Indeed. We were in an area escorted by a couple of small minesweepers with warning flags flying, indicating a boat was down in the area.
Unknown to us, a high-speed DMS (Destroyer converted to a Mine Sweeper) came boiling through. All we knew was that, in 3,000 feet of water, we hear a BANG!, a quick heel 30 Degrees to port, followed by what sounded like a banshee howl go down the side of the boat. Major WTF? Hit an unknown undersea mount, reef, whale, etc.??
The DMS was towing a paravane whose cable slammed into us. It scraped along our hull and took out all our exterior antennae.
Good times, good times.
1952?! My goodness! How old at the time?
19 years - just pegged 88 this month.
Were you outta Key West?
Yes. Some wargames, but mostly an 8-5 job. Lived in the barracks aboard the base and went out each morning, dove down to 100' at 2 knots on a steady course and let the surface craft sonar school trainees hone their skills.
88...good goin sub sailor. Salud!
I was on the Grenadier (SS-525). ComSubRon 12, Key West (1972-73). After boot, training and such I went to sea at 17 years, 9 months.
Boat was in such bad shape we were in port over half the time. Made a 6 week stop in GTMO. Hit Haiti, Jamaica, P.R., Gulf Coast. Had a barracks room on base.
Cuban gunboats harassed us as we sailed 12 miles off the Cuban coast. Got to see the skyline of Havana through the scope.
We decommissioned in May of ‘73 and sold it to Venezuela. Poor bastards. They operated that damn thing into the ‘90s.
Caught the Bancroft (SSBN-643 Blue) out of Charleston/Rota after that, did 3 patrols in the Med (1973-75). That was enough for me.
TM/LT 3 (SS). Made E-5 but had been picked up by the shore patrol for drunk and disorderly in Rota after my last run and was busted down to E-3 (suspended). I was barred from getting it while the suspension was in place. It was worth it! lol
Got out in August 1975 at 21 years and 3 weeks old.
3 years, 11 months and 1 day.
Its still great being a sub sailor. I still remember some of the old salts on board., Real characters.
Again sir, salud!