S-47 moored at Pearl Harbor circa late 1932. In this photo the escape training tower, completed in 1932, can be seen to the right. Moored with the S-47 are a number of other submarines. Based on the radio masts, there are probably six other S-class submarines, one or two Eagle-class patrol vessels, and a submarine rescue vessel moored behind her. The large numeral "47" painted on the side of her fairwater was one of the last of several iterations of submarine external identification schemes used by the Navy before they standardized on using only the hull number in 1938.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
S-47 shown underway in San Francisco Bay on September 7, 1943 following a major wartime overhaul and modernization. She has received a suite of upgrades and fixes similar to her sisters that include rebuilt conning tower fairwaters and aft superstructures, a new 20 mm gun deck forward of the bridge, a 3"/50 caliber deck gun forward, and air conditioning. Yerba Buena Island and the Bay Bridge are visible in the background.
Mare Island photo 6347-43 courtesy of Darryl Baker.
S-47 shown from the bow following her September, 1943 overhaul at Mare Island. Most of her crew are topside and one of her periscopes is fully raised.
Mare Island photo 6350-43 courtesy of Darryl Baker.
A view of the completely rebuilt conning tower fairwater of S-47 in September, 1943. This gives a good view of her new 3"/50 caliber Mk 17 deck gun. Note the SJ and SD radars that were newly installed during this overhaul.
Mare Island photo 6351-43 courtesy of Darryl Baker.
S-47's fairwater from aft at the conclusion of her Mare Island overhaul, September 1943. The large square on the aft end of the periscope shears is a low-frequency (LF) radio antenna, used for long distance radio communications. It could actually receive signals while the boat was submerged at periscope depth.
Mare Island photo 6352-43 courtesy of Darryl Baker.
