A Question about Fleet Boats and Medics

Kongo Otto · 11-12-11, 08:08 AM

How did the Captains handle medical problems during a Mission?
For example a broken leg or an Appendicitis etc.?
Or wounded allied airmen picked up by the boat, maybe with burns or bullet wounds?
Did they had an Doctor on board or did they had to abort the mission if the status of the wounded was more than "slightly wounded"?
Did that happen to a Fleet Boat?
How was the Medical capability of an Fleet Boat like the Gato or Balao Class?
One Corpsman or two or even more or none at all?

If anyone has links about the topic or links where books can be bought about the topic it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Armistead · 11-12-11, 08:40 AM

The issue came up many times, injuries, life issues, etc.. Every sub had an officer with a medical rank or rating (Doctor, Pharmacist Mate, Corpsman, Medic) so on.... And all on board were trained to probably what we would call a EMT for that period of knowledge.

Rarely surgery was done, but it happened if it was life threatening and couldn't wait if they thought it could be done.

Several patrols were cut short to bring back sick people to base. Can't remember the sub, but one captain became ill and gave up his ship to the exec, it appeared the captain would die, so the exec told base he was returning home regardless of orders.

However, many sub sailors died from wounds or illness at sea and were usually buried at sea.

Jan Kyster · 11-12-11, 11:26 AM

Perhaps you may find this interesting? http://www.hnsa.org/doc/submed/index.htm

Kongo Otto · 11-13-11, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan Kyster

Perhaps you may find this interesting? http://www.hnsa.org/doc/submed/index.htm

Thanks a lot for your link, i searched, found and have already ordered it.

http://www.marelibri.com/search/curr...=0&cid=8278201

A new gem for my collection and now i will take a further look on above linked page, i somehow know there is more to find for me.

Spending money for books, a good way to keep economy running.

Daniel Prates · 11-12-11, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

Every sub had an officer with a medical rank or rating (Doctor, Pharmacist Mate, Corpsman, Medic) so on....

And was that his only job? Or that was an expertise he would acumulate along with other duties?

Ducimus · 11-13-11, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kongo Otto

How did the Captains handle medical problems during a Mission?
For example a broken leg or an Appendicitis etc.?

Two sources, same incident:
http://www.navalhistory.org/2010/09/...-appendectomy/
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq87-3a.htm

Kongo Otto · 11-13-11, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Two sources, same incident:
http://www.navalhistory.org/2010/09/...-appendectomy/
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq87-3a.htm

Wow!!

Thank you very much.

LordCucumber · 11-15-11, 06:51 AM

I remember reading in Bill Ruhe's memoires (a retired officer who served on six patrols in the Pacific on several subs, including the old S class subs) they once had to transfer a crewman sick with appendicitis to another sub returning home. IIRC they arranged a rendez vous at night, lifting the sick man on an improvised stretcher through one of the larger deck manholes into a dingy, and on board of the returning sub.

11-12-11, 08:08 AM	#1
Kongo Otto Commodore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Augsburg / Germany Posts: 631 Downloads: 203 Uploads: 0	A Question about Fleet Boats and Medics How did the Captains handle medical problems during a Mission? For example a broken leg or an Appendicitis etc.? Or wounded allied airmen picked up by the boat, maybe with burns or bullet wounds? Did they had an Doctor on board or did they had to abort the mission if the status of the wounded was more than "slightly wounded"? Did that happen to a Fleet Boat? How was the Medical capability of an Fleet Boat like the Gato or Balao Class? One Corpsman or two or even more or none at all? If anyone has links about the topic or links where books can be bought about the topic it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

11-12-11, 08:40 AM	#2
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	The issue came up many times, injuries, life issues, etc.. Every sub had an officer with a medical rank or rating (Doctor, Pharmacist Mate, Corpsman, Medic) so on.... And all on board were trained to probably what we would call a EMT for that period of knowledge. Rarely surgery was done, but it happened if it was life threatening and couldn't wait if they thought it could be done. Several patrols were cut short to bring back sick people to base. Can't remember the sub, but one captain became ill and gave up his ship to the exec, it appeared the captain would die, so the exec told base he was returning home regardless of orders. However, many sub sailors died from wounds or illness at sea and were usually buried at sea.

11-12-11, 11:26 AM	#3
Jan Kyster Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,151 Downloads: 152 Uploads: 0	Perhaps you may find this interesting? http://www.hnsa.org/doc/submed/index.htm

11-15-11, 06:51 AM	#8
LordCucumber Seaman Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 33 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	I remember reading in Bill Ruhe's memoires (a retired officer who served on six patrols in the Pacific on several subs, including the old S class subs) they once had to transfer a crewman sick with appendicitis to another sub returning home. IIRC they arranged a rendez vous at night, lifting the sick man on an improvised stretcher through one of the larger deck manholes into a dingy, and on board of the returning sub.