All the assets originated from the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum with its volunteers working hard to select the best example for the requested inert shapes.

The MK 37 MOD 3 torpedo shape is one of two torpedoes that will be donated. (Tony Hughes photo)

From time to time military museums throughout the country help each other by contributing museum items that are used to help with their display of historical memorabilia.

In September 2012, the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum acquired several inert ASROCs, small torpedo training shapes and inert MK-37, MOD 3 Torpedoes from the demilitarization account of the operating contractor of the Hawthorne Army Depot to be used for the specific purpose of creating historic and accurate displays so that a realistic representation of the various shapes used by the US Navy.

In April 2013 HOM received letters from the Mohave Valley Branch of the Fleet Reserve Association in Golden Valley, Arizona and the Submarine Museum Vessel, USS Batfish located at the Muskogee War Memorial Park in Muskogee, Okla., requesting gifts of inert MK-37 MOD 3 torpedoes to be used in their displays at their locations.

The Fleet Reserve Association requested a gift of an inert MK-37 MOD 3 Torpedo in pristine condition for display.

The second request came from the Batfish for several inert MK-37 MOD 3 Fitmen Torpedoes. One MK-37 MOD 3 will be for each the USS Silversides; South Florida Sub Vets for Monument at Broyton Beach, Fla.; at Patriots Point Naval Park, Charleston, S.C. for Lewis and Clark Sail and Rudder display; the USS Cavalla; American Legion Hall in Slidell, La. and for the Batfish. In addition to the torpedoes a request was made for outdoor display at the Batfish, of two inert ASROC shapes, one inert MK-67 Sub Launch Mobile Mine, one CBU-24 cluster bomb case and two MK-46 handling shapes.

All the assets originated from the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum with its volunteers working hard to select the best example for the requested inert shapes.

Those units receiving the property is on a “as is, where is” basis and will be responsible for all arrangements and costs in the shipping and delivery of assets and acknowledge that the donated property were training shapes for a former and now obsolete torpedo system and shall use the donated property in a careful and prudent manner, and shall maintain it and make such repairs to it as are necessary to keep it in a clean and safe condition so that its appearance and use will not discredit HOM and the US Navy.