9. Building and testing submarines in Wisconsin required engineering innovations
In 1939 Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company’s President, Charles C. West, proposed a means by which the Wisconsin shipyard could build destroyers for the United States Navy. After completion, the ships would transit the Chicago River, the Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Illinois River, and finally the Mississippi River for delivery to New Orleans. The transit would be in a floating drydock, towed by a tug. After reviewing the proposal the Navy suggested the shipyard build submarines. Though Manitowoc had no experience building submarines (or destroyers) is accepted. The Navy converted Chicago’s Western Avenue bridge to a lift bridge, allowing submarines to transit under tow to the Illinois River.
Once on the Illinois River, the submarines entered the drydock, in which they were towed to New Orleans. Once they arrived there the mast and antennae were installed. Manitowoc received all drawings and design specifications from Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, and successfully completed 28 submarines from 1942 to 1945, of two different classes. All of the submarines were completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Most of them were commissioned while in Manitowoc, conducted sea trials on the Great Lakes, and decommissioned for their journey to New Orleans. During World War II it was not unusual to observe American submarines operating on the Great Lakes.