USS SILVERSIDES (1695-1990)

American Combat Submarine

Looking for the enemy during the war

The third most successful United States submarine of the war, USS SILVERSIDES came to Chicago after the war as a Naval Reserve training ship berthed at Navy Pier. When decommissioned by the U.S. Navy, she became a memorial which was open to the public, but the group in charge had a rather cloudy reputation. The future of SILVERSIDES was in serious jeopardy when Chicago elected Harold Washington as the mayor. Harold thought that the token one dollar per year that the SILVERSIDES Association was paying to dock the boat there was not enough and decided they should pay FORTY THOUSAND dollars per year! He saw dollar signs in front of his eyes and figured that they would have to pay his ‘ransom‘. Fortunately, a great many people got involved and this beautiful lady was taken across Lake Michigan to Muskegon, Michigan where she rests today, extremely well cared for and open to the public.

In addition to several of our Sharkhunters Members who served aboard this boat, other veterans of the War at Sea were aboard as well.

HANS-GEORG HESS (125-1985) being interviewed on the foredeck of SILVERSIDES (left). EBERHARD von KETELHODT (854-1988), Skipper of U-172, in the central control room (center).OTTO KRETSCHMER (122-1985), Skipper of U-23 and U-99; top submarine Skipper of WW II (Right).