WW2 Submarine Still In Service

The truly remarkable story of the WWII submarine that is still serving in 2018, 74 years after being built! Amazing but true.

[@christophermckeon9030]

All that matters is the pressure hull. If it's good, the sub can go on forever with refits and updates. And $19M is way cheaper than buying another one, or building one.

[@jnoles5345]

I served on the Cutlass in 1968. We were home ported in Norfolk, VA.

[@dmskier]

My father served on the Cutlass in the early 60’s. Amazing to know she is still swimming!

[@jonathanhankins8356]

Kind of like how they keep B-52's in service... gradually replace everything but the seats, and then get new seats.

[@Alex462047]

That is an astounding testament to just how effective old-school diesel-electrics are in coastal/littoral defense. Also an astounding example of the longevity of American engineering from the 1940s, refits withstanding. Good on the Taiwanese!

[@newmanthompson7050]

Great video. I served on the Cutlass from major overhaul in 1969 til decommissioning in April 1973. I volunteered for submarines coming out of ET A’ school hoping to be assigned to a fast attack nuke boat. Instead I wound up on an old WW2 boat in a major overhaul. It was 6 months before the boat went to sea on its shakedown cruise. As it turned out, the Cutlass was great as a sea duty assignment. We would go out and play games with ships, other subs, and especially ASW aircraft all week. But we were always back in port by the weekend. There are lots of stories many of the crew could tell about the times when things did not go quite right. However, she always got us back to port in good shape.

[@chestertallant3755]

I served on cutlass from '70 till she was sold to tiwan.

[@calvinlawrence3287]

I served on Cutlass SS 478 as an Engineman, Fall 1968 to fall 1971. She is still in service as Taiwan's Hai Shih SS 791. The submarine 485, show in the video is actually the USS Sirago, which served until it was scrapped in May 1973.

[@calvinlawrence3287]

I was a engineman on the Cutlass 1968-1971. US sold the boat to Taiwan in 1972-3?. The National Maritime Museum in San Francisco some years back did a story on the boat. The ex-submariners who went there to do the story, stated that the Boat was almost entirely original. I know from Video's that the Engine-rooms are original. I participated in overhauling two of the existing three engines. Originally had 4 Fairbank Morse 38D 8 1/8 Opposed piston 10 cylinder engines. During a complete drydocking and overhaul in 1969 to 1970, #2 Engine in the forward engine room was removed for another piece of equipment. I personally completely overhauled the High Pressure air compressors in the forward room. During the overhaul the Main Generators were removed and completely rewired. This Submarine is the real deal, as built and Guppy II Conversion

[@stevenikazy2943]

WW2 era boats reconfigured for Cold War use had very sexy lines.

[@3-DtimeCosmology]

My favorite kind of subs

[@BuzzSargent]

My Grandfather worked at the Portsmouth Naval Yard and performed the final inspection of new submarines. So nice to know one example still serves.

[@1228carlito]

Waiting to hear Taiwan has perfected a micro nuclear reactor and that it's part of the refit, helping turn it into the undersea equivalent of The Space Battleship Yamato

[@williamrichardson9475]

On the Greek island of Spetses couple of years back this absolutely ancient sub came in. it had a riveted conning tower and threw more black exhaust out than a 1930s collier and was noisier than a hundred bags of hammers.

[@MrHualienese]

I have been aboard the Hai Si (pronounced Hi Sher) when it visited Hualien Harbor, Taiwan. It's very cool to see so much of the old equipment still in use today.

[@johnknapp952]

Not exactly the same sub that came out of WWII. It's been modernized over the years and as long as you do proper upkeep and maintenance, it should and has lasted a long time. And being that they don't have to travel very far they can still be very effective weapons when running on battery and patrolling in shallow waters.

[@SupesMe]

Imagine if the poop hit the fan...and she ended up bagging a Chinese carrier. Wouldn't that be something? :)

[@ricky6608]

Supes Me It would be funny if she sank any Chinese naval vessel, that would be like a modern fighter jet getting shot down by a P-51

[@beboy12003]

That would be something.

[@SupesMe]

J Calhoun double check that one, it might have been a P-82 that got the kill. But you’re still basically right because a 82 is basically two 51’s stuck together

[@princecharon]

That would be terribly humiliating for the carrier's Captain.

[@williamescolantejr5871]

Supes Me when I was in navy in 80s we hunted subs as part of our job and a diesel submarine is tougher to find sometimes then any fast attack or boomer per our sonar techs of the day

[@alexp3752]

It's amazing what a new conning tower will do...

[@yeahwhatever1359]

Alex P. its not a conning tower lubber, its called the "sail"...

[@Simonsvids]

Being a Taiwan sub, it probably has by now been fitted with some of the best hi-tech out there.

[@stevefarris9433]

Served on the USS Catfish SS339 in the late 50's early 60's. She made her first war patrol a month before the Japanese surrendered. I remember those days of shooting at targets floating in the ocean, also swim call in between Pearl and Subic bay. The Navy sold her and she was sunk in the Falkland campaign by the British. Damn good boat.

[@HTtwentyten]

Incredible sharing. I love it when vehicles are honoured in this way, becoming part of culture and collective memory.

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Very interesting. Another old ship still in service is the Russian salvage ship Kommuna, Commissioned in 1915.

[@themightyranger6321]

Not very surprising considering how outdated and obsolete the russian navy is, but interesting indeed

[@jaed64abfsm36]

That’s nearly 104. Yrs old?!

[@FakeMoonRocks]

ncr veteran ranger - OR, testimony to how we, even the Russians (perhaps especially the Russians), used to build things to last. Looking at a modern day picture of it, I would never have guessed it was built so long ago.

[@videoclips4271]

@@themightyranger6321 russian navy doesn't need modern technology, they master the old one.

[@jaisheelal4002]

FakeMoonRocks Virtually all nations built things to a better quality back then. It's always dodgy to say anything like "We Russians built to last better than anybody", or "We British built to last better than everyone", so I'll just give you my examples of British built ships still in service. HMS Minstrel - Algerine class minsweeper commissioned 1945, active with the Thai navy. HMS Whimbrel - Black Swan-class sloop commissioned 1942, active with the Egyptian navy. HMS Fal - River-class frigate commissioned 1944, active with the Sri Lankan navy. HMS Zenith - Z-class destroyer commissioned 1944, active with the Egyptian navy. HMS Caroline - C-class light cruiser commissioned 1914, decommissioned by the Royal Navy 2011. HMS Hermes - Centaur-class aircraft carrier laid down 1944, commissioned 1955, in reserve with Indian navy.

[@Matt_from_Florida]

It's like the hammer that never wears out. It just needs a new head or a new handle every now and then.

[@joemcnulty6814]

I saw the U-505 in Chicago, and geeze, WWII subs are huge.

[@jimbobjones1858]

Why I love this channel so much - you always come up with incredible stuff!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thank you for watching

[@brianw612]

The USS Cutlass, now the ROCS Hai Shih (sea lion), SS791, was actually SS-478. Much of this video displays SS-485, the Sirago, sold for scrap in 1973.

[@billammann9807]

Amazing information. And it's also amazing to hear this old lady is not only going on in service, but being refitted to keep going on.

[@Bawdsey64]

To all those people who have made comments about the age of this boat and being scared of it failing. May I suggest you try thinking about in a different way. The skipper and his crew of this boat would not go to sea if they thought it would fail, just as pilots of vintage aircraft have to believe in what there flying, there are plenty of DC-3 Dakota aircraft flying that are older than this boat. One can be way up in the air whilst the other is down in the depths of the ocean. If you carry out the correct maintenance, as the military do then you should be safe. Submarine disasters have in the past, in the vast majority of cases, been caused by forces outside the control of the skipper. Going to war in this old boat though would be a different kettle of fish.

[@BB-oj9uy]

"Going to war in this old boat though would be a different kettle of fish." I LOVE a great pun!!!!! SALUTE!!!!

[@brustar5152]

The skipper and crew were probably not the one doing an analysis of the inner pressure hull thickness 74 years worth of salt water erosion and if that old thing is still certified to dive to the original build depth, I'd be darned surprised.

[@Galf506]

"The skipper and his crew of this boat would not go to sea if they thought it would fail" May I remind you this is Taiwan, not Europe or the US?

[@mqbitsko25]

Belief doesn't necessarily make it so. But I'd say there's probably almost nothing of the original ship in there.

[@davidcoleman2463]

Your videos are all amazing . Great history . Thanks .

[@sargesacker2599]

I believe Taiwan also had a second WWII era American submarine, but it has been refitted to serve as a training vessel.

[@pozolan10]

It is the Seal. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqqsn2toequYpNk

[@andysway6011]

This is what the history channel used to be only better. thank you sir.

[@McRocket]

Very interesting..no idea about this. Thank you very much for posting this.

[@Zany4God]

A beautiful boat. DBF

[@zeero62]

The boat I was on was built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard too......1957....decommisioned in 1989....not too shabby.

[@311pique]

I never get tired of learning this cool stories about old relics! Keep it up, sir

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Will do

[@stirfrywok2927]

These videos are so well produced - love watching them

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks for your kind comments

[@rsanoian]

Mark I love the work you do, always something interesting! Appreciate your hard work.

[@rickreid81]

What an excellent video! Very suprising. Thanks for making it

[@nicholasshaw8705]

Mark, I'm 24 and can't get enough of WW2 Knowledge. Thank You for putting together these great videos! I just subscribed, too.

[@bfdwarf]

Mark, I love your videos! Always interesting.

[@Lockbar]

Amazing submarine! Thanks for putting this informative viideo together.

[@stevemiller7433]

Diesel/Electric boats can be effective in that they have the capacity to be truly silent... No cooling pumps for a reactor. I have heard them likened to "Trying to listen for a flashlight"

[@3-DtimeCosmology]

Fleet sub. Tench class. GUPPY conversion. Awesome!

[@beboy12003]

This is amazing. How can the Hi shi, (Ex USS Cutlass SS-478) can be kept active, when many of her sisters ships of the Tench class, have either been scrapped, sunk as targets, or turned into museum ships. I am amazed. Hopefully the Taiwanese navy keep her as a museum ship when she is retired, whenever that is.

[@YINGYANGPOLARBEAR]

Amazing stuff Mark. Keep it up

[@24934637]

Very interesting and informative channel. Thanks for posting.

[@herbwag6456]

Gotta be some kind of record. Boat needs to be a future museum piece. Good info!

[@tammy7087]

I'm a subscriber because you find obscure stories and make them interesting. Thanks Mark.

[@JAGRAFX]

The "Tench Class" boats were the last of the WWII diesel vessels and were probably the most deserving of the GUPPY II modification program[s] of the late 1940's and early 1950's. The Fairbanks-Morse engines from Beloit, Wisconsin were "opposed piston diesels" -- a rare type of engine arrangement intended to eliminate the weight of high-compression cylinder heads. --- American fleet boats in general are Robinson's Department Store compared to the foul conditions demanded of sailors of foreign boats.

[@bossdog1480]

The 'modern' version of this sub looks nothing like the original.

[@wrightflyer7855]

Fuel cell propelled subs built to the latest technological standards are still viable weapons platforms. One major thing in their favor is that noise from reactor coolant pumps is eliminated. Check out the 212 and 214---very stealthy.

[@compositesquare]

Keep making videos.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Will do

[@TheTeufelhunden68]

Yeah, but the original was so cool.

[@girghisyatooma9831]

Great video, glad to see her still in service.

[@highflyinryan76weezer25]

Taiwan has a very interesting fleet of military vehicles. Its a mix of old U.S. and Soviet equipment. They even use m16s.

[@johncook3125]

Good video. Thanks

[@andrewsmithphoto]

I think the Philippine Navy has a Canon class DDE that was in service until 2018. Granted it has been refitted multiple times and contains parts canablized from about 3 other ships of her class, but she still has several original 76mm AA guns and is recognizable as an WWII era DDE.

[@propman3523]

After seeing the performance of Sweden's diesel-electric engine sub, maybe we should take another look. "Refit" can mean a lot of different things, depending on the situation. Good point, in WW II she was still in mint condition. Her duty posting was hardly more than a shake-down cruise.

[@dougmcclendon.9027]

Great video. I was on the Cutlass and Requin as a torpedoman in Norfolk. The Requin is at the Carnegie science center in Pittsburgh

[@ronluckenbach9492]

As per usaul, an excellent video Mark!

[@jamesmosley1549]

Mark I’m really enjoying these videos you’re making. Thanks for taking the time to make these. They’re first class 👌

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thank you for watching them

[@spokanefut]

She's still a silent killer and defender. Good on the Taiwanese. Smart move.

[@paulgus73]

The anti-corrosion properties of a refitted hull and conning tower should be pretty impressive and I doubt that she has been stressed with any deep dives except for testing hull integrity. Refitted with modern high output battery banks, high torque engines, silent running propellers and modernized electrical suite & instrumentation means she could be a very stealthy boat. The images of the refitted boat shows hull and deck changes that might be influenced by the USN GuppyII program or the US Walrus class boats. If so she could be capable of underwater speeds in excess of 18 knots. Most of the Rep of China Navy subs are armed with the Mark 48 Mk-4 or Mk-6 torpedoes and HAI SHIH may also be capable of firing Harpoon anti-ship missiles given the torpedo commonality with USN specifications. Other RoCN subs are Harpoon capable.

[@ditzydoo4378]

The Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) conversion program was developed to give some Balao- and Tench-class submarines similar capabilities to the German Type XXI. When the cost of upgrading numerous submarines to GUPPY standard became apparent, the austere "Fleet Snorkel" conversion was developed to add snorkels and partial streamlining to some boats. The Hai Shih (ex-Cutlass) Is an example of the GUPPY III conversion with the taller "Northern" type sail. This would give the Hai Shih a submerged speed up 17.9 knots instead of her pre-reconfiguration speed of only 8.7 knots submerged. Also seen in the first Taiwan color photo's she has what appears to be a modernized BQG-4 Passive Underwater Fire Control Feasibility Study (PUFFS) sonar system, indicated by the fin like domes topside fore and aft of the main sail. Additionally, she would then be compatible with the fire control upgrades allowing the Mark 45 nuclear torpedo to be used. The Tench-class submarine ex-Cutlass was transferred along with the Balao-class ex-Tusk to the Republic of China Navy as Hai Shih and Hai Pao in 1973. Also all submarines do not operate at there test deeps for any reason other than an emergency, the test depth this simply a certification of the hull integrity at depth after its build.

[@bigglesflysagain1749]

Great to see those Bofors. I used to fire them...a fantastic thrill ! Your vids are very, very good, Mark. TYVM

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thank you

[@jamesbehrje4279]

That's awesome. I hope they keep using it. Keep her going till 2044!!!

[@turbomar6667]

Aside from the unrelated video bits, nice info vid

[@axanarfilm]

Very cool!!

[@skny2282]

Keep updating and the glorious history will go on! It’s not just a ww2 museum piece, it’s deploying to the frontline against 21st century China aircraft carrier!

[@kenshores9900]

Interesting to see the changes in the conning tower.

[@drianmortiz9375]

I think aside from the Taiwanese navy. The Turkish navy are also have some of the few World War 2 era diesel electric powered submarine that are still in the active service to their navy. Although they are not use as a front line combat vessel, but they are use as a navy training sub.

[@DieselBoatMan]

Lots of interesting comments on this video. Having served on diesel boats 68-72, I can tell you that these things are unbelievably quiet, can go deep enough if you have the huevos, and can sneak up on just about anything. DBF/AMF. You need to live that life to know the truth.

[@atranas6018]

I love it how all of the WW2 subs deck were designed to create as much drag as possible when submerged.

[@mortimersnerd8044]

Anas Takiyudin, WWII subs spent almost all of their time on the surface, so it made sense.

[@asheland_numismatics]

Great video!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks

[@fooman2108]

We worked against her many many years ago, and with her in service record and her continuous updates she is an evil submarine!

[@97MrBlues]

Your videos have become a must lately.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Great to hear!

[@THE-HammerMan]

Great to her the ol' girl is still serving! In the 40's "American Made" meant she was built to last and be reliable without a billion dollar price tag! And why not? They don't need a nuclear powered anti-ballistic sub- especially at the cost these days. In the right hands, she's a formidable ship for most any need today. I wonder if her engines sound like Carey Grant's did in "Operation Petticoat"!?!

[@markpelenytschka8374]

Thank you

[@johnparrish9215]

In a modern conflict I don't think you would see it armed with torpedoes but instead armed with mines. I'll bet she could lay mines just fine.

[@brianpatrick8787]

Why not? The torpedoes are pretty standard design. A modern fish will fire in those old tubes and bet there are as up to date as newer boot. Remember she can sit and wait and fire a modern fish from a ways out and than disappear before the escort ships find her.

[@rolandramos6926]

@@brianpatrick8787 yeah just, you gotta put more work than enemy subs and actually aim

[@_Dogberry_]

You could probably shove a Mk48 in there no problem.

[@TheDieselbutterfly]

I was the captain of this sub in 1964

[@TheMadMariner]

I'm curious how this boat stacks up in terms of capabilities next to a modern diesel-electric.

[@amuxpatch2798]

probably a training sub ,that's all. it can be easily detected by modern radar systems from war ships/planes/helicopters etc..

[@devonopdendries7722]

I read the title... expected it to be a Canadian Submarine. XD

[@discingaround]

Mr. Felton, I believe this is akin to the Ship of Theseus story where the ship was replaced part by part until very few parts of the original ship existed. Would it be called the same ship if each part were replaced in a span of time, especially over 50 years?

[@chrisknight6884]

If it is records you are after HMS Caroline (built 1914 and served at the Battle of Jutland) is still moored in Belfast, But the oldest Royal Navy ship still commissioned is HMS Victory, built in 1759 coming up to her 260th birthday, though to be fair she has been in dry dock for a while now.

[@RibonFox]

There is very little hope of getting Vicky back into the water. Seen her about 6 time as I live not far from Portsmouth.

[@diwemdiwem8382]

All good, great to see, she is still in service.

[@bf945]

Would be interesting to see the conversion from a Fleet type submarine to her current configuration.

[@andyharpist2938]

I went to see my favorite Rock group the other day..though none of the original members were in it any longer.

[@johnwalsh3635]

An extraordinary story.

[@1catbrains]

Astounding!!!

[@douglascoid4132]

I wonder if it's a case of the Ship of Theseus, there isn't actually much of the ww2 submarine left.

[@xaenon]

Douglas Coid I'm pretty sure that is exactly the case here. Of course, the parts used to replace the originals might be superior items. After all, there isn't much resemblance of its former self. In fact, this might actually be a fairly potent little combat vessel, depending on how it was modernized over the years.

[@rob1248996]

As long as the weapons (torpedoes), radar, sonar, etc. were updated this could still be a state of the art sub (minus the reactor). She could have also had Subroc missiles maybe.

[@Vespuchian]

Let's see if the RoC can keep her going for a centennial celebration. I'd drink to the "Century Submarine".

[@fensoxx]

I’ve watched dozens of your videos and that was my favorite yet. I wish it was longer and we had some detail on how they are keeping this old girl running. All new engines? Controls?

[@backchat8086]

Amazing 👍

[@Haasino]

Still in service? Yes. Front-line service? No... The Hai Shih has been a training boat for a while now.

[@brijstaker]

That is amazing... 👍

[@oliverpetroski4205]

Wait. She started as Baleho class and later the cunning tower with the enterior got replaced? Not much of WW2 is left then. In my hometown we have ships in use since WW1.

[@Dr.Pepper001]

More short vids like this, please.

[@jackphillips1953]

I belive they also bought USS tusk SS426. I talk to some guys over there a few years ago and it was still in use then.

[@kvogel9245]

That's what I call "built to last".

[@esdeekay4344]

This is truly the Nokia of all submarines.....

[@RailPreserver2K]

I hope they intend on preserving the submarine because that would be a very very significant museum ship considering it's been in service since World War II

[@patrickkavanagh5335]

That's amazing.