Kapitan_Phillips
01-29-08, 08:28 PM
You probably already know this, but I'm reading one of my reference books on US Submarines, and I read with particular interest the story of USS S-5.
Basically, the story goes, S-5 encountered accidental flooding in her forward torpedo room, preventing her from surfacing completely. The main ballast vents were blown, lifting her stern completely out of the water, but her bow remained submerged. The crew of 34 were huddled in the aft compartments, and a small hole was drilled using a manual tool into the pressure hull.
The hole was widened, allowing a stick to be slid out, to which the Captain affixed his jacket. After a while of waving it about, a merchant steamer, the SS Alanthus, spotted the unusual sight and went over in a rowboat. A conversation ensued from the hole:
Alanthus Captain: What ship is this?
S-5 Captain: S-5, US Navy
Alanthus Captain: Who is speaking?
S-5 Captain: Lieutenant Commander Charles Cooke, Commanding
Alanthus Captain: Where is your destination?
S-5 Captain, with disgust: "Hell by compass!"
The Alanthus managed to pipe fresh air and water into the S-5 using hoses until rescue vessels arrived. A huge section of the hull was cut out to allow the crew to climb out. This section is in a museum and bears a plaque recounting the extraordinary rescue of the S-5.
This all took place in 1920, demonstrating the need for a dedicated training program for submerged rescue.
Just thought that was interesting, and figured I'd share :)
Basically, the story goes, S-5 encountered accidental flooding in her forward torpedo room, preventing her from surfacing completely. The main ballast vents were blown, lifting her stern completely out of the water, but her bow remained submerged. The crew of 34 were huddled in the aft compartments, and a small hole was drilled using a manual tool into the pressure hull.
The hole was widened, allowing a stick to be slid out, to which the Captain affixed his jacket. After a while of waving it about, a merchant steamer, the SS Alanthus, spotted the unusual sight and went over in a rowboat. A conversation ensued from the hole:
Alanthus Captain: What ship is this?
S-5 Captain: S-5, US Navy
Alanthus Captain: Who is speaking?
S-5 Captain: Lieutenant Commander Charles Cooke, Commanding
Alanthus Captain: Where is your destination?
S-5 Captain, with disgust: "Hell by compass!"
The Alanthus managed to pipe fresh air and water into the S-5 using hoses until rescue vessels arrived. A huge section of the hull was cut out to allow the crew to climb out. This section is in a museum and bears a plaque recounting the extraordinary rescue of the S-5.
This all took place in 1920, demonstrating the need for a dedicated training program for submerged rescue.
Just thought that was interesting, and figured I'd share :)