In Florida they sink a Cold War submarine!

Great news for the diving community is coming from Florida. As it turns out, a local legend – the 95-metre-long submarine USS “Clamagore”, dating from the Cold War era, will most probably be sunk and turned into another diving attraction in the region. It will therefore enrich the already sizeable artificial reef created around the Florida coastline.

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For the past decades the ship has been launched off Charlestone’s wharves and has been a local tourist attraction. Now efforts are underway to sink the vessel later this summer in the Palm Beach area. The ship would thus enrich the project of creating artificial reefs in Florida, and at the same time would become an underwater museum. At least that is the assumption of the people behind the project.

If the audacious plan goes ahead, it would be the first submarine wreck to rest in Florida waters. For now, it is necessary to wait for the results of a vote by councillors, who must first approve by ballot the transfer of the sum of $1 million to the company that will carry out the entire process, including the sinking. The money is to come from a specially createdvessel registration fee trust fund.

The plan to sink the “Grey Ghost of the Florida Coast” – as the ship is called – is supported by her poor technical condition, which does not allow her to continue serving as a tourist attraction. In the meantime, various ideas have been put forward to find a new home for the dilapidated vessel, but their originators have not been able to organise the necessary funds. It seems very likely, therefore, that the American vessel will go under water for the last time, where she will rest forever, at a depth of about 30 metres.

The ship USS “Clamagore” (SS-343) is a Balao class vessel, built at the US Navy’s General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Division shipyard. It entered service on 28 June 1945. Its maximum draught was 122 metres (400 feet). The vessel was decommissioned on 12 June 1973. On 6 August 1979, the ship was transferred to the Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Charleston, South Carolina, and was available for tours by tourists. Today she awaits the next chapter in her rich history.

Source: eyeonpbc.blog.mypalmbeachpost.com