November 2016 Volume 17, Issue 11. News Brief

Transcription

1 November 2016 Volume 17, Issue 11 Lest We Forget The USSVI Submariner s Creed To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds, and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution. News Brief Inside This Issue: Meeting minutes 2 Lost Boats 3 USS ILLINOIS Joins Fleet 3 Subs Star in Lemont Pgm 6 Russia s Dead Boat 7 Contact information 9 Application form Next Meeting: At 1100, third Saturday of each month at the Knollwood Sportsman s Club. Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates: a. NOVEMBER 19 b. DECEMBER 17 c. JANUARY 21, Duty Cook Roster: a. NOVEMBER GLENN BARTS, SR. b. DECEMBER -- SEE YOUR NAME HERE! c. JANUARY SEVENTH ANNUAL CHILI DUMP 3. November Birthdays: Gary Walters 7 th ; Len Wass 10 th ; William Stannard 15 th ; Pete Almeroth 18 th ; Thomas Steinman 21 st ; and David Fitzgerald 23 rd. Happy Birthday, Shipmates! 4. Kelly Smith at Great Lakes Base requests WWII and earlier vehicles, both military and civilian, including hot rods and motorcycles, for an event at WMM in May It is a benefit for a six-year-old who is battling cancer. 5. It s time to take Toys for Tots gifts to our meetings for collection and delivery. Toys should be new and unwrapped. 6. Help Wanted Work from home in your skivvies. See Page 9.

2 Crash Dive Meeting Minutes October 15, Attendees: a. Greg Miller b. Frank Walter c. Glenn Barts, Sr. d. Gus Yakes e. Larry Warnke f. Chris Gaines g. Herman Mueller h. Clay Hill 2. Meeting was called to order by Clay Hill at 1110 followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, invocation, and a round of introductions. 3. Secretary s Report was given by Chris Gaines. Herman Mueller moved to accept; Larry Warnke seconded; vote was unanimous. 4. Treasurer s Report given by Glenn Barts. Savings $1,173.69; Checking $3,905.58; Sub Memorial Checking $63,734.09, Savings $5.00 and held by national $41, Larry Warnke moved to accept; Herman Mueller seconded; vote was unanimous. 5. Committee Reports a. Newsletter no news. b. Membership Glenn Barts reports Tom Polzin plans to telephone shipmates and remind them to pay dues. c. Charitable Service Save poptops. d. Community Outreach Cobia Working Party had sparse attendance, but did some work on the aft deck. Page 2 e. Hospitality annual building fund project is coming up. f. Webmaster Frank Voznak and Chris Gaines will create a new page on the Website for posting approved procedures. g. Storekeeper Grave marker inventory is at one. h. Procedures SoP 1-5 are signed and implemented. i. Eagle Scout absent. j. Memorial absent. Recent onsite meeting with architect and contractor and City of Chicago. Some city fees may be waived. Tables at various flea markets and farmer s markets are successful, especially with books, candy, T- shirts, bracelets, and small fee to sound the klaxon. 6. Old (Unfinished) Business a. None discussed due to absences. 7. New Business a. Glenn Barts moved to donate $100 to KSC; Frank Walter seconded. Vote was unanimous. b. WI Maritime Museum is budgeting for replacement of the specialized boilers and HVAC to maintain a habitable environment inside the boat. Their budget falls short of the projected cost. Donations are gratefully appreciated; mark Cobia HVAC repairs. c. Frank Walter moved to buy four grave markers and restore our inventory to five; Herman Mueller seconded. Vote was unanimous.

3 d. Chris Gaines will ask John Lindstedt for his H. G. Rickover presentation for March and April. e. National Convention in Orlando Sept. 1 6, f. Toys for Tots will be collected at the KSC; Larry Warnke will try to get the boxes early. 8. Good of the Order item: a. Thanks to Frank Walter for a fine walleye lunch. b. Passed the hat for a grave marker for a regular Cobia working party member who went on Eternal Patrol recently. He was EM2(SS) Jeff Trimborn. c. Duty Cook i. November Glenn Barts, Sr. ii. December SEE your name here! iii. January Chili Dump d. Next Meeting is November 19, 2016 at KSC. 9. Adjourn Glenn Barts moved to adjourn; Larry Warnke seconded; Adjourned at Page 3 Lost Boats USS ALBACORE (SS 218) 11/7/44 USS GROWLER (SS 215) 11/8/44 USS SCAMP (SS 277) 11/16/44 USS CORVINA (SS 226) 11/16/43 USS SCULPIN (SS 191) 11/19/43 USS ILLINOIS Joins the Fleet Commander, Submarine Forces, Navy.mil, October 29 GROTON, Conn. - The U.S. Navy with assistance from the First Lady Michelle Obama commissioned and brought to life the newest Virginia class submarine, USS Illinois (SSN 786), during a ceremony attended by more than 2,500 at Naval Submarine Base, New London on Oct. 29, Illinois, named in honor of the 21st state, is the 13th Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine to join the Navy's operational fleet. The first lady, who is the ships sponsor, expressed how proud she was of the crew and their families. "Thank you for giving me the incredible privilege of being associated with you and with your families and with the Illinois for the rest of my life. I will continue to keep you in my prayers every single day and keep you in my thoughts, and know that you have a sponsor that cares deeply." Obama gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life" before the crew of about 130 men ran across the brow, onto the vessel. "There are many out there who have been waiting a long time to address you-not as a PCU, but as a United States Ship-the USS Illinois-a warship," said key note speaker, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson. Illinois is the third of eight Block III Virginia-class submarines to be built. The Block III submarines are built with new Virginia Payload Tubes designed to lower costs and increase missile-firing payload possibilities. The first 10 Block I and Block II Virginia-class submarines have 12 individual 21-inch diameter vertical launch tubes able to fire Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMS). The Block III submarines are built with two-larger 87-inch diameter tubes able to house six TLAMS each. USS Illinois Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Jessie Porter, highlighted the Illinois' capability to dominate the undersea domain and enable military success in any engagement.

4 "Over the coming years, this submarine -and others like her-will continue the impressive legacy that our submarine forbearers have established in making our country more secure," said Porter. "The Illinois has joined the fleet," said Porter. "The crew of Illinois has assumed our watch-a watch that will continue for the next 30 years-always waiting for the call, always ready." During the ceremony, Obama had the opportunity to announce Illinois' Sailor of the Year, Petty Officer First Class Ryan Mock. The first USS Illinois (BB 7) was a battleship commissioned in 1901 and was part of President Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet that circumnavigated the world in 1907, introducing America as a global power. Illinois is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; delivery of special operations forces; strike warfare; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and mine warfare. The submarine is 377 feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. It will operate for over 30 years without ever refueling. Construction on Illinois began March 2011; the submarine's keel was authenticated during a ceremony on June 2, 2014; and the submarine was christened during a ceremony Oct. 10, Michelle Obama: 'Beyond Proud' at US Navy Submarine Ceremony Jennifer Mcdermott, Associated Press, October 29 First lady Michelle Obama said she was "beyond proud" to take part in a commissioning ceremony Saturday for the U.S. Navy attack submarine named for her home state of Illinois. The submarine officially became the USS Illinois, SSN 786, and began active service at a ceremony at the submarine base in Groton, Connecticut. Mrs. Obama, the ship sponsor, gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life" before the crew of about 130 men ran across the brow, onto the vessel. "Thank you for giving me the incredible privilege of being associated with you and with your families and with the Illinois for the having the first lady as the sponsor to having Babe Ruth on your team. He said her participation in the commissioning is "pretty monumental." Porter said the crew has worked rest of my life," she told them. "I will continue to keep you in my prayers every single day and keep you in my thoughts, and know that you have a sponsor that cares deeply." The first lady, who is from Chicago, has made supporting military families a priority. She's considered an honorary member of the crew, and will be involved in the lives of the sub's sailors and families. "Working with our military community has been the biggest honor of my life," she said, before going on board and touring the vessel. Cmdr. Jess Porter, the submarine's commanding officer, has compared tirelessly as the sub was built and their families have sacrificed the ceremony Page 4

5 recognizes those efforts and accomplishments. "This warship is absolutely ready to go," he said. "She's a wonder." It took submarine supply businesses nationwide and thousands of shipyard employees in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Virginia to build the $2.7 billion submarine. Submarine builder Electric Boat, based in Groton, and Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia build Virginia-class attack submarines under a teaming agreement and alternate the deliveries. The USS Illinois is the 13th member of the Virginia class. Eleven more submarines are currently under construction. The last of the submarines under contract, the future USS Utah, is scheduled to be delivered in 2023 as the 28th member of the class. Construction on the Illinois began in March The submarine was delivered to the Navy in August. The Navy has said the attack submarines are needed to replace those that were built during the Cold War and are retiring. Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, gave the order to commission the submarine, telling the audience of about 2,500 that the "powerful warship" will strike fear into the hearts of the nation's enemies and bring warm reassurance to allies and partners. His flag and the submarine's commissioning pennant were raised, signaling that the submarine can be tasked to conduct Navy missions as an active member of the submarine force. "You're needed on station and there's not a moment to lose," Richardson told the crew. It will be about another two years before its first deployment. The Illinois will undergo additional testing in the shipyard Page 5 before it begins the process of getting certified for its maiden deployment. The submarine has a redesigned bow with two large tubes to launch Tomahawk missiles, instead of 12 smaller tubes. The larger tubes were designed so the Navy would have the flexibility to also launch future weapons and unmanned vehicles, according to Electric Boat. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, called the vessel "a technological wonder that will help keep us safe and safeguard our freedom." Recently Commissioned USS Illinois (SSN 786) Holds Change of Command Ceremony Chief Petty Officer Steve Owsley, Navy.mil, November 1 GROTON, Conn. Following its commissioning ceremony on Saturday, the Navy's newest Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine, USS Illinois (SSN-786) held a change of command ceremony onboard the submarine at Naval Submarine Base New London on Oct. 31. Cmdr. Neil Steinhagen became Illinois' second commanding officer after relieving Cmdr. Jessie Porter, who took Illinois from a pre-commissioning unit to a United States Ship. When Porter addressed those in attendance he credited the Illinois crew with all of the successes that led to the ship being commissioned. "It was the crew that poured their blood, sweat and tears into this ship." Porter left his mark on Illinois and its crew, but will carry a piece of Illinois with him even after he departs. "The Illinois crew has truly shown the devotion to a worthy deed

6 and have obtained the triumph of high achievement," said Porter. "You have inspired me and have driven me to be a better man and a better officer -I am forever in your debt." Steinhagen, a second-generation submariner, thanked Cmdr. Porter for preparing Illinois and her crew for sea. "Your care and dedication are reflected in the crew's outstanding performance thus far, and I plan to continue that positive trend in performance," said Steinhagen. For Steinhagen taking command of Illinois feels like coming home. "I've always said that I have two families, my family at home, and my family at sea. I don't mesh well with shore duty-i'm glad to have a second family again," said Steinhagen. "I'm proud to be your newest crew member and look forward to calling each other shipmates..." Submarines to Star in Lemont Historical Society and Lemont VFW Program Lauren Traut, Lemont Patch, November 14 LEMONT, IL In commemoration of Veterans Day, Lemont Historical Society and Lemont VFW are collaborating to present It All Started Here Lemont, IL, Birthplace of the Nuclear Powered Submarine, on November 15, 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall, New Avenue. The program will detail Argonne s development of the nuclear-powered submarine at the urging of Captain Hyman Rickover, who was to become the father of the Nuclear Navy. Rickover was a regular visitor to Argonne National Lab at the end of WWII, because he saw the potential for a new way to power submarines, enabling them to move secretly and stay submerged almost indefinitely during the Cold War years. The Submariners Group in Chicago will be returning to share their experiences aboard nuclear subs, along with Society member, Jack Ahrens, a Navy veteran who worked at Argonne during the development of the Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine. Argonne historians will also be in the audience. The program is open to the public, and a suggested donation of $10 is requested. Refreshments will be provided. Christmas Party Invite You are all invited to join us at our Annual Christmas. Sunday - Dec. 11th - Silver Stallion Rest - Algonquin Rd. & Lee Sts. - DesPlaines.!:00-2:00 PM - Social Hour 2:00 PM - Family Style Dinner Beef, Chicken with all the trimmings. Door Prizes/Raffle.50/50. Bring a Gift for Manteno Vets Home and/or Fisher House at Hines. ALL Sub-vets are FREE. Including wives of deceased members. All other guests, $10.00 each. Checks made out to Greater Chicago Chapter,USSUBVETSWWII. Send to: Gene Weisbecker 8181 Hess Av. LaGrange,Il Hope you can join us. Bob Krautstrunk Page 6

7 Russia Has a Dead Nuclear Submarine (Armed With Nuclear Weapons) Sitting at the Bottom of the Ocean The tragic tale of the Komsomolets. Kyle Mizokami In the mid-1980s, the Soviet Union constructed a super submarine unlike any other. Fast and capable of astounding depths for a combat submersible, the submarine Komsomolets was introduced in 1984, heralded as a new direction for the Soviet Navy. Five years later, Komsomolets and its nuclear weapons were on the bottom of the ocean, two-thirds of its crew killed by what was considered yet another example of Soviet incompetence. The history of the Komsomolets goes as far back as A team at the Rubin Design Bureau under N. A. Klimov and head designer Y. N. Kormilitsin was instructed to begin research into a Project 685, a deep-diving submarine. The research effort dragged on for eight years, likely due to a lack of a suitable metal that could withstand the immense pressures of the deep. In 1974, however, the double-hulled design was completed, with a titanium alloy chosen for the inner hull. Project 685, also known as K-278, was to be a prototype boat to test future deep-diving Soviet submarines. The Sevmash shipyard began construction on April 22, 1978 and the ship was officially Page 7 completed on May 30, The difficulty in machining titanium contributed to the unusually long construction period. K-278 was 360 feet long and forty feet wide, with the inner hull approximately twenty-four feet wide. It had a submerged displacement of 6,500 tons, and the use of titanium instead of steel made it notably lighter. It had a unique double hull, with the inner hull made of titanium, that gave it its deep-diving capability. The inner hull was further divided into seven compartments, two of which were reinforced to create a safe zone for the crew, and an escape capsule was built into the sail to allow the crew to abandon ship while submerged at depths of up to 1,500 meters. The submarine was powered by one 190-megawatt OK-650B-3 nuclear pressurized water reactor, driving two forty-five-thousand-shipboard-horsepower steam-turbine engines. This propelled it to a submerged speed of thirty knots, and a surface speed of fourteen knots. The sub had the MGK-500 Skat (NATO code name: Shark Gill) lowfrequency passive/active search and attack spherical bow array sonar system, the same sonar used in today s Yasen-class attack submarines, which fed into the Omnibus- 685 Combat Information Control System. Armament consisted of six 533-millimeter standard diameter torpedo tubes, including twenty-two Type 53 torpedoes and Shkval supercavitating antisubmarine torpedoes. The submarine joined the Red Banner Northern Fleet in January 1984 and began a series of deep diving experiments. Under Captain First Rank Yuri Zelensky the submarine set a record depth of 3,346 feet an astounding accomplishment considering its American equivalent, the USS Los Angeles class, had an absolute maximum depth of 1,475 feet. Crush depth was estimated at approximately 4,500 feet.

8 The submarine had a special surfacing system, Iridium, which used gas generators to blow the ballast tanks. The Soviet Navy considered K-278 invulnerable at depths greater than one thousand meters; at such depths it was difficult to detect and enemy torpedoes, particularly the American Mark 48, which had a maximum depth of eight hundred meters. Although the submarine was originally to be a test ship, it was eventually made into a fully operational combat-ready ship in It was given the name Komsomolets, meaning member of the Young Communist League. On April 7, 1989, while operating a depth of 1266 feet, Komsomolets ran into trouble in the middle of the Norwegian Sea. According to Norman Polmar and Kenneth Moore [3], it was the submarine s second crew [4], newly trained in operating the ship. Furthermore, its origins as a test ship meant it lacked a damage-control party. A fire broke out in the seventh aft chamber, and the flames burned out an air supply valve, which fed pressurized air into the fire. Fire suppression measures failed. The reactor was scrammed and the ballast tanks were blown to surface the submarine. The fire continued to spread, and the crew fought the fire for six hours before the order to abandon ship was given. According to Polmar and Moore, the fire was so intense that crewmen on deck watched as the rubber anechoic coating tiles coating the outer hull slid off due to the extreme heat. The ship s commanding officer, Captain First Rank Evgeny Vanin, along with four others, went back into the ship to find crewmembers who had not heard the abandon ship order. Vanin and his rescue party were unable to venture farther the submarine was tilting eighty degrees headfirst and entered the rescue Page 8 chamber. The chamber failed to dislodge at first, but eventually broke free of the mortally wounded sub. Once on the surface, the abrupt pressure change caused the top hatch to blow off, throwing two crewmembers out of the chamber. The chamber, as well as the captain and the rest of the rescue party, sank under the waves. Only four men had been killed in the incident so far, but after the submarine sank many men succumbed to the thirtysix-degree (Fahrenheit) water temperatures. After an hour the fishing boats Alexi Khlobystov and Oma arrived and rescued thirty men, some of whom later succumbed to their injuries. Of the original sixty-nine men on board the submarine when disaster struck, forty-two died, including Captain First Rank Vanin. Komsomolets sank in 5,250 feet of water, complete with its nuclear reactor and two nuclear-armed Shkval torpedoes. Between 1989 and 1998 seven expeditions were carried out to secure the reactor against radioactive release and seal the torpedo tubes. Russian sources allege that during these visits, evidence of unauthorized visits to the sunken submarine by foreign agents were discovered. Kyle Mizokami is a defense and national security writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in the Diplomat, Foreign Policy, War is Boring and the Daily Beast. In 2009 he cofounded the defense and security blog Japan Security Watch. You can follow him on Source:

9 Work From Home. In Your Skivvies. If You Like. Crash Dive has an immediate opening for a distribution PO. Here are some particulars: Hours are decent No travel required. Expenses are reimbursed. Responsible for both electronic and paper distribution. There is an established gmail account with distribution list at your disposal OR use your preferred account. Monthly interfaces are with the Membership Chair and Newsletter Editor. The primary responsibility is to download a copy of each month s newsletter from our Website ( and to distribute it to our members. Most members use with about six shipmates who require a printed copy to be mailed. Familiarity with Microsoft Office Word and Excel for mail merges OR willingness to hand-address envelopes for our postal shipmates. Equipment to print copies of the newsletter for our postal shipmates at your desk OR use a local print shop for the task. Fold, stuff, and mail to our postal shipmates. The newsletter serves several purposes. First and foremost, it is our primary communication vehicle with the bulk of our shipmates who are away from our monthly meetings. It also is the official repository for meeting minutes. The third purpose is to serve as a reminder of the upcoming monthly meeting. The reminder function establishes the publication and distribution cycle. The newsletter editor (not you) will prepare and post the newsletter about ten days prior to the meeting. The Distribution PO (you) will download and distribute no later than the Monday prior to the general meeting. Helpful skills include: Familiarity with using an electronic distribution list (group) in gmail OR your preferred account. Page 9 If you have the skills, resources, and interest to help your base, kindly contact Base Commander Clay Hill to express your willingness to assume this important task. His contact information appears in the box below. Contact Information Commander Clayton Hill, 195 Clover Lane, Cedarburg, WI 53012; (work number) or bisi@ameritech.net Vice-Commander Greg Miller, 964 Fischer Drive, Addison, IL; (630) or fourkats4me@yahoo.com Secretary (POC) Chris Gaines, 513 West Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506; or ccgaines@mindspring.com Treasurer Glenn C. Barts, Sr., 2000 Jamestown Drive, Palatine, IL 60074; ; gcbarts@msn.com COB Larry Warnke, l_warnke@msn.com Chaplain Cris Pascual; crispasses@aol.com; 285 Southridge, Gurnee, IL 60031; Membership Tom Polzin, Foxtail Lane, Huntley, IL 60142; (v) ; (f) ; tapolzin@aol.com Storekeeper Herman Mueller, 503 Lynn Terrace, Waukegan, IL 60085; ; hermanandlorimueller@comcast.net Newsletter Editor Chris Gaines Base Historian Frank Voznak, Jr. 9 South 255 Madison, Burr Ridge, IL ; franklin2@comcast.net

10 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Regular Life Associate OUR CREED: To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America & its Constitution. With my signature below I affirm that I subscribe to the Creed of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., and agree to abide by the Constitution, all Bylaws, Regulations and Procedures governing the U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc., so long as they do not conflict with my military or civil obligations. I will furnish proof of my eligibility for Regular membership, including my discharge under honorable conditions, and proof of my U.S. Navy (SS) Designation, if required by the Base or the national Membership Chairman. If I am not discharged, the discharge requirement is waived. If I am not U.S. N. submarine qualified, I am applying as an Associate and my sponsor is indicated below. I certify that I was designated qualified in USN Submarines aboard in (Yr) (Honorary designations regardless of source do not apply under any circumstances.) I certify that I received a discharge under Honorable Conditions (if not currently in military service) in (Yr) Name: (Print /Type) Address: City: State: Zip Code: - Tel: ( ) - Signature: Date: / / Your Address Base/Chapter Desired: The Member Dues year runs from Jan 1 st thru Dec 31 st. Please indicate your term preference: Nat l Dues: 5 Yr term: $115.00; 3 Yr term: $70.00; 1 yr term (Jan thru Sep) $25.00; (Oct thru Dec adds the next yr): $30.00; Nat l Life: 76+ yrs = $100.00; 66 thru 75 yrs = $200; 56 thru 65 yrs = $300.00; 46 thru 55 = $400.00; Thru 45 yrs = $ ; Local Base/chapter dues are separate and additional. dues are $15 annually. How did you find USSVI? Friend, Boat Assn, Local Event/News, Internet, Other ( ) YOUR U.S. NAVY BIOGRAPHICAL DATA Date Of Birth (MM/DD/YY) / / If other military service, What Branch? Highest Rate & Rank Attained: Mil Retired (Y/N): On Active Duty? (Y/N): YR entered Mil Service: YR left Mil Service (Active/Inactive reserve time also counts.) Check here if your Military Service falls within these time periods: Dec 7, 1941, thru Dec 31, 1946; June 27, 1950, thru Jan 31, 1955; Aug 5, 1964, thru May 7,1975; and Aug 2, 1990 to date. Check here if you have been awarded an Expeditionary Medal Submarines and ships served aboard as ship s company (Use back if you need more space.) 1. Hull# From Yr. to Yr. 2. Hull# From Yr. to Yr. 3. Hull# From Yr. to Yr. 4. Hull# From Yr. to Yr. 5. Hull# From Yr. to Yr. Next of Kin: Name: Relationship: (Spouse, Partner, Son, Dau, Parent, Other) Addr: City: State: Zip: Tel: (Leave this address line blank if the same as your home address) Upon completion, give this form, including your National and Base membership DUES to the appropriate base officer, or mail to: Crash Dive Membership Chairman Tom Polzin, Foxtail Ln, Huntley, IL 60142; Cell 847/ Fax 847/ January 16, 2016 Rev. H