Reefing the Patriot’s Point Submarine USS Clamagore

For several years, there has been an ongoing discussion at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum about what to do with the World War II era, USS Clamagore. The 1945 built Balao-class submarine has been an exhibit at the museum in Charleston, SC since 1981, but has become too costly to maintain. Current plans are to sink the submarine as an artificial reef. The primary question now is when.

Unfortunately, it is not as easy as it might sound to sink the submarine. The vessel has to be stripped of toxic materials and chemicals and wholly cleaned and prepared before it can be sent to the bottom.

Last month, the Post and Courier reported that the S.C. House’s $9 billion spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 includes $2.7 million to strip the submarine Clamagore of all environmental pollutants, as well as pieces that will become part of a memorial, then sink the 74-year-old submarine somewhere off South Carolina’s coastline. Exactly where hasn’t been determined.  Some reports say that the submarine could be put on a barge as soon as early May. 

USS Clamagore | Salt Life

Comments

Reefing the Patriot’s Point Submarine USS Clamagore — 4 Comments

  1. I do not agree with the Sinking of this Submarine , it does not take 2.7 Million to strip out components
    The Ocean is not a dumping ground for our waste , let a private enterprise take it over and maintain it

  2. Put it in Dry dock, cut it up and sell it for scrap. The oceans are full of enough of our waste .

  3. We might need the old girl again before everything is done.if she’s floating and watertight keep her!!!!! All our enemies are building diesel boats again because they’re quieter than our nukes… keep her!!!!