August 2016 Volume 17, Issue 8 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. Inside This Issue: Meeting minutes 2 Lost Boats 3 SubFest Thank You 3 Boats to retire, maybe 5 HMS Ambush oops! 6 Unmanned sub technology 7 Contact information 9 Application form 10 News Brief 1. Next Meeting: At 1100, third Saturday of each month at the Knollwood Sportsman s Club. Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates: a. AUGUST 20 b. SEPTEMBER 17 c. OCTOBER 15 2. Duty Cook Roster: a. AUGUST TED ROTZOLL b. SEPTEMBER LARRY WARNKE c. OCTOBER SEE YOUR NAME HERE! 3. August Birthdays: Dick Anderson 4 th ; John Manasse 5 th ; Eric Clauson 6 th ; Russ Rutowski 9 th ; John McClellan 14 th, and Frank Walter 25 th. Happy Birthday, Shipmates! 4. Watch this newsletter for an announcement of a wonderful, two-part presentation on the foresight and impact of Hyman G. Rickover. Great Lakes Base Historian John Lindstedt has created an overview of the admiral s life and impact on national security, manufacturing, and engineering. 5. Greetings Submarine Lovers; Once again our beloved submarine, USS Cobia, is in need of some well-deserved maintenance. A working part is forming to give the boat some TLC from September 11-14. Come when you can; leave when you must.. See article on page 7 for details and to sign-up.
Page 2 Crash Dive Meeting Minutes July 16, 2016 1. Attendees: a. Larry Warnke b. Herman Mueller c. Ray Ratliff d. Chris Gaines e. Greg Miller f. Peter Stevenson 2. Meeting was called to order by Greg Miller at 1108 followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, invocation, and a round of introductions. 3. Secretary s Report was given by Chris Gaines. Larry Warnke moved to accept; Herman Mueller seconded; vote was unanimous. 4. Treasurer s Report given by Chris Gaines. Savings $1,173.69; Checking $ 4,027.40; Sub Memorial Checking $55,827.89, Savings $5.00 and held by national $41,290.00. Ray Ratliff moved to accept; Herman Mueller seconded; vote was unanimous. 5. Committee Reports a. Newsletter no news. b. Membership no news. c. Charitable Service Ready to deliver to USO. d. Community Outreach SubFest was a big success. Raised $438 (Greg gave $413 to Chris Gaines; Clay has $25 in his possession); Chicago Base collected about $818 more. WMM s Karen Duvalle sent a letter of thanks for our support, especially on the boat. Estimate 2,000 wrist bands issued to attendees; that is double last year. Next year is in the early planning stage. Tentatively scheduled for the weekend after July 4, 2017. e. Hospitality Corn Roast August 27. Larry Warnke has tickets. Terrific food; live band; kid s activities. Great family fun. f. Webmaster no news. g. Storekeeper no news. h. Procedures SoP 1-5 are ready for signature and implementation. i. Eagle Scout no news. j. Memorial no news. 6. Old (Unfinished) Business a. Greg and Clay encourage all to join WMM; Chris Gaines to post on newsletter Page 1. 7. New Business a. NOTE: Slim turnout partly attributable to SubFest. b. Chris Gaines mentioned the WWII picnic on August 13 and encouraged attendance. c. Greg noted that we are considering setting up a table at the Kane County Flea Market. SubFest experience demonstrated that sales and donations go much better with vests and ball caps. Probably not a garage sale but more of a donation event. May sell SK baskets; Chris
Gaines and Greg Miller to find out about rules (can we have our klaxon, discounted fee for non-profit, location on grounds, etc.). 8. Good of the Order item: a. Thanks to Chris Gaines for a nice summer salad lunch. b. Chris Gaines mentioned the national convention. c. Chris Gaines mentioned voting in the national election. d. Duty Cook i. August Ted Rotzoll. ii. September Larry Warnke. iii. October SEE your name here. e. Next Meeting is August 20, 2016 at KSC. 9. Adjourn Ray Ratliff moved to adjourn; Herman Mueller seconded; Adjourned at 1141. Lost Boats the museum in 3 days!! That s double the amount of people from last year! That is amazing! Subfest year two was bigger and better and we ve received so many positive comments from sub vets, visitors, and locals. Looks like there will be a year 3! If this was your first time volunteering (officially) please send me your contact information. We keep track of all volunteer hours. Even if it s only one weekend a year, everyone s volunteer hours add up and can be used for grants and donations. Thanks again and I hope you all had a great time last weekend. COBette Karen Duvalle Submarine Curator/Retail Manager Wisconsin Maritime Museum USS BULLHEAD SS 332 8/6/45 USS FLIER SS 250 8/13/44 USS S-39 SS 144 8/14/42 USS HARDER SS 257 8/24/44 USS COCHINO SS 345 8/26/49 USS POMPANO SS 181 8/29/43 SubFest Thank You I hope you all had a great time at Subfest last weekend! I can t thank you all enough for helping out on the boat! We still don t have official numbers, because the staff is suffering from a Subfest hangover, but based on the wristband count we had at least 2,000 people go through Page 3 Enjoy more SubFest 2016 pictures by shipmate Peter Stephenson here: https://goo.gl/photos/ez6bzhqvtlsysdi47
Supercavitation promises airplane speeds--under the sea. 200 knots up to five times faster than conventional torpedoes. By Kyle Mizokami Jun 28, 2016 Researchers at Penn State are working to enclose the submarines of the future in a bubble of gas, allowing them to achieve top speeds faster than what is possible while moving through regular water. If successful, it could mean submarines capable of speeds of up to hundreds of miles per hour. As submarines and torpedoes travel through seawater they are naturally at the mercy of physics, and objects traveling through sea travel encounter much more drag than objects traveling through air. The end result is that the practical speed limit of submarines is somewhere around 30 to 40 knots. Even with nuclear propulsion, that's about the best many military submarines can do. But what if it were possible to enclose a submarine in a gas as it travels through liquid? That's the principle behind supercavitation. There is a precedent: the Russian VA-111 Shkval torpedo. Developed in the 1970s, Shkval is equipped with a bubble generator in the nose that envelops the torpedo in a gas membrane while a solid rocket fuel engine provides thrust. The Shkval is capable of speeds in excess of Page 4 Scientists at Penn State are currently trying to understand so-called "pulsation" the continuous cycle of shrinkage and expansion of a gas bubble around an object that occurs during supercavitation. Pulsation creates an inconsistent bubble unsuitable for travel, but before they can tame pulsation, the scientists need to understand how it works. Pulsation is difficult to create under laboratory conditions, but researchers at Penn State have managed to pull it off. Supercavitating submarines wouldn't be perfect. Ultimately submarines are stealthy killers, relying on their ability to remain undetected. Maintaining a giant gas bubble would be very noisy, making the submarine easy to locate. A compromise might be a submarine that can sprint from its base at, say San Diego by supercavitation, and then switch to slow-and-stealthy mode once it gets to a patrol zone in the western Pacific. Another thing about supercavitating submarines: if they, like Shkval, used rocket motors for thrust the subs would generate tremendous amounts of pollution, dumping rocket exhaust directly into the oceans. Not the most eco-friendly propulsion system, but seriously impressive if it can be made to work. Source: Penn State via Popular Science
2016 Election Results and Stats Shipmates, The 2016 Election Results along with the Base, District and Regional voting stats are now posted on the USSVI website under Documents/ Organization on pages 2 and 3. Voter turnout Nationally was about 14% with one Region only doing 5.6%. We need to do better than this in the next election cycle. I would like to thank those members who took the time and interest in USSVI by voting in this years election. BZ to all that voted! Pride Runs Deep, Al Singleman, Jr. NC Navy Schedules 12 Submarines for Retirement, But Will Some Serve Longer? Richard R. Burgess, Seapower Magazine, July 20 ARLINGTON, Va. The Navy s shipbuilding plan lists several attack submarines (SSNs) for retirement over the next five years, but the service is considering squeezing more life out of Los Angeles-class SSNs, including by extending their deployments before their inactivation. The Navy s Report to Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for Fiscal Year 2016 notes the planned retirement of 12 Los Angeles SSNS from 2017 through 2021. The SSNs slated for inactivation are USS Dallas, San Francisco and Buffalo in 2017; USS Jacksonville in 2018; USS Bremerton and Pittsburgh in 2019; USS Olympia, Louisville Page 5 and Helena in 2020; and USS Providence, Oklahoma City and San Juan in 2021. All will be dismantled except for San Francisco, which will be converted to a moored training ship. The Navy is exploring ways to mitigate the coming shortage of SSNs available to meet the operational demands of regional combatant commanders. The shortage will bottom out at 41 in the late 2020s, well below the current requirement of 48 and the current level of 53 SSNs. We were building as many as six submarines per year during the 70s and 80s and those submarines are now reaching the end of their life and will be retired, Rear Adm. Michael Jabaley, program executive officer for submarines, said July 8 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. We re building all the Virginias [SSNs] that we can right now in the budget environment but, at two per year, you re not maintaining inventory. Jabaley said the Navy was looking at selected extension of deployments beyond six months and selected life extensions of Los Angeles-class SSNS submarines as they reach the end of their life as ways to mitigate the shortage. As every submarine in the fleet nears the end of its life, at about the five- or six-year point [before scheduled inactivation], we extrapolate the use of fuel in the reactor core and start doing a material condition assessment on the status on the ship s hull itself the tanks, the pressure hull, the superstructure in the sail and make sure that we understand what would have to be done to that ship in order to extend its life, Jabaley testified July 14 before the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee on Capitol Hill. We also look at the deployment schedule of that ship, because there are some times when the final deployment, as compared to the decommissioning date, will leave about a year or a year and a half of [of life remaining.] So maybe you would only need to extend [its life] four or five months
and then you could get another full six-month deployment out of it before decommissioning, he said. With an analysis of safety considerations, cost/benefit and maintenance required during a submarine s last availability, the Navy can make a decision about a life extension. Extending nominal six-month deployments to seven or eight months has been done, which also has a counterproductive effect, Jabaley said. On deployment, you are underway upward of 85 percent of the time, so you are expending more fuel, [which] has a direct impact on the ability to extend late in life, he said. Jabaley stressed that the life extensions and deployment extensions can support the peacetime presence requirements of combatant commanders but only minimally support a surge capability in times of crisis or war. Page 6 Understanding!!! Author unknown When you understand... When the hatch closes over your head, the OOD says last man down and the COW says green board, you understand the meaning of adventure. When the only thing between you and millions of gallons of seawater is a steel hull and some closed valves, you understand the meaning of courage. When sonar calls out to the conn high speed screws in the water in hostile waters, you understand the meaning of fear. When the messenger passes out the only family grams the satellite could catch and yours isn't one, you learn the meaning of loneliness. When hissing water in the overhead turns from a slight annoyance to a terrifying rushing cascade bouncing off the hull and equipment, you understand the meaning of survival. When you hear the quick sound that a curtain makes on your rack that indicates your watch is about to begin, you understand the meaning of irritation. When you see a shipmate stand at attention while the Captain pins on the fish he worked so hard to earn, you understand the meaning of pride. When you retire and they pipe you over the side for the very last time, you learn the meaning of great sadness. When your eyes grow dim and your strength ebbs with age, you understand the meaning of envy every time you see a submarine getting underway. When a shipmate from a time so long ago passes on and people say so many things they wish they had said before they departed, you understand regret. U.K. Nuclear Submarine HMS Ambush Collides With Merchant Vessel Sam LaGrone, U.S. Naval Institute News, July 20 A U.K. Astute-class nuclear attack submarine struck a merchant vessel near Gibraltar on Wednesday at about 1:30 P.M. local time, the Royal Navy said in a statement. HMS Ambush was submerged when it, was involved in a glancing
collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar, read the statement. We are in contact with the merchant vessel and initial indications are that it has not sustained damage. Ambush suffered external damage but the boats nuclear plant was not affected and no sailors were injured. The 7,400-ton attack boat returned to a British base in Gibraltar for additional examination and an investigation is underway. From pictures published with the Gibraltar Chronicle, the front of Ambush sail had been crumpled near the top from when the boat was attempting to surface and struck a tanker, according to the paper. The submarine had been operating from Gibraltar, a contested British territory at the southern tip of Spain, since late June. Nuclear submarine operations from the tiny enclave of 30,000 have met with protests from both residents and Spanish citizens concerned with the boats nuclear reactors. The Royal Navy has suffered other instances of damage with their attack submarines. In 2015, the sail of Royal Navy Trafalgar-class attack boat HMS Talent was damaged after the submarine struck ice shadowing a Russian Navy ship. In 2010, HMS Astute was grounded off the Isle of Skye shortly after being commissioned. Greetings Submarine Lovers Once again our beloved submarine, USS Cobia, is in need of some well-deserved maintenance. The main deck aft is showing serious signs of wear and needs to be returned to "submarine black." Rags, rollers, wire brushes, scrub brushes, and other Page 7 implements of destruction and many hands are needed to get the job done. Scheduled dates for the project are arrival Sunday, September 11. Monday and Tuesday, September 12 and 13, are work days, securing September 14. There are many other projects besides the deck which need to be done so if painting isn't your thing, feel free to volunteer anyway. Civilian volunteers are always welcome. The museum has graciously offered overnight accommodations on the boat or in the museum building gratis. There are also many fine hotels in the area for a comfortable stay. Local restaurants and fine chocolates are nearby. Suffering is optional. If you enjoy the company of submariners (and who doesn't), care about the boat, or are just looking for a way to get away for a couple days, feel free to join the party. Just drop me a note. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. Hoping to see you in Manitowoc. Greg Miller (See Greg s contact info on page 9. Ed.) In Middletown, the U.S. Navy's future in a world of unmanned subs and aircraft Paul Edward Parker, The Providence Journal, 18 August MIDDLETOWN, R.I. Call it the Detroit Auto Show of naval technology. For three days this week, defense contractors, academics and the Navy's own research and development outfit, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, showed off future maritime technology that is being developed today. Two drone submarines - unmanned underwater vehicles - maneuvered around Stillwater Basin in Narragansett Bay, while visiting dignitaries observed from a nearby pier. "This is exciting stuff," said U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who predicted, "Mark my words, this will be the Oceans Century."
As sea levels are predicted to rise as a result of global warming, Whitehouse said, the strategic importance of the world's oceans will climb. That will bring environmental issues, strategic concerns and economic and strategic opportunities to the forefront, he said. Meanwhile, in the background, Ocean Aero's Submaran plied the waters of the basin, an area also being patrolled by Lockheed Martin's Marlin. The two autonomous vehicles were given a predefined area in which to operate and shared the space together. The Submaran is designed primarily for surface operations, where it can be driven by a solar-powered motor or a vertical wing-like sail. The craft, which is about the size and shape of a kayak, can automatically stow the sail and flood its body with seawater when it needs to slip beneath the surface out of sight. The Marlin, which looks more like a conventional submarine, though about as long as the Submaran, primarily operates below the waves, though it can surface to launch a drone airplane. The cooperation of the two craft in the basin was one focus of the three-day event, called the Annual Naval Technology Exercise. Several of the demonstrations included so-called cross-domain collaboration, where manned or unmanned vehicles under the sea, on the surface, in the air or even in space work together to carry out missions. One such demonstration involved a Blackwing, the Navy version of the Switchblade drone airplane already used by the Army. The barely visible black plane, only a couple of feet long, soared above the bay relaying intelligence information being gathered by two submarine drones to a submarine simulator on the campus of the undersea warfare center. Page 8 Latest naval technology includes Blackwing drones Julia Bergman, The Day, August 18 NEWPORT Some of the latest innovations in undersea technology were on display here Thursday, including an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be launched into the air from a submarine or from unmanned underwater vehicle. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport on Thursday wrapped up its second annual naval technology exercise, which brings together representatives from industry, academia and the Navy s laboratories. Demonstrated technologies ranged from cutting-edge research to products that have already been acquired by the Navy. Take the Blackwing, a 20-inch-long, 4-pound unmanned aircraft that folds up into a 3-inch-wide canister. Once the canister is launched from a submarine, for example, and hits the surface, the Blackwing comes out and opens its wings. Its flight time is about an hour. The Navy is set to acquire 150 Blackwings to be used on its attack and guided missile submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles. Developed by AeroVironment, the Blackwing is designed primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The Blackwing embodies what Navy officials mean when they talk about developing longer arms for submarines to increase their capabilities. The submarine force has wanted flying-periscope capability, if you want to think about it that way, for a long time, Jeffrey G Morrison, a program officer with the Office of Naval Research, said.
The Navy will begin installing the Murphy cited two recent software on submarines in the 2019 time experiences that underscore the relevance frame, and every submarine from that of the technology being shown Thursday. point on will have it as part of its baseline, On a trip aboard the USS Hartford so they can use it when they need to, to the Arctic this spring, Murphy saw Morrison said. firsthand all of the new capabilities that we The technology was derived from will need as we head into a decade, as we the Switchblade, which AeroVironment head into a quarter century in which the officials call a weapons system. The Arctic is going to be up for grabs, in which Switchblade, which is designed to take out there is going to be more navigation. small targets without causing a lot of Earlier in the summer, Murphy went collateral damage, is being used by the on a congressional visit to Asia, where he Army and Marine Corps. About 1,500 talked nonstop with officials in Japan, the Switchblades have been produced. Philippines and Korea about the activity of There are various possibilities for the Chinese to try to build and take control how the technology could be used in the of enough territory in the South China Sea, future. to be able to cast a detection net for U.S. The Senate s version of the 2017 submarines that is unprecedented. defense budget includes $127 million for As our adversaries and our undersea warfare technologies, U.S. Sen. competitors... rapidly advance their Murphy, D-Conn., noted in addressing technologies to try and catch up with us, it Thursday s crowd. That s $7 million more provides a mandate for us to get much than what President Barack Obama better not only in our means to figure out requested in his budget. what they re doing as they try to exert The Senate and House, which are in more control over places like the South recess, still need to work out the China and East China Sea but also our differences between their two defense bills ability to be able to conduct our activities and vote on a finalized version. and missions that we have become accustomed to, Murphy said. Contact Information Commander Clayton Hill, 195 Clover Lane, Cedarburg, WI 53012; 262-377-5332 (work number) or bisi@ameritech.net Vice-Commander Greg Miller, 964 Fischer Drive, Addison, IL; (630)543-7855 or fourkats4me@yahoo.com Secretary (POC) Chris Gaines, 513 West Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506; 630-892-5718 or ccgaines@mindspring.com Treasurer Glenn C. Barts, Sr., 2000 Jamestown Drive, Palatine, IL 60074; 847-934-7418; gcbarts@msn.com COB Larry Warnke, l_warnke@msn.com Chaplain Cris Pascual; crispasses@aol.com; 285 Southridge, Gurnee, IL 60031; 847-855-0772 Membership Tom Polzin, 12463 Foxtail Lane, Huntley, IL 60142; (v) 847-867-8668; (f) 847-669- 2444; tapolzin@aol.com Storekeeper Herman Mueller, 503 Lynn Terrace, Waukegan, IL 60085; 847-445-5034; hermanandlorimueller@comcast.net Newsletter Editor Chris Gaines Base Historian Frank Voznak, Jr. 9 South 255 Madison, Burr Ridge, IL. 60527; 630 986-0175 franklin2@comcast.net Page 9
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 E-Mail 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 = $ 500.00; 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, 12463 Foxtail Ln, Huntley, IL 60142; Cell 847/867-8668 Fax 847/669-2444 January 16, 2016 Rev. H