Torsk
The Torsk in Portsmouth harbor, January 1945, Picture from Bagnasco 2000.

 
Class Tench
Build 1944
Length 311 ft
Width 27 ft
Speed (surface/submerged) 18/9 knots
Maximum depth 120 m
Displacement (surface/submerged) 1860/2428 tons
Crew Size 80

 
The USS Torsk is an American Diesel Electric submarine commissioned in 1945. The Torsk made only two war patrols and was the last boat to sink an enemy vessel of WWII (14 August 1945). In 1952 the Torsk was refitted but did not went through the extensive GUPPY program. In the cheaper upgrade the boat was streamlined, notice the difference in the sail of the original Torsk (the picture above) and the one of the refitted boat (pictures below). The Torsk was decomissioned in 1968 and by then holds the all-time record of 11884 career dives. After being used as a training vessel for three years the Torsk arrived in 1972 in Baltimore as a museum and memorial. 

 
Bow of the Torsk at the Baltimore Maritime Museum.

 
Aft torpedo room of the Torsk. The brass 'gunn' (A) is the signal flare ejector.

 
Sail of the Torsk. The periscope room is located in the bottom part of the superstructure. 

 
Navigation room of the Torsk.

 
One of the two Kleinschmidt evaporators. These units produced fresh water for drinking, cooking and for the batteries. The two units distilled about 1000 gallons a day.

 
Sleeping quarters of the crew.

 
The wheels that control the dive planes in the control room.

 
Radio room of the Torsk. Notice the typewriter in the center of the picture. 

 
Visit

Visit the Torch at the Baltimore Maritime Museum, in the Inner Harbor on Piers 3 & 5. Mailing address: 802 South Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21231. Phone: 410-396-3453.

The Baltimore museum Torsk website is here. 

 
Literature

Erminio Bagnasco, 2000, Submarines of World War Two, Cassell & Co., London, ISBN 1-85409-532-3.