Five new submarines named

ZUI this DoD press release:

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the next five Virginia-class attack submarines will be named the USS Illinois, the USS Washington, the USS Colorado, the USS Indiana, and the USS South Dakota.

Mabus named the Virginia-class submarines to honor the great contributions and support these states have given the military through the years.

“Each of these five states serves as home to military bases that support our national defense and provides men and women who volunteer to serve their country,” Mabus said. “I look forward to these submarines joining the fleet and representing these great states around the world.”

None of the five states has had a ship named for it for more than 49 years. The most recent to serve was the battleship the USS Indiana, which was decommissioned in October 1963.

The selection of Illinois, designated SSN 786, is the second ship to bear the state name and is home to the Navy’s one and only Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes where every enlisted sailor begins his or her service.

The selection of Washington, designated SSN 787, is the third ship to bear the state name and the state’s Puget Sound area, where the Navy’s third-largest fleet concentration is located.

The selection of Colorado, designated SSN 788, is the third ship to bear the state name. The second ship was a battleship that stood as the lead ship of her class and took part in the Tarawa invasion.

The selection of Indiana, designated SSN 789, is the third ship to bear the state name and is the home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, the Navy’s premier engineering, acquisition and sustainment organization which supports our maritime warriors.

The selection of South Dakota, designated SSN 790, is the third ship to bear the state name. The second ship was a battleship that also stood as the lead ship of her class and fought extensively in the Pacific theater during World War II.

“Prior ships carrying the names of these five states stood as defenders of freedom on the water. Now these states will represent the latest and greatest technology ever assembled to submerge below the surface and project power forward,” Mabus said.

So, just for the record....

USS Illinois (BB 7) - one of three Illinois-class battleships, commissioned 16 Sep 1901
Illinois (BB 65) - one of six Iowa-class battleships, laid down 15 Jan 1945 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; canceled 12 Aug 1945

USS Washington (ACR 11) - one of four Tennessee-class armoured cruisers, commissioned 7 Aug 1906
USS Washington (BB 56) - one of two North Carolina-class battleships, commissioned 15 May 1941
(There were six previous ships named USS Washington, but according to DANFS they were named after the president, not the state.)

USS Colorado (ACR 7) - one of six Pennsylvania-class armoured cruisers, commissioned 19 Jan 1905
USS Colorado (BB 45) - one of three Colorado-class battleships, commissioned 30 Aug 1923
(There was one previous USS Colorado, named for the river rather than the state.)

USS Indiana (BB 1) - one of three Indiana-class battleships, commissioned 20 Nov 1895
Indiana (BB 50) - one of six South Dakota-class battleships, laid down 1 Nov 1920 at the New York Navy Yard; construction was cancelled 8 Feb 1922 in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty.
USS Indiana (BB 58) - one of four South Dakota-class battleships, commissioned 30 Apr 1942

USS South Dakota (ACR 9) - one of six Pennsylvania-class armoured cruisers, commissioned 27 Jan 1908
South Dakota (BB 49) - one of six South Dakota-class battleships, laid down 15 Mar 1920 at the New York Navy Yard; construction was suspended 8 Feb 1922 in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty and the unfinished hull was sold 25 Oct 1923
USS South Dakota (BB 57) - one of four South Dakota-class battleships, commissioned 20 Mar 1942

30 years

30 years ago today - 11 Mar 1982 - I started a whole new life.

That was the day I reported in to Recruit Training Command, NTC Great Lakes IL, to begin boot camp: Six weeks of non-fun that would transform me from a civilian into a sailor.

A little over 21 1/2 years later, I transferred to the Fleet Reserve, and in just a few short weeks I will officially retire.

Somehow it just doesn't seem possible that 30 years have gone by already. Some of that time was fun (Scotland, Gibraltar, Slovenia); some wasn't ("Vulcan death watch" drill sets, being racked out for training, weeks at sea after 9/11 wondering when we would get to go home). All in all, I'm a lot older now, and I hope a little wiser.

And yes, I'd do it again.


An old shipmate linked to this video on Facebook a few days ago. It's a nicely done view of what life is like for a submariner (with a little SEAL action at the end).

Honours

The 2012 New Year Honours List has been released, and I see:

Order of the British Empire - Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Penelope Margaret, Mrs LIVELY, CBE
Author. For services to Literature.
(London, N1)

Order of the British Empire - Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Ms Helena BONHAM CARTER
Actor. For services to Drama.
(London, NW3)

Order of the British Empire - Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Dr Maggie Mary GEE
Author. For services to Literature.
(London, NW10)

Order of the British Empire - Members of the Order of the British Empire

Geoffrey Thomas Leslie ASHE
Historian. For services to Heritage.
(Glastonbury, Somerset

Alex BRYCHTA
Illustrator. For services to Children's Literature.
(Surrey)

Dame Penelope received the Carnegie Medal for her novel The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (1973), and also the Man Booker Prize for Moon Tiger (1987). Helena Bonham Carter has a long list of credits, beginning in 1983; I know her as Bellatrix Lestrange in the last four Harry Potter films. Don't think I'd ever heard of Maggie Gee, but some of her books look interesting; I'll be looking for them at the library. Geoffrey Ashe has written several books delving into the possible real history behind the King Arthur legends. Alex Brychta did the illustrations for the Magic Key series, used in many British schools to teach reading.

And congratulations to Chief Petty Officer Coxswain (Submarines) Martin Farr MBE, listed in the Defence New Year's Honours List for 2012.

HMS Ambush

ZUI this article from the Daily Mail, which has some really nice pictures, both exterior and interior, of HMS Ambush, the Royal Navy's second Astute-class submarine.

FY12 CPO selectees

The list is out.

Was beginning to think I wouldn't see any names I knew, but finally found a nuc MM and a shower sonar tech, both from Prov. It's been eight years since I retired,* so between time and forgetfulness I imagine I won't see many more names I recognise on the CPO lists in the future....

Congratulations to all of the new selectees!


* Hard to believe it's been 16 years since I left Jax, 19 since I left Simon Lake and 22 since I left Oly!

R-12 wreck located

According to this article from the International Business Times, an exploration team has located and documented the wreck of USS R-12 (SS 89) in 600 feet of water off the Florida Keys. R-12, in use as a training submarine, was lost for unknown reasons on 12 June 1943. Her CO, another officer and three enlisted men who were on watch on the bridge survived; the other 27 crewmen on board were lost, as were 13 trainees and two Brazilian Navy officers who were there to observe a torpedo exercise.

FY12 MCPO and SCPO selectees

This year's SCPO list was released today - which reminded me that I hadn't seen the MCPO list.

The MCPO list, dated 4 May, is here. I see two names I recognise - an MS a CS and a nuke ET from Providence.

The SCPO list is here. I see three or four names on this list - another MS CS, an SK LS and one or two A-gangers, all from Prov. (One A-ganger I'm sure of; the other has both a common first name and a common surname, but is probably the one I know.)

Belated congratulations to all selectees!

Royal wedding

Wasn't going to say anything about yesterday's wedding, but I just noticed that HRH the Duke of Cambridge, who holds the rank of Lieutenant, RN,* was appointed Commodore-in-Chief, Submarines, in 2006.


Congratulations to the happy couple.


* As well as those of Flight Lieutenant, RAF, and Captain, The Blues and Royals.

Xmas at sea

The 1986-87 deployment was the first of two times I was ever under way on Xmas Day. The nuc ET chief donned one of the white coveralls from the Otto fuel spill kit, trimmed with EB Red, and then added a red drill-monitor ball cap and an incredibly cheesy fake beard. He and the COB set out through berthing just after midnight local time, waking people up and passing out (if I recall correctly) candy.


Inevitably, someone objected to having his valuable rack time intruded upon. This may be the only time in the history of the world that Santa was ever heard to exclaim, "It's Christmas, you f**k - wake up!"

FY11 MCPO and SCPO selectees

Posting the CPO results reminded me that while I had seen this year's MCPO list, I hadn't commented on it, and I hadn't seen the new SCPO list. So....

The MCPO list is here. I see one name I recognise - a QM nav ET from Providence.

The SCPO list is here. I see two on this list - both A-gangers, both from Prov.

Belated congratulations to all selectees!

FY11 CPO selectees

The list is out.

I recognised four names this time, an SK LS from Jax, and a mechanic and two sonar girls from Prov. My congratulations to them, and to all the other selectees.

This day in history: 5 Jun

1942: The Battle of Midway continued. USS Yorktown (CV 5), damaged by Japanese air attacks the previous day, was taken under tow by Pearl Harbor survivor USS Vireo (AM 52) in an attempt at returning her to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Yorktown, however, would be sunk, together with USS Hammann (DD 412), on 7 June by the Japanese submarine I-168.

At 0215 Cruiser Division 7 (heavy cruisers Mikuma, Mogami, Kumano and Suzuya), retiring from an aborted mission to bombard Midway, was spotted by USS Tambor (SS 198). They in turn spotted the lurking submarine, and Admiral Kurita ordered a simultaneous 45-degree turn by his ships. In the confusion, Mogami rammed Mikuma amidships. The force split, with the undamaged cruisers continuing ahead while Mikuma and Mogami limped along behind. B-17s, SBDs and Vindicators from Midway attacked during the day, with no luck, but Mikuma was sunk the next day by aircraft from USS Hornet (CV 8) and USS Enterprise (CV 6).

Japanese carriers Kaga and Soryu had been sunk by US aircraft on 4 June. Two other carriers, crippled but still afloat, sank on the 5th: Hiryu at 0230 and Akagi, scuttled by torpedoes from destroyers Arashi, Hagikaze, Maikaze, and Nowaki, at 0530.

Submarine CO/XO selections

The FY11 list of submarine CO/XO selections was promulgated a couple days ago. I see one former Prov commo selected for CO, and another selected for XO. I'm trying to imagine being on a boat with the two of them in charge....

And an A-ganger off Jax was selected as alternate for drydock XO.

Congratulations, guys!

H/T to Joel.

Honours

The 2010 New Year's Honours List has been released. (For a brief review of it, see here.) Looking through it, I see:

Knights Bachelor
Knighthoods

Patrick STEWART, OBE
Actor. For services to Drama.
(London, SE16)

Order of the British Empire
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Ms Margaret Maud TYZACK, OBE
Actress. For services to Drama.
(London, SE3)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Ms Anthea BELL
For services to Literature and to Literary Translations.
(Histon, Cambridgeshire)

Ronald Gordon KING-SMITH
RONALD GORDON
Author. For services to Children's Literature.
(Keynsham, Bristol)

Members of the Order of the British Empire

Ms Lauren CHILD
Author and Illustrator. For services to Literature.
(London, W1F)

Sir Patrick, of course, was the star of Star Trek: The Next Generation, aka TNG. Tyzack has had numerous roles in films and TV shows over the past 50+ years. Bell has translated numerous works - most notably the Astérix comics by Goscinny and Uderzo* - into English. King-Smith was the author of many children's books, including The Sheep-Pig, which was the basis for the movie Babe. Child is the author of, amongst other books, the Clarice Bean series of children's books (which I haven't read), and received the 2000 Kate Greenaway Medal for I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato.

And I have to admit to being amused by the MBE awarded to Norman Barrett, circus ringmaster, for services to entertainment.

The names of military personnel (and MOD civilians) included on the Honours List can be found here.**

(Left: Insignia of a knight bachelor. Right: Emblem of a member of the Order of the British Empire.)

* And if you're not familiar with Astérix, you certainly ought to be!

** Congratulations to Warrant Officer 1st Class Coxswain (Submarine) John Ronald Hendren MBE and to Warrant Officer 1st Class Coxswain (Submarine) Andrew Mark Rainey MBE.

Medal of Honor: T. Eadie

THOMAS EADIE

Chief Gunner's Mate, US Navy

Born: 7 April 1887, Scotland
Died: 14 November 1974, Brockton, Massachusetts

Citation: For display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession above and beyond the call of duty on 18 December 1927, during the diving operations [off Provincetown, Massachusetts,] in connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. S-4 with all on board, as a result of a collision off Prividencetown, Mass. On this occasion when Michels, Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy, while attempting to connect an airline to the submarine at a depth of 102 feet became seriously fouled, Eadie, under the most adverse diving conditions, deliberately, knowingly, and willingly took his own life in his hands by promptly descending to the rescue in response to the desperate need of his companion diver. After 2 hours of extremely dangerous and heartbreaking work, by his cool, calculating, and skillful labors, he succeeded in his mission and brought Michels safely to the surface.


Note: The Naval Historical Center have a page on Chief (later Lieutenant) Eadie at their website.

FY10 MCPO and SCPO lists

The other day I posted a link to the US Navy's FY10 CPO advancement results. Looking back, though, I realised that I hadn't seen the new MCPO and SCPO lists. So....

The MCPO list is here. I see three names I recognise - a TM weapons MM and two mechanics, all from Providence.

The SCPO list is here. I only see one on this list - a nuc ET, again from Prov.

Belated congratulations to all selectees!

FY10 CPO selectees

The list is out.

I recognised two names this time, an EM and a TM an MMW from Prov. My congratulations to them, and to all the other selectees.

Ney Award

Slightly late, but ZUI this article from The Dolphin, the weekly newspaper for the Groton (CT) submarine base:

With a pinch of persistence and a dash of determination, culinary specialists on board USS Providence have cooked up award-winning food service that was recognized by the Secretary of the Navy.
Providence was named the submarine recipient of the 2009 Captain Edward F. Ney Award for Food Service Excellence in a message released by the Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter.
This is the first time Providence and most of the Culinary Specialists on board have won the award, which was established in 1958 by the Secretary of the Navy and the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) to improve and recognize the quality of food service in the Navy.

*******

What makes this more remarkable, according to [Providence Supply Officer Ensign Allan] Hamby, the competition occurred while Providence was on a deployment.
"Other boats are competing with us while they were at the pier with all the support that brings, while our guys were getting random stuff from supplies in foreign ports."
Culinary Specialist Chief Petty Officer Gerald Davis, leading Chef Petty Officer, believes pride and focus were the recipe that put Providence on top of the competition.

*******

The Ney award was named in honor of Captain Edward F. Ney, a United States Navy Supply Corps Officer who served as head of the Subsistence Division of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts between 1940 and 1945.

ZUI also this article from the New London (CT) Day:

[T]he rest of the Providence crew did not need an award to tell them that their food is the best. They eat well every day, from the tacos to the lasagna to the crowd-pleasing “Wicked Chicken.”

”I don't miss many meals,” Chief Randy Gallogly, the corpsman, says, laughing.

*******

Many credited Culinary Specialist Chief Dwayne Davis, the leading culinary specialist, with making the division the top in the Submarine Force.

”We have the best job on the ship,” Davis says.

Good food is the key to high morale, making their job on the ship essential to a mission's success, Davis adds.

”The guys coming down the line are operating millions of dollars' worth of equipment,” he says. “A good meal helps them stand the watch just a little bit better.”

Davis is the creator of Wicked Chicken, a dish inspired by boneless Buffalo wings that he serves with macaroni and cheese and vegetables.

Runner-up for the submarine award was USS Louisiana (Gold) (SSBN 743), while USS Rhode Island (Gold) (SSBN 740) received an honourable mention. Other winners include USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Cole (DDG 67) and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

BZ, Providence!

H/T to my friend Michele.

Sub/skimmer collision in Strait of Hormuz

USS Hartford (SSN 768)

ZUI this article from CNN:

A U.S. Navy submarine collided with a Navy amphibious ship Friday in the Strait of Hormuz, mildly injuring 15 sailors, according to the commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

The submarine, the USS Hartford, collided with the USS New Orleans about 1 a.m. in the strait, which runs between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the busiest commercial routes for oil tankers.

Fifteen aboard the Hartford were injured but returned to duty, according to a news release.

ZUI also this article from the BBC:

The incident is being investigated and damage to both ships is being evaluated, a navy statement said.

The New Orleans' fuel tank was ruptured in the crash, causing a spill of 25,000 gallons (90,000 litres) of diesel.

No injuries were reported aboard the New Orleans, according to the statement from the Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain.

*******

The navy said both vessels were on regularly scheduled deployments to the region and conducting security operations.

"Both ships are currently operating under their own power," said the statement.

USS New Orleans (LPD 18)

Update 1150 20 Mar: Navy Times has an article with further information here.

Update 1820 23 Mar: Joel, as usual, has further coverage, including links to various Navy photos of the two ships arriving in port.

USS Hartford (SSN 768) arrives in Mina Salman, Bahrain

WWII U-boat to be raised

ZUI this article from the Aberdeen Press and Journal:

A German submarine war grave from World War II which has been seeping deadly poisons into the North Sea is finally set to be raised.

The wreck of the U-864, which was sunk by the Royal Navy submarine HMS Venturer in 1945, has been leaking her cargo of highly poisonous mercury into the seabed off the west coast of Norway in an area fished by Scottish trawlermen.

*******

The U-864 was on a secret mission to Japan, carrying Messerschmitt jet engine parts and 65 tonnes of toxic mercury, used for making weapons.

*******

The U-864 has gone down in history as the only submarine to be sunk by another submarine while underwater.

The wreck was discovered in 2003 in two pieces 500ft beneath the sea and in 2006 it was found that the 1,857 canisters holding the mercury were corroding.

Since then, locals and fishermen have pleaded for the wreck to be raised but the authorities refused, claiming it was too risky.

See here for more about U-864, and here for more about HMS Venturer.