Post by ppat324 on Dec 3, 2010 6:51:19 GMT -5
MANITOWOC — Two Manitowoc couples and maritime enthusiasts donated nearly $10,000 for the installation of three World War II torpedoes on the USS Cobia docked at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, said Karen Duvalle, submarine curator.
Duvalle said the museum housed the vintage MK-14 torpedoes for five years but didn't have the money for installation until museum co-workers Luke and Jill Johanna donated $5,000.
"Two people on the overnight staff (the Johannas) met here as co-workers a year ago and got married on the sub," Duvalle said. "They really love the submarine and love working here. I think because they met here they're really passionate about it."
Longtime volunteers, Bob and Grace Peppard, added $4,500 to the contribution. The museum raised about $500. Duvalle said the project is part of the ongoing restoration of the Cobia, a restored WWII submarine on display.
The 2,000-pound, 21-foot torpedoes took McMullen and Pitz Construction crew and museum personnel about four hours to install Wednesday, bringing the submarine's torpedo count to seven. It can carry as many as 24.
"We previously had four up front (of the submarine), and didn't have any in the back," Duvalle said. "We wanted to put two in the back and one up front. It was quite a process to get all of them in there."
Duvalle said although the donations were made during the summer, museum personnel waited until the off-season because the submarine had to close Wednesday and Thursday.
"We needed to have a barge alongside (the submarine) with a crane on it to lift and lower them into the submarine," Duvalle said. "Also, because it's fitted with stairs, they had to be removed to make room for the torpedoes."
Duvalle also said the crew removed a deck gun for restoration, including sand blasting, repair work and a paint job.
The museum also is raising money for a 2011 dry-docking of the USS Cobia. Repairs would include replacing the weather deck, cutting out and replacing steel in the outer hull, welding seams on the conning tower and cleaning and painting the hull with a 30-year treatment.
"We applied for a federal grant for $150,000 we would need to match," Duvalle said. "We won't know until January. We still need more funds than we have."
For more information or to donate, call (920) 684-0218 or visit www.wiscon sinmaritime.org.
Duvalle said the museum housed the vintage MK-14 torpedoes for five years but didn't have the money for installation until museum co-workers Luke and Jill Johanna donated $5,000.
"Two people on the overnight staff (the Johannas) met here as co-workers a year ago and got married on the sub," Duvalle said. "They really love the submarine and love working here. I think because they met here they're really passionate about it."
Longtime volunteers, Bob and Grace Peppard, added $4,500 to the contribution. The museum raised about $500. Duvalle said the project is part of the ongoing restoration of the Cobia, a restored WWII submarine on display.
The 2,000-pound, 21-foot torpedoes took McMullen and Pitz Construction crew and museum personnel about four hours to install Wednesday, bringing the submarine's torpedo count to seven. It can carry as many as 24.
"We previously had four up front (of the submarine), and didn't have any in the back," Duvalle said. "We wanted to put two in the back and one up front. It was quite a process to get all of them in there."
Duvalle said although the donations were made during the summer, museum personnel waited until the off-season because the submarine had to close Wednesday and Thursday.
"We needed to have a barge alongside (the submarine) with a crane on it to lift and lower them into the submarine," Duvalle said. "Also, because it's fitted with stairs, they had to be removed to make room for the torpedoes."
Duvalle also said the crew removed a deck gun for restoration, including sand blasting, repair work and a paint job.
The museum also is raising money for a 2011 dry-docking of the USS Cobia. Repairs would include replacing the weather deck, cutting out and replacing steel in the outer hull, welding seams on the conning tower and cleaning and painting the hull with a 30-year treatment.
"We applied for a federal grant for $150,000 we would need to match," Duvalle said. "We won't know until January. We still need more funds than we have."
For more information or to donate, call (920) 684-0218 or visit www.wiscon sinmaritime.org.