The History of San Francisco’s Submarines
World War II
One of the major accomplishments of the San Francisco Yard was the retrofitting of 2,500 captured German and Italian ships and submarines. In addition to the major overhaul, the vessels underwent modifications by converting the gauges, levers, and placards from a foreign language and the metric system to one familiar to the Allied crews who would be responsible for her maintenance and operation.
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World War I
In the near future, I’ll publish a slideshow showcasing the submarines Bethlehem Steel built before and during World War I. It will include the three main types, their counts, and a gallery of photos for each class. I’ll also include a short history of one the subs that served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, earning four battle stars, the China Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.
General Plan
General Plan of Bethlehem Steel’s San Francisco Yard in March of 1945. The submarine base was located at the foot of 16th St., where Chase Arena sits today.
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