Our trip for the month of February was to San Francisco's Pier 45. Several scouts from our troop, webelos from Pack 635 and adult leaders went.
We were the overnight crew on the USS Pampanito. It is a retired WWII submarine which is berthed at pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf and is open to the public.
We took a tour of the ship and had an orientation by the staff which included instruction on the history and operations of submarines. Some of us got to sit in one of the deck guns. That was excellent! There is also a TV and VCR where you can watch submarine movies like U-571 and Down Periscope .
I would recommend this trip to other troops and organizations.

Facts about the Pampanito
" operating depth 600 feet
" speed of 23 knots surfaced and 11 knots submerged
" 6 successful war patrols in the Pacific
" sunk 6 enemy ships and damaged 4 others
" rescued 73 POWs
" was featured in the film Down Periscope
" became a museum and memorial in 1982

For more information:
Visit: website at www.maritime.org
Call : 415-775-1943
Write: The Maritime Park Association
P.O. Box 470310
San Francisco, CA 94717-0310

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