USO Canteen FReeper Style....Submarines "Silent Service"....... June 1,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you Troops on our Submarines!!

In July 1898, a small boat fell beneath the waves in New York Harbor, off Staten Island. The event caused great celebration. For the boat was called the Holland, and she was designed to sink.

And she did this so well that on April 11, 1900, Holland was bought by the U.S. Navy - and thus was the world's most successful submarine service born.

Holland's first dive was only to 12 feet, and it lasted for just 11 minutes. These days, U.S. submarines easily go deeper than 1,000 feet, travel to the farthest reaches of the planet's oceans, sidle up close against enemy shores and often stay submerged for months at a time.

Today, spy satellites scour the surface of the globe, but still can't effectively peer under- water. Submarines remain the best of the nation's stealth weapons.

Today it is a world that the U.S. Navy's Silent Service is well-equipped to dominate well into it's second century.

WW11 Silent Service A deployed submarine Sailor's workweek -- much like that of a deployed surface Sailor's -- is seven days long. Multiply a civilian's standard 40-hour workweek by three, include regular 18-hour days and holidays, and you begin to see why liberty time in ports is so valuable to submariners.

The very traditional nature of the submarine force's classified missions makes it difficult to publicize the achievements of the Sailors of "The Silent Service." But this is changing. The submarine force is trying to reach out and let the public -- and the rest of the Navy -- know as much as they can about the capabilities of the submarine force.

We really don't brag or talk about things," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Arnold Jones, a torpedoman's mate from Memphis, Tenn. "We came here to do a job, so we just do our job."

After the war German Vice Admiral Wenecker was asked what he thought were the reasons for Japan's devastating loss and he replied,
“Japanese overconfidence, underestimation of the enemy and overextended supply lines which could not be protected were basic causes. After that I would say the reasons for their disaster could be classed as follows in order of importance: first, and by far the worst, were the attacks of the highly efficient American submarines on merchant shipping ... "

When the war started, the "Silent-Service" consisted of 111 "boats" in commission with 73 in various stages of building. 60 were stationed in the Atlantic under Commander Submarines Atlantic (ComSubLANT), headquartered in Groton, Connecticut. In the entire Pacific only 51 boats were available to carry the war to the enemy: 22 under Commander Submarines Pacific (ComSubPAC) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and, 29 under Commander Submarines South West Pacific (ComSoWesPAC) at Manila in the Philippine Islands. 51 submarine crews took those 51 boats to sea to "conduct unrestricted warfare" upon the Japanese Empire. During the course of the war 208 more crews would take the output of the various civilian and government shipyards to sea under the same orders.

The costs of conducting that warfare were higher in the Submarine Force than any other branch of the military. Of the 319 boats that slipped their mooring lines, 52 of them never tied up again. Out of an average force of 14,750 officers and men, over 3,500 didn't live to celebrate the war's end. The first to die was Ensign Samuel H. Hunter, killed aboard USS SEA DRAGON (SS-194) from bomb fragments during the Japanese bombing on Cavite Naval Shipyard in the Philippines which registered the loss of USS SEA LION (SS-195) in which four other submariners were killed. Losses of Dolphin-wearers would continue until August 6, 1945 when USS BULLHEAD (SS-332) was sunk with 84 men onboard.

The scorecard for the period in between shows USS TAUTOG (SS-199) racking up the greatest number of ships over 500 tons with 26 and USS FLASHER (SS-249) the only boat credited with sending over 100,000 tons of shipping to the bottom. Other notables were USS SWORDFISH (SS-193) making the first "merchant" kill of the war on December 15, 1941 and USS GUDGEON (SS-211) becoming the first U.S. Naval Submarine to sink an enemy warship (another submarine) on 27 January, 1942.

While not taking care of business with the enemy, the Submarine Force conducted "Special Missions" of rescue and supply, and also took care of its naval own with the rescue of 504 downed aviators, one of which was to become the President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.

Failure to mention the "WWII Torpedo" would not show the entire picture of what the WWII submariner faced. Here is a 3000 pound "mini-submarine" able to travel about 9,000 yards (a little over 4 miles), dive and rise to a pre-determined depth, travel "around a corner," guided by a gyro and propelled by steam generated by passing water through burning alcohol, carrying 500 pounds of TNT to explode on contact or within the influence of the magnetic field of the target's hull. Torpedoes at the beginning of the war had one common characteristic -- reliable unreliability! If they didn't fail to run, fail to explode, run too deep, explode too soon or run in a circle -- the target was doomed!

One other aside about submarining during WWII: the Japanese hated the U.S. Submariner so much, they were considered to be "at war" even when crews were captured. The treatment U.S. Submariners received in P.O.W. Cams completely disregarded Geneva Conventions and included unending torture, beatings, slave-labor and, at some camps, cannibalism practiced by the Camp Commander.

Here, in rich paintings is the colorful life of the men who wage their war close to the enemy but out of sight. Here, in fine detail, is a full and expressive story of the Silent Service F.A. Daubin, Rear Admiral, U.S.N. Commander Submarines, Atlantic Fleet.

Loading Tin Fish

Sleek and cigar-shaped like the submarine itself, marine torpedoes are loaded aboard the undersea warship in dock. The greatest care must be exercised in this operation-- not only because of the danger, which is comparatively slight, but because a slip might injure one of the immensely valuable "tin fish".

Conning Tower

There is no surcease in the vigilance aboard a submarine. Vulnerable to depth charges and bombs, eternally a "lone wolf" on a mission, the submarine must be ready to crash-dive at an instant's notice. The skipper and executive of "old 204" augment the regular lookouts on the conning tower between submerging.

All Hands Below

Relieving the tension of hours below surface, crewmen on board a U.S. Navy submarine play a round of cards while a shipmate kibitzes from his bunk. While pondering his cards, each player also listens for the call to battle stations. In the foreground, the bulbous warheads of twin torpedoes seem to peer balefully in quest of targets.

Up Periscope

Sweater-clad U.S. Navy submarine men blend into the gloomy background of their ship, illuminated in eerie fashion by a light in the overhead, as they go about their duties far below the surface while on a patrol mission. An officer keeps his eyes glued to the periscope as he scans the horizon for the outline of an enemy ship.

Sighting the Target

A smudge of smoke on the horizon reveals the presence of an enemy ship, pray for the submarine's hungry torpedoes. Only her periscope shows as the sub races below surface to get within target range of her next victim.

Eighty Feet Below

Specialists of the Silent Service -- the submarine fleet of the U.S. Navy-- eye their gauges and instruments with calculating care as their ship slides through the dark water eighty feet below the surface. Heart of the undersea vessel, the control room contains the giant wheels which operate the diving planes. Here also is the "Christmas Tree",where green or red lights, constantly gleaming and blinking, reveal whether valves and hatches are safely rigged for diving. At the right a "talker" inputs vital information to other parts of the ship, while at the left a crewman goes up the ladder to the conning tower, located just above the control room.

Stand By to Fire

The crucial moment has arrived-- the vital occasion for which the submarine was built and the men were trained -- the firing of torpedoes at an enemy ship. In the confinement of the machinery-laden warship the tension is almost a physical presence as all watch the marksmen ready their deadly bolt.

Surface

Up from the depth, like a primordial monster, the submarine rises to charge her batteries, and "air out" under the protective blanket of the night. Often a submarine spends the whole day on the bottom when enemy ships or planes are about.

Up the Hatch

Crewmen of a U.S. submarine race up ladders to get aloft through the open hatchway of the conning tower, exhilarated by their eagerness to get a breath of fresh air after hours of confinement below.

The Kill

Final act in a drama at sea. The skipper of a sub and one of his lookouts watch eagerly through their glasses as the victim of their torpedoes up-ends and plunges toward the bottom... one less ship for the enemy to throw against the Allies. The flame of the fire lights a pathway for the sub as she races toward the sinking ship in the hope of picking up prisoners.

Clear for Action

Choosing to fight on the surface rather than crash-dive, a U.S. Navy submarine relies on her three-inch gun rather than costlier torpedoes. While lookouts eye the skies for signs of enemy planes, the gun crew speedily prepares to open fire on the foe. High seas-- a constant peril on the narrow, slippery deck of a sub-- add their menace to the scene.

Slumber Deep

Completely relaxed in exhaustion, crewmen of a U.S. Navy submarine do "bunk duty" above a deadly but quiescent torpedo. A shipmate whiles away his off-duty interlude by reading.

News from Home

Excited gestures add emphasis to a crewman's comments on some news contained in a letter received from home. His shipmates peruse the letter while a fourth crewman does "bunk duty" on board a U.S. Navy submarine.

Going Home

Nothing sweeter then getting to go home. Fine-drawn and weary from weeks of patrolling enemy waters, with death often just around the corner, the submarine man and his ship both need rest and "overhauling" when their mission is concluded. A dark, pencil-like shadow under lowering skies, the sub skims along on the surface while the night hides her from enemy eyes.

The Silent Service The Artists
Thomas Hart Benton Born in Neosho, Missouri, in 1889, Benton began his art education at sixteen at the Art Institute of Chicago, and at the age of nineteen studied in the Latin Quarter in Paris. Returning to America to become a "child controversy," Benton enjoyed one of the most dramatic and interesting careers in American art. Deeply moved by the attack on Pearl Harbor, he shortly afterwards completed The Year of Peril, a series of grim and powerful war paintings financed by Abbott Laboratories. In 1943, he collaborated with Georges Schreiber in producing the Abbott Collection of Submarine Paintings, a project largely executed aboard the American submarine Dorado, that was later lost in action with all hands.

Georges Schreiber Born in Brussels in 1904, Georges Schreiber drew and painted from childhood and studied art formally in Berlin, London, Rome, Paris and Florence. He came to the United States in 1928. So grateful for the opportunities offered in this country that he toured America recording in 48 paintings his impression of each state. In 1942 he created the War Bond poster, Keep Him Flying, presented by Abbot Laboratories to the Treasury Department and adopted for official use throughout the country. In 1942, again on commission from Abbott, he produced Back the Attack, which became the official poster for the third War Loan. From his work in collaboration with Thomas Hart Benton in producing the Abbott Collection of Submarine Paintings, came his third great contribution to America -- the official poster design for the Fifth War Loan.

[SAMWolf]

Welcome back, COB! How long they letting you stay this time?

[SAMWolf]

Retired Navy Capt. Bill Dozier, 83, of Honolulu ,displays a photograph of himself, standing at far left, with fellow servicemen from 1942, at his home in Kailua, Hawaii, Friday, May 31, 2002. Dozier served on the USS Submarine Tambor during the Battle of Midway in World War II. Ceremonies to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the June 4-6 battle are planned across the nation this week. (AP Photo/Ronen Zilberman

[SassyMom]

Welcome back Cob! We have missed you!

[onedoug]

Thanks for the flag, Billie!

"A fair wind, and a following sea," for Sam!

[Tennessee_Bob]

The ex- categorizes it as "useless trivia." I say it just came from reading a lot of books...especially Edward Beach.

[Billie]

It's nice to see you back, Coby. Yours always a bright and cheery presence. :)

[onedoug]

Thanks, sure, for this ping, Tonk.

The late Clay Blair, Jr. Silent Victory: The US Submarine War Against Japan. A great read.

Thanks again.

[HiJinx]

I know what you mean...within a month, I took a job with a Defense Contractor in order to be around other retirees and vets...
(The extra income was another reason...!!)

[ST.LOUIE1]

I'M BACK, FINALLY!

Am glad you are.

Morning, Cob.

[Billie]

"A fair wind, and a following sea," for Sam!

Morning, Doug

Oops! Maybe not this much wind. :)

[HiJinx]

especially Edward Beach

None better, IMVHO!!

[The Thin Man]

Wow, Bunny. You came up with lots of great artwork and info.

[SAMWolf]

World War II "Silent-Service" ...

After the war German Vice Admiral Wenecker was asked what he thought were the reasons for Japan's devastating loss and he replied, "Japanese overconfidence, underestimation of the enemy and overextended supply lines which could not be protected were basic causes. After that I would say the reasons for their disaster could be classed as follows in order of importance: first, and by far the worst, were the attacks of the highly efficient American submarines on merchant shipping ... "

Japan started the war with some 6 million tons of merchant shipping capacity and built another 3 million tons during the course of the war. By war's end, only 1.8 million tons remained and 1.65 million tons of that was in "home" waters, unable to reach the sources of her needs. Of the 1.8 millions tons only 650,000 tons was serviceable. The missing 5,053,000 tons of merchant shipping in addition to the missing 214 warships (577,626 tons) and 69,600 Japanese merchant and naval seamen killed or incapcitated tells the story of the U.S. Naval Submarine Force during WWII.

What size force does it take to destroy over 50% on an enemy's merchant fleet; 29% of its warships and account for the loss of over 60% of its merchant and naval personnel? When it comes to submarines and submariners, not much. When the war started, the "Silent-Service" consisted of 111 "boats" in commission with 73 in various stages of building. 60 were stationed in the Atlantic under Commander Submarines Atlantic (ComSubLANT), headquartered in Groton, Connecticut. In the entire Pacific only 51 boats were available to carry the war to the enemy: 22 under Commander Submarines Pacific (ComSubPAC) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and, 29 under Commander Submarines South West Pacific (ComSoWesPAC) at Manila in the Philippine Islands. 51 submarine crews took those 51 boats to sea to "conduct unrestricted warfare" upon the Japanese Empire. During the course of the war 208 more crews would take the output of the various civilian and government shipyards to sea under the same orders.

The costs of conducting that warfare were higher in the Submarine Force than any other branch of the military. Of the 319 boats that slipped their mooring lines, 52 of them never tied up again. Out of an average force of 14,750 officers and men, over 3,500 didn't live to celebrate the war's end. The first to die was Ensign Samuel H. Hunter, killed aboard USS SEA DRAGON (SS-194) from bomb fragments during the Japanese bombing on Cavite Naval Shipyard in the Philippines which registered the loss of USS SEA LION (SS-195) in which four other submariners were killed. Losses of Dolphin-wearers would continue until August 6, 1945 when USS BULLHEAD (SS-332) was sunk with 84 men onboard.

The scorecard for the period in between shows USS TAUTOG (SS-199) racking up the greatest number of ships over 500 tons with 26 and USS FLASHER (SS-249) the only boat credited with sending over 100,000 tons of shipping to the bottom. Other notables were USS SWORDFISH (SS-193) makin the first "merchant" kill of the war on December 15, 1941 and USS GUDGEON (SS-211) becoming the first U.S. Naval Submarine to sink an enemy warship (another submarine) on 27 January, 1942.

While not taking care of business with the enemy, the Submarine Force conducted "Special Missions" of rescue and supply, and also took care of its naval own with the rescue of 504 downed avaitors, one of which was to become the President of the United States, George H.W. Bush. Some indication of what the WWII Submarine Force and its men were all about can be gleaned from reading its list of medals and citations: seven Congressional Medal of Honor recipients (3 posthumous); 49 Presidential Unit Citations; 52 Navy Unit Citations; and, too little room to list the Navy Crosses, Silver and Bronze Stars.

Failure to mention the "WWII Torpedo" would not show the entire picture of what the WWII submariner faced. Here is a 3000 pound "mini-submarine" able to travel about 9,000 yards (a little over 4 miles), dive and rise to a pre-determined depth, travel "around a corner," guided by a gyro and propelled by steam generated by passing water through buring alcohol, carrying 500 pounds of TNT to explode on contact or within the influence of the magnetic field of the target's hull. Torpedoes at the beginning of the war had one common characteristic -- reliable unrealiability! If they didn't fail to run, fail to explode, run too deep, explode too soon or run in a circle -- the target was doomed!

If Admiral Charles Lookwood had been in command at the beginning of the war the defects would have been identified and corrected much earlier. Had that happened the war might even have been shortened. Whether or not the use of the Atomic Bomb could have been precluded is a matter best left to others for discussion. What remains though is the "logic" of the time -- wasting a $10,000 torpedo conducting tests wasn't frugal. Much better to conduct "on-the-job" testing when only a boat and her crew were in harm's way!

One other aside about submarining during WWII: the Japanese hated the U.S. Submariner so much, they were considered to be "at war" even when crews were captured. The treatment U.S. Submariners received in P.O.W. Cams completely disregarded Geneva Conventions and included unending torture, beatings, slave-labor and, at some camps, cannibalism practiced by the Camp Commander.

This material was developed by Don Merrigan for free-lance writer Susan Willard, used in her article which appeared in the April '93 issue of VFW magazine)

[Billie]

Retired Navy Capt. Bill Dozier, 83.....

Goodness, if he's 83, Navy life (or life in general) has certainly been kind to him. :)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Cob! Good to see you my friend.

I'd take a bayonet charge by a thousand enemy any day!

LOL! Hope you're having a great day.

[SAMWolf]

I should look that good at 83!

[COB1]

Thanks for the welcome back, guys!

I'm still on the rig, but we finally got our land line installed so I could get on line, albeit with a 28.8 connection!

I'd like to depart from the subject of the guys with the basketball cajones long enough to post these pics of the largest flying flag in the United States, if not in the world.
It flys in Laredo, Texas.
It stands on a flagpole 330' tall and it measures about 150' long.
YEP! We do it bigger and better in Texas!!

And here's a plaque which stands at the entrance to the park close to the flagpole:

[Billie]

Indeed we all should! If I had to guess his age, it would have been in his 60's at the most.

[kneezles]

Good to see you Cob. Chalk another one up for the Lone Star State!!!

[daisyscarlett]

I don't know if this is a repost or not but it does fit in nicely with today's theme.

A tragedy on a sub was diverted this day....

USS Dolphin, a U.S. Navy diesel research submarine which holds the world's deep-diving record, caught fire in the Pacific Ocean off California May 22, 2002 and all 43 people aboard were rescued, the Navy said. A naval frigate was standing by the diesel-electric submarine USS Dolphin on the surface of the ocean about 100 miles (62.14 miles) west of San Diego and the sub "appears to be stable," said Lt. Cmdr. Greg Geisen, a spokesman for U.S. submarine forces in the Pacific. Undated handout photo of the USS Dolphin. REUTERS/Ho/Navy