The rig for dive in a modern submarine requires the crew conduct more than 225 individual and operational checks.
From the moment the COBIA arrived in Manitowoc, it began to receive routine maintenance and care performed by museum staff and dedicated volunteers.
After being inspected in 1990 by Russell Booth to determine what steps should be taken for long-term preservation and rehabilitation, the COBIA was placed in dry dock in 1996. Having the boat in dry dock allowed serious work to be done to the hull and ensure its integrity for many years.
Volunteers and Reservists work on the COBIA's
engines
Below Deck
With the maintenance on the COBIA’s hull completed, the focus turned to the interior spaces in 1997 so that the submarine could once again look the way it did while out on patrol in the South Pacific in 1945. A grant from the Wisconsin DOT’s Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program helped to fund the installation of new WWII-era flooring, metal trim, bunks and crew lockers.
A major part of the COBIA’s restoration is the work done to the machinery and electrical systems. Countless hours have been spent researching and repairing equipment and all that hard work can be seen throughout the boat. Major projects include the rebuilding of main engines one and two, the repair of an onboard DC power drive and the complete reinstallation of the radio shack to its wartime configuration.
Another notable project was the restoration of the COBIA’s SJ-1 radar, which is now arguably the oldest operational radar in the world today.
A Team Effort
An invaluable part of the restoration team have been members of the Naval Reserve, who, while conducting their training aboard the COBIA during weekends and annual training periods, have helped brought the COBIA back into fighting shape.
But while they may be Reservists or private citizens, the volunteers are seen as the most valuable resource by the museum. Because without them, the COBIA would not be the jewel that it is today.