T-3 interior photos

Torpedo Room

Torpedo room looking forward. The four 18-inch torpedo tubes are visible at the forward most end of the room. The tubes are 17 feet 4 inches long and could fire the Bliss-Leavitt MK 9 and MK 10 torpedoes with a range up to 4000 yards.

Ther are no torpedoes in this photo since the T-3 was brought back into commission strictly to test the German M.A.N. diesels with no intention for it to return as a fighting vessel. The space is being utilized for berthing and all the equipment for storing torpedoes has been removed.

The large black object in the overhead of the room is the motor for running the anchor and deck capstan. On the left in the photo, above the bunks is a valve manifold that is believed to be the forward fuel filling and transfer manifold. At the very top of the photo, above the light, is the transfer box for the control rod for the bow planes. At this point the mechanical torque from the rod is turned 90 degrees and exits the pressure hull through bushings and a gland seal. Stuffed in the overhead behind pipes and wires are life jackets.

Forward of the bunks on the right side of the photo is a desk with a typewriter on it. It was first thought this was used for radio equipment but after examining the photo of the radio space that opinion has been discarded. It could have been used for maintaining ships records by the ships clerk or Yeoman, or maybe have been installed for use during the trials. A portable electric space heater seen on the deck by the table leg and bottom torpedo tube door.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

A closer view of the torpedo tubes and forward starboard corner of the room. There is still no clearer view of the desk but for this photo the space heater has been moved. The power cord for the heater can been seen descending from the overhead and running along the deck. It is not known what the second cord seen on the deck is for or where it comes from though it seems to be the same size as the heater cord.

The large valves and piping seen on the right, forward of the desk, are supposed to be part of the Trim and Drain system used for moving trimming water, (read weight), from and to the forward trim tank or to other tanks or from or to sea from the submarine. This system also combined the ability to pump the bilges.

The torpedo tubes are numbered, top to bottom and right to left. Looking at the photo the top tube on the right is number 1. The top tube on the left is number 2. The bottom tube on the right is number 3 and the bottom left is number 4. This numbering system is still in use today.

Above the top tier of tube doors are seen the manual tube firing levers. One each for each tube and be seen at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions above each door. The round valve handles above the doors separate the manual firing levers. The handles point up. When the command to fire is given the valve is pulled. If the electrical firing control in the control room fails, the manual lever will actuate the impulse air to the tube and eject the torpedo.

Between the tubes is a small arc shaped plate and just below these is a stub end for a handle. A large lever is placed over this and turned to open and close the outer torpedo tube shutter doors used to fair the tube openings with the hull and protect the outer doors from damage.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

A close up of the forward fuel filling manifold viewed from the aft.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

Close up of the desk area. It shows little more than was seen previously. Its true purpose remains a mystery. The portable electric space heater is clearly seen.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

This the torpedo room looking aft. The ladder leads to the deck through a watertight hatch. The ladder is backed by a kick cloth that stops a person's foot from sliding through a rung. It also prevents dirt from shoes from scattering all over the deck.

The large black object in the overhead is the capstan motor. Just to the right of the ladder in the overhead is an oxygen flask. Just to the right of that is the end of the bow planes control rod. Life jackets are stuffed into available spaces throughout the overhead.

Behind and above the tipped up bunks on the right is the forward fuel filling manifold.

At the far end of the compartment is a desk area. A reference library and the ship's safe. Stacked on top of the safe are containers of soda lime that in time of need can be open and spread on bunks or the deck to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Barely seen on the deck behind the bunks on the left side is another portable electric space heater. There is a non-watertight door behind the ladder that leads to the officer's berthing and wardroom.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

Radio Room

This is the radio room of T-3. We are speculating that it is in the forward part of the boat, but it is not clear exactly where it is located. It looks that communication was by both key and voice as the curved object in the center of the desk is an early microphone.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

Wardroom and Officer's Berthing

The wardroom and officer's berthing on the T-class was located in the after portion of the torpedo room, separated from the weapons space by a non-watertight bulkhead and door, seen in the background. You can see the contrast between how the officers lived and the general crew. The "furniture" is highly varnished mahogany. Polished brass rails and leather upholstered settees.

This view is looking forward. Over the door to the torpedo room proper is a depth gauge. It only measures to 100 feet though the actual test depth of the T-class was 150 feet. Folding camp chairs were used for general seating and for eating at the wardroom table. Ashtrays, a.k.a. "butt kits", are placed down the center of the table since smoking very common in this time period.

The table itself is covered by a heavy tablecloth, most probably dark green in color as that is a traditional color for this cloth in the U.S. Navy. The cloth has a fancy trim around the edge, possibly gold in color. Hanging in the overhead is an electrical cord with a socket fitting, probably for a clothing iron to press clothing, using the wardroom table as the ironing surface.

The dark rod seen in the overhead to left is a curtain rod to block off the berths from the rest of the space. The rings for hanging this curtain can be seen at the far end of the rod. Next to it is the drive shaft for the bow planes.

We are speculating that the two hydraulic motors in the overhead are used to lift spare torpedo bodies and warheads stored under the wardroom decks.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

A close-up of the depth gauge over the door into the torpedo room proper. It is registering about 15 feet. Since depth is measured from the keel we now know the T-3 has a draft of that depth.

Books in the ships library used for reference are stored in the wardroom. Next to the depth gauge a large power cord can be seen draped over several pipes. This is for one of the numerous portable space heaters. The heater is hidden by the table. A reading lamp can be seen to the right of the bookcase.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

The officer's wardroom viewed from the front of the compartment looking aft. In the center of the photo is the watertight door leading into the crew's berthing spaces.

On either side of this door are, to the right, an area for hanging uniforms. In the earlier T-class these were separate lockers and on the opposite side of the door. To the left of the watertight door is a door that leads to the officer's head.

To the left of the door are a number of items. A large pipe running over the door and down the left side to a bell is a speaking tube. The bell is to let the wardroom know someone wants to talk. Below the bell are the compartment light switches. Below these, close to the bottom of the door is a dogging wrench used to tighten the dogs on the watertight door as tight as possible.

To the left of these is a bit of 1920's art or maybe "cheesecake". Above is a Chelsea clock, the time is 2:35, (probably PM). The power cord for a portable space heater is seen next to the left. The heater is seen at the end of the table.

The door to the officer's head is next. A large varnished mahogany closet is at the left.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

Close up of watertight door area showing the picture. It is some sort of stylized depiction of a female, but detail is lacking. The Chelsea clock is indicating 2:35 pm. The speaking tube with bell and the portable space heater is between the picture and the door. In the upper right corner is a battle lantern, probably wired to come on with the loss of electrical power.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

Close up of two of the officer's bunks complete with polished brass sea rails and high gloss varnished mahogany. In the overhead over the top bunk is a reading light turned to run fore to aft. Brass clothing hooks and a hanging area for uniforms at the aft end of the compartment. The space under the bunks is no doubt clothing storage also.

Photo courtesy of Sean Hert via Mike Mohl and Navsource.org.

Battery Compartment and Crew's Berthing

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