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Tambor 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

The conning tower fairwater of the Tambor as seen most likely in the summer of 1940. The exact location of this photo cannot be determined due to lack of background information. The Tambor was commissioned on June 3, 1940 with Lieutenant Commander John M. Murphy, Jr. in command.

After fitting out at New London, Tambor got underway on August 6, 1940 for her shakedown cruise which took her to New York City, Washington, D.C., Morehead City, North Carolina, and Houston, Texas. This was followed by further training off Colón, Panama.

In this photo the topside watch is talking with onlookers on the pier, so this might be a city dock someplace. The people are in summer type clothing and men and women are both seen in the photo. The topside watch is wearing a dark web belt that held a M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol in a holster on his right side.

The cigarette deck at the top back part of the conning tower superstructure is covered with a canvas awning. A few sailors and what look to be a civilian are standing on the back deck.

The configuration of the whole conning tower fairwater structure is how submarines were built pre WW II. Once the war started it was noted how these large structures made the submarine more visible on the surface so yards and tenders began to cut them down and remove all unnecessary equipment. This provided decks to add extra guns like 20 mm and 40 mm for surface and antiaircraft use.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Tambor seen on the Thames River, in Connecticut with Groton in the background circa 1940. The Fort Griswold monument can be seen in the center of the picture above the tree line.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.

Tambor sinking a small Japanese lugger, late in the war. The attached caption says it all.

U.S. Navy photo.

EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock. He rode Tambor for her 11 & 12th war patrols.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

Tambor's WW II Chief Torpedoman and C.O.B. (Chief of the Boat), CTM Murry Cherry standing in front of the "Christmas Tree", a panel that indicates the open/shut status of hull openings. 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, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

Tambor's crew on deck for an awards ceremony. EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock is third 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 excellent service on Tambor's 12th patrol. He was also presented with a ribbon for this. The Captain, LCDR Maurice Ferrara, reads the letter of commendation as the XO's wife pins the ribbon on him.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

Tambor's Executive Officer, LT A. H. Peterson is presented with a Letter of Commendation for excellent 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, TMC Murry Cherry can be seen just above the XOs' wife's head.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

Tambor's officers and Chiefs posing for a photo after the awards ceremony. The Executive Officer, LT A. H. Peterson is standing second from the left. The Commanding Officer, LCDR Maurice Ferrara, is in the center. The Chief of the Boat, TMC Murry Cherry is standing to the Captain's left. According to the picture source, there is an officer and one Chief missing from this photo.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

Some of the crew of Tambor sitting in the crew's mess waiting for chow. Submarine food was renowned as being the best in the fleet.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

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 in the summer of 1945 to act as a training ship for patrol aircraft needing to make practice runs on ships and subs. When she entered Port Angeles for the first time, she was flying her battle flag and all her kill flags. The folks greeting her were surprised that so small a vessel could sink so many ships. Here a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura patrol plane is making a run on Tambor as the sub tries evasive tactics. Port Angeles and the Olympic Mountains can be seen in the background.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

On September 17, 1945, Tambor departed the west coast for Portsmouth, N.H. Tambor was decommissioned there on December 10, 1945 and placed in reserve. This photo shows Tambor sitting in a snowstorm at Portsmouth waiting decommissioning. It looks pretty cold. 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, MI., on December 8, 1947. 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 September 1, 1959 and subsequently sold for scrap.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

It's still snowing!!! The topside watch, Bill Raymond, who made four war patrols on Tambor, is probably wondering where his relief is and can he get a hot cup of coffee. Portsmouth Navy Yard, December 1945.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock. Photo ID made by Tom Raymond, son of Bill Raymond.

Will you hurry up and take the picture! It's cold out here!!! Portsmouth Navy Yard, December 1945.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

Tambor's aft deck looking aft. Several other subs can be seen through the snow.

Photo provided by Lance Dean in memory of his grandfather, EM 3c Shelton Doyle Blalock.

This is one of Tambor's four main propulsion motors. After the sub was decommissioned and scrapped, it found a second life in industry helping to run a factory. According to Frank Todaro who submitted this picture: 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.

Another view of one of Tambor's motors, serving industry in her second life.

Thanks to Frank Todaro for sending this photo taken at his company.

Another of Tambor's motors in the factory. The ventilation was added after the motor was installed in the factory.

Thanks to Frank Todaro for sending this photo taken at his company.

Manufacturer's plaque that was attached to the motors.

Thanks to Frank Todaro for sending this photo taken at his company.

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