End of trials

Creator

Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. (Manitowoc, Wis.)

Date

• November 16, 1942

Summary

• This 8" x 10" photograph taken November 16, 1942, provides a starboard side view of the tug "Manshipco" and a 3/4 port side view of the submarine U.S.S. "Peto" as the tug tows the "Peto" up the Manitowoc River back to the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company shipyards. The tug is starting to turn the submarine in preparation for its return to the building berth. In the background, located at the end of Buffalo Street, is "Elevator A," a large grain elevator which during the war years was operated by the Norris Grain Company. This structure had been built in 1896. To the right of the elevator are long low sheds of the "Soo" railway (Minneapolis, St. Paul & Saulte St. Marie Railway Company). The "Peto" (SS 265) was the first of 28 submarines built by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company for the U.S. Navy in World War II. Her keel had been laid June 18, 1941 and she had been launched April 30, 1942 in the first ever side launch of a submarine. In this picture the "Peto" is returning from final sea trials in Lake Michigan prior to being commissioned five days later on November 21. A broom tied to the top of her mast signals that she had made a clean sweep of her tests and was ready for service. Several Naval officers and Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company workers stand on deck. The "Manshipco" was a steel tugboat built in 1937 by and for the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company. It was used to transfer vessels, including all of the submarines, in and out of the Manitowoc harbor. Views such as this of the "Manshipco" escorting submarines up and down the river through downtown Manitowoc were common during the war years.