THE USS SQUALUS (SS-192)

THE TASK:
LET'S BRING EM UP ALIVE

If you are somewhat of a naval history buff, as I am, you become aware of the era that is most interesting and informative to your reading pleasure.  I myself I like to read and research what I call the "Development years."  This era of interest to me is early to mid 1900's.  This is where I can come upon the development of new weapons, how they were tried and tested.....ideas on tactics of engagement, as well as new ships for more or less "tools of the trade."

Well folks "new" and "modern" are good 'words' to broadcast to other countries that our Navy is "on top of our game."  But whenever new "things" or "items" are introduced into this vast warfare system....alot of us forget that these "tools of the trade" must actually be tired.....and we also have to realize ...sometimes they work....sometimes they don't.  When they "don't"....loss of life can be an unfortunate and tragic aside......which is not easy to swallow.

This is what took place when a new attack submarine USS Squalus (SS-192), one of five of the Sargo Class, built over a 2 year perios from 1937 to 1939, doing a 'test run'....made a 'fast dive' test of the Isle of Shoals.....and she failed to surface.

This article/story involves one to the most amazing rescues in U.S. naval history.....also if you choose to read this article you'll see that it entails somewhat of a "story within a story" of a diving bell that had never been used berfore......and the U.S. Navy was bound and determined to get them sailors of the Squalus up and out of that potential water tomb that they were now in.

Ok....if you'd care to let the ole eyes dance over this article I really do believe it will hold your interest....as well as possibly enlighten you on what these men of the sea was going through to 'rescue' their buddies....with equipment that had never been used before...  That is scary in anyone's way of thinking.

The article can be read by clicking on this link: THE TASK: LET'S BRING EM UP ALIVE

cshortridge73@gmail.com

U.S.NAVY GUNNERY AND THE PLYMOUTH

Alot of research has been done on U.S. Navy ships, and their crews, where they been, when did they arrive, when did they leave a certain area...who boarded....who jumped ship....and on and on....but not much is ever written about what ships was involved in developments of material that was inter-connected with these "Man of War" vessels.

After all these ships that was first developed was pretty much designed to "fight" so this involved "gunnery"....and "ordnance".  Oh Yes, guns, cannons, cannon balls had been around many, many years ....but when the U.S. Navy decided to float their own "fleets of corks" on the sea's of the world.....the "Head Brass" suddenly realized....fleet gunnery as well as ordnance had to under go modernization....that was just not a "fleeting thought" with them guys...."It was a must."

Ok...so as I said above...ship history has been looked into in great depths.....but what ships were involved in these much needed improvements of gunnery & ordnance?  Well the Sloop-of-War Plymouth ...in 1857 was just such a ship....and  that is where our story begins.

So...if you'd care to enlighen yourself in this particular subject matter...you can do so by just clicking on this title: U.S. NAVY GUNNERY AND THE PLYMOUTH  and this link will take you right to the article...

Hope you enjoy the article

cshortridge@comcast.net

BIZARRE SHIP GRAVEYARDS

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You know most of us don't really give a hoot just where 'things' go....or end up...when we toss them away due to "just not being useful anymore"....as long as they are out of sight...well I guess that is sufficient.  This is pretty much the way it is with 'ships.'  We really don't know, or care, where them ole rust buckets 'go' after they are passed around from one shipping company to another, but for those of us that research these 'beasts of the sea'...we soon learn that there sure are many dumping grounds for all these 'rust buckets.'

So...that brings me to this next article that I am 'throwing out' to y'all.  It kind of gives you an overview of just where these 'graveyards' are....and also just how do these 'graveyards' come about.

Oh yes I've presented past articles about the same subject matter...in fact if you look in the archives of this site there are at least one or maybe two articles on "Ship Dumping Grounds".  This one just has a slightly different approach to the subject of "Ship Graveyards" ...and I thought y'all may interested to read about these dumping grounds...and there orgin.

So...my suggestion is fill the ole coffee cup up, grab that last mouthful of morning coffee cake...and click on this title: BIZARRE SHIP GRAVEYARDS  and I think you'll find this resonably short article somewhat interesting.

Hope you Enjoy the article

WHAT THINK YOU OF AN AMERICAN FLEET?

Did you ever wonder just how the U.S. Navy actually got started???...  How she took that first 'baby step' in acquiring a Navy?

You see the United States of America is one of the very few countries in the world which can claim what at least some justice to have had a navy of at least some sort since its very earliest days.  Actually the above ship picture....which is a ship named "Hannah" was "the ship" that got it all started....and to top it all off....Rhode Island....the smallest state...had her nose right in with all of it ....now that dear folks it pretty darn neat.  This all took place of course back in the late 1700's....actually 1775 to be a state of fact.

The above "Hannah" was in fact a 78 ton schooner....converted from a merchantman....to a tough seahorse by adding some cannons....and a number of swivel guns....  Now you would think this ship that was suppose to be the first ship to help the colonys gain independance, would have been paid for by Congress.....whoa...hold on there ...that is not the case at all.  Ole George Washington he dug deep into his own pocket and paid for that schooner himself....as well as all the conversion from schooner to ...somewhat of a warship.

So this was the 'bare bones beginning' of what was to become and we now know as the U.S. Navy....oh yes we went through many steps from the "Hannah" to where we are today....but when you look at the above ship your looking at the "first steps of an infant vessel that actually turned into a mighty warship fleet"

If you want to read about the bare bones beginnings.....[and there will be more articles on this as I go along this path in attempting to provide some insight on how we got from 0 to where we are today]....just click on this title:  WHAT THINK YOU OF AN AMERICAN FLEET  I really do think you'll surprise yourself on the interest you have in this part of history...

Enjoy!!

BRING ' EM BACK ALIVE..........NAVY STYLE

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I don't know if you realize it or not....but we'll do 'anything it takes' to rescue a navy man....it don't make any difference the expense or the danager....those men come first...that is the bottom line.

Many times Navy flyers took off from a carrier in the Pacific....flew many miles to engage in smashing out Jap flyers out of the sky....in doing so they run out fuel, had to land someplace....so they landed on the first carrier they come too....regardless if that carrier had a flight deck loaded with it's own planes....so how did they make room?

Well to make room for the 'fly boys'.....over the side was pushed Hellcats priced at $88,000 each, along with Helldivers costing $108,000....yes in deed....the deck crews went out on the deck, and pushed over planes to make room for the guys to land....there was never a question in doing what was needed to bring them boys home.

But that is not the only type of incident that took place to rescue "Boys of Blue" ....submarines risk 'life and limb' to go in close in lagoons to pick up not only one downed crew but sometimes several...going from one to the other in a matter of hours....they would have so many rescued pilots aboard they didn't have bunks for them and the crew....and some had to sleep "two to a bunk"....yep, I kid you not....and I don't mean "hot bunking"....I mean "two at the same time in a bunk"...  If you can imagine a "bunk" on a WW II sub...well folks it is barely big enough for one...let alone two.

Then there was one incident on board the USS Card....where as a rescued pilot got knocked overboard....a destroyer threw him a line...and then before they could get him out of the water...an enemy sub came into the area....and the destroyer took off ....full tilt...  Well I don't have to tell you what this sailor on the end of this rope was going through.....he barely made it.

Well I could go on and on here about these rescue attempts but why do so..... I'll just direct you to my article and you can click on this title: BRING 'EM BACK ALIVE....NAVY STYLE  and link up directly ....and every one of them you read about will set you on the edge of your chair....and you wonder...how in the hell did these guys do what they did??

Hope you enjoy the article