From Jack Hunter

 It was a warm sunny morning in Norfolk, VA when members of the Tidewater
chapter of the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the Hampton Roads Base of the USSVI assembled to conduct a service of remembrance. At the
conclusion of the ceremony remembering the boats and men lost during WW II
and the Cold War, the submarine Albacore was inducted into the Submarine
Hall of Fame.

 Eight years ago, the Tidewater chapter of the Submarine Veterans of WW II
began considering boats to be inducted into the Submarine Hall of Fame. For
each boat selected, a shadow box filled with memorabilia from that boat is
placed in Alcorn Auditorium in Ramage Hall, home of Submarine Learning
Center, Norfolk, VA.

 Boats inducted into the Hall to date are:
 USS Holland (SS-1), the first official submarine
 USS Irex (SS 482), the first U.S. submarine to have a snorkel system
 USS Nautilus (SSN 571), the first nuclear powered submarine
 USS Narwhal (SSN 671), for 25 years of Special Operations
 USS Norfolk (SSN 714), the first submarine to have all its Tomahawk
missiles hit   their targets
 USS Triton (SSN 586), the first U.S. submarine to circumnavigate the world
  submerged and first twin reactor submarine
 USS Grenadier (SS 525), for forcing a Russian diesel submarine to the
surface    during North Atlantic Cold War operations
 USS Albacore (AGSS 569) for her hull and other advanced submarine   
engineering and design innovations.

 For almost 19 years, Albacore served the Navy as an experimental vessel.
Devices tried that were not too successful included: using a parachute for
deceleration, dive brakes, and slippery water. As for successes, she
demonstrated the use of several types of towed sonar devices, tested four
different propulsion and control surface arrangements, evaluated several
combined instrumentation panel displays, used sound quieting techniques for
rotating machinery, introduced aviation type controls, and evaluated a more
effective ballast tank blow system. As a result of Albacore's service, the
Navy was able to refine designs and concepts before incorporating them into
the fleet. Albacore truly lived up to her motto: "Praenuntius Futuri" or
Forerunner of the Future.

 The Friends of Albacore wish to thank the Tidewater Chapter of U.S.
Submarine Veterans of WW II and the Hampton Roads Base of the USSVI for
their recognition of Albacore and its contributions to our submarine Navy.
Albacore previously had been designated a National Historic Landmark for her
contributions to submarine design, a Historic Mechanical Engineering
Landmark for her many unique systems and a Historic Welded Structure for her
hull.

 In conjunction with Power Sound of New England, the Friends of Albacore
have installed an audio tour system consisting of five sites external to the
boat and eleven internal sites. Each site provides several minutes worth of
information, remembrances and sea stories for visitors. The Albacore and
adjacent museum are located at Albacore Park on Market Street in Portsmouth.
Albacore is open seven days a week from 9:30 in the morning until 5:00 in
the afternoon.