From the Flight deck of the USS Yorktown one could get some photos of the USS Clamagore, SS-343, a Balao-class (and later GUPPY-class) submarine. She served in the Navy from September 1945 until June 1975, a solid 30 years in service.
Clamagore is the last surviving GUPPY class submarine. The sharkfins you can see on the bow were added for the GUPPY III sonar sensor upgrades.
Looking back from the sensors on the bow to the stern, she's certainly seen better days.
The USS Clamagore as you can see is looking pretty darn rough.
Due to Covid, the sub was sadly not open to visitors.
I would have gladly signed a waiver to be able to get on board and see her, but that was not an option.
As a result, I will probably never have the opportunity to tour the inside of Clamagore.
This will likely be the last year for anyone to see the Clamagore above the waves, as she is now scheduled to be taken out and sunk as an artificial reef sometime later this year.
I'm not sure if this will be the first US designated National Historic Landmark to be deliberately sunk or not. Once sunk, does that make it a National Historic Seamark?
Once she is sunk, there will be no more surviving GUPPY class submarines left above the waves.
