Here is a question for BATFISH... do you still have your gun access trunk on the forward end of the Conning Tower???
This was built into the Balaos when the Gatos lost their doors on the back end of the CT barrel -- to allow the gun crews to run topisde from the forward end of the control room.
If you have lost it, then you have a choice to make in terms of focus date:
1. interpret BATFISH as a dockside streamlined fleetboat -- basically as she was whe she left service (no CT gun deck extensions, no deck guns, etc.).
2. restore her to a pre-dockside streamline (I am not sure I am using the correct term, must check The Fleet Sub bible), which would mean -- to do it right -- replacing the missing trunk (good luck, this would be the most involved hull work ever attempted on a memorial boat -- we are good at chopping stuff off their hulls, but not putting stuff back!) and restoring the CT fairwater to what it looked like at the end of 1945...
My 2 cents worth...
BATFISH is a submarine with a proud history and regardless of how her CT looks today, she earned a place in sub history. The modifications made in her final years of service were legitimate US Navy alterations to streamline the boat (admittedly at least cost to them) and I would try to accept that... it saves you the hassel of getting guns and trying to fabricat an 8-ton trunk with two hatches and a door!! Check out Pampanito and Bowfin for how this thing looks.
IF not, you end up with a Frankenstein (is bastardized any better of a word to use?) sub that is not true to any period of her service. Again, people still want to see a submarine. This stuff is just to make us happy.
In some earlier posts the idea was put forth that the average visitor wouldn't care if something was done one way or another... true!
But that should never be anyone's goal. We achieve success by trying to impress the experts (you and I, and the guys who were there). Everything (and everyone) else falls into place.
Something to think about.
PF