaro for sending this photo taken at his company.
This is one of the four main motors from the USS Tambor.
It has found a second life after the sub was decommissioned
and scrapped in commercial industry.
Thanks to Frank Todaro for sending this photo taken at his company.
This is another of the four main motors from the USS Tambor.
It has found a second life after the sub was decommissioned
and scrapped in commercial industry.
Thanks to Frank Todaro for sending this photo taken at his company.
Manufactures plaque that was attached to the motors.
Thanks to Frank Todaro for sending this photo taken at his company.
