History of the USS Squalus (SS-192)
edit USS Scorpion, 22 August 1960, off New London, Connecticut
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Scorpion |
| Ordered | 31 January 1957 |
| Builder | General Dynamics Electric Boat |
| Laid down | 20 August 1958[1] |
| Launched | 29 December 1959[1] |
| Commissioned | 29 July 1960[1] |
| Stricken | 30 June 1968[1] |
| Fate | Lost with a crew of 99 on 22 May 1968; cause of sinking unknown. |
| Status | Located on the seabed of the Atlantic Ocean, 32°55′N 33°09′W / 32.917°N 33.150°W,[2] in 3,000 m (9,800 ft) of water, 740 km (400 nmi) southwest of the Azores |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Skipjack-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 76.8 m (252 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in) |
| Draft | 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion | S5W reactor |
| Complement | 8 officers, 75 men |
| Armament |
|
Prolog (brief history)
edit• Body of this article covers complete history of U.S. Navy submarine S-192 (Squalus), from conception, design, contracting, construction (L-boat), commissioning, sea trials, recovery, salvage, renawming, recommissioning. • History begins with end of WWI, reparations, Germany's Pacific colonies assigned to Japan, U.S. vs. German submarines, 1921 agreement on warships. • History continues with date and details of BuShips approval of the class, type, and hull number [192] of a proposed new submarine. • Bidding on build contract, BuShips acceptance of a builder. • Proposed designer, builder, shipyard, type of design and other details of the proposed contract briefly described. list BuShips requirement re: build location and other details. • Lists the officers and men of Navy hull number S11/S-192 who were assigned to the Squalus; date of arrival and stage of construction, arrivals/replacements after its commissioning, during its construction, and its builder's sea trials; ancillary duties of crewmembers during construction of S11/S-192. • Lists crewmember's rank or rating at the time of sinking, and other personnel involved in the sinking and recovery of hull 192; list "last ship/last station" of arriving crewmwmbers. • Crewmember meals and housing during construction; 'liberty' [def.] hours and other off-duty activities, and etc. • Detailed process of early history of hull [192] and the Sargo class submarines, class design and date of BuShips approval, hull 192 launched, commissioned, decomissioned, • Hull 192 salvaged, restored, then recommissioned and unofficially renamed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt [former Secretary of the Navy] as the Squalus. • From that date onward the history of hull 192 as Squalus ends. • Appendices: Tables listing builders sea trials, the names of the officers and men who were lost, those who survived, and the name of their last ship or duty station.
Department of the Navy Requests for Funding
editrefs: Federal Register (~~1934-35??). Naval Archives and History. And others as applicable.
Funding Request(s) [by Navy Department ??] and Congressional approval for Sargo class submarines.
Congressional approval.
U.S. Navy orders placed for Sargoclass submarines.
Design details, construction contract placed by BuShips with USNS Portsmouth. ['placed' or 'assigned to' --??]
Construction
editPlans provided by [Navy or who??] Construction approved for U.S. Navy hull number 192, named Squalus Construction commences Keel laid
Construction features topside
edit Conning tower
Deck cannon
Torpedo loading hatches
Escape hatches
Diesel engines air induction valves
Construction features below
edit Forward torpedo room, crew bunks
Galley, crew bunks
Mess hall
Officers quarters
Captain
Executive officer/navigator
(others)
Control room
Engine room, crew bunks
Battery compartment, crew bunks
Aft torpedo room, crew bunks
Launching and Commissioning
editList of Officers (rank (class), assignment, experience) List of crewembers (rate, assignment, experience) List of supernumaries [two builder's reps aboard on Dive 18]
Sea Trials
edit| Date | Sea trial | Time | Location | Purpose | Notes |
| January 1 | 01 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 2 | 02 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 3 | 03 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 4 | 04 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 5 | 05 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 6 | 06 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 7 | 07 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 8 | 08 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 9 | 09 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 10 | 10 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | Casualty |
| January 11 | 11 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 12 | 12 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 13 | 13 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 14 | 14 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 15 | 15 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 16 | 16 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 17 | 17 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 18 | 18 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | No failures |
| January 19 | 19 | 0800 - 1700 | Off Isle of Shoals | Operational tests | Casualty |
• Sea Trial 18 [includes failed "crash dive" test]. • Sea Trial 19 [includes successful "crash dive" test and then flooding of aft torpedo and engine rooms]. • [fn.] Report from two similar Squalus-type submarines (S1 and S2): • S1: reported main induction valve failure to completely close. Submarine was able to surface immediately when flooding observed. • S2: reported main induction valve failed to close on the surface while preparing to submerge, returned to shipyard for repair. • Squalus main induction valve complete rebuild in shipyard just before test [number?] in builder's trials. • Reported "all green" [all openings to the sea closed]. • Unexpected flooding in aft torpedo room and engine room, including battery compartment. [fn. cause and previous like incidents]. • Lt. Naquin's immediate maneuvering commands, timing between commands, 192's response timing, and the effect of the response [show time table??].
On the Bottom
editLt. Naquin's orders to crew when Squalus settled on ocean floor.
Release of Squalus' emergency telephone bouy on hearing engine noise of a ship close by; contact established between Squalus and [S-191].
Release and effect of flare and smoke rockets.
Command to limit movement and breathing, doubling up in blankets to keep warm.
Two Signalmen assigned to forward torpedo room to alternate tapping Morse code boat's hull to help rescue ships discover Squalus' location on the bottom.
Squalus reported overdue; S-191 and other ships alerted; S-191 proceeds to the Squalus' last reported position.
Assignment of two Signalman to the the forward buoyancy tank to hammer directly on the hull.
Evaluation and dismissal by Lt. Naquinn of crew using the "Momsen Lung" to escape the ship; 36 degree sea water, 240 ft ascent by seamen inexperienced with assent from that level.
USS Sculpin (S-191) locates Squalus
edit Fruitless search of last reported location of 192, Captain's decision to return to Portsmouth.
As 191 turns around and starts to leave search area, Officer facing aft looking for a last look towards the search area sees and reports a red smoke flare on the horizon.
191's Commanding Officer in the freewater (conning tower) orders an about face and return to search area and bright yellow floating buoy with emergency telephone line connect to 192.
Very brief connection to 192 before cleated telephone line parts when rising seas cause cleated telephone line to part from emergency buoy.
191 begins grappling to 192. After several attempts, 191's grapple catches on something.
Falcon arrives. Helmeted diver in waterproof canvas diving suit from Falcon follows grapple line, finds that the grapple has caught on one of 192's railings.
Diving bell hauling cable dropped down to diver, who makes cable "fast" to connector on 192.
Rescue of survivors commences.
Arrival of submarine rescue ship USS Falcon (ASR-9)
edit The McCann submarine rescue device
Construction
Performance specifications; pros and cons
Deployment and rescue
Rescue of Squalus survivors
editSalvage and return of Squalus to Portsmouth
editIn drydock
edit Formal decommissioning of Squalus
Striking from list of U.S. submarines
Removal of remains of crewmember's who did not survive the sinking
Inspection of damages to Squalus hull and interior spaces
Collection of crew's effects; crewmembers assigned to salvage and restoration of Hull 192
Decision to repair and restore Hull 192 to service:
War with Japan inevitable, immediate need for submarines; time advantage in rebuilding/restoring Hull 192
Decision on whether or not to rename Hull 192 or retain the name Squalusa; decision to rename Hull 192 as Sailfish
Commissioning of renamed Hull 192 to Sailfish (S-192)
edit• New name suggested by President Roosevelt's remark that during Squalus salvage submarine's behavior resembled a hooked "sailfish".
Aftermath
edit U.S. Navy Board of Inquiry investigation
Squalus Memorials
Squalus Museum, U.S. Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Appendix A: Officers and crew
editLost
Name-- Rank or Rate -- Last Duty Station -- Assignment in Squalus
J.H. Patterson Ensign (USNA '35)
Bascom Slemp Scyphers Electricians Mate First Class
John James Batick Electricians Mate First Class
Huie King McAfee Electricians Mate Second Class
Robert Lyle Coffey Electricians Mate Second Class
Lionel Hugh Fletcher Electricians Mate Third Class
James Andrew Aitken Firecontrolman Third Class
Joshua Casey Fireman First Class
John Plesent Hathaway Fireman
Robert Ross Weld Firemans Apprentice
John Allan Chesnutt Chief Machinist Mate
Elvin Leo Deal Machinist Mate Second Class
Kenneth Ross Garrison Chief Machinist Mate
Eugene Arthur Hoffman Machinists Mate First Class
Frank Henry Schulte Machinists Mate First Class
Jack John Strong Machinists Mate First Class
John Laurise Thomala Machinists Mate First Class
Marion Lawrence Ward Radioman Third Class
Alexander Biggs Leegam Signalman
John Joseph Marino Special Artificer [note: pre-1948]
Robert Preson Thompson Ships Cook Third Class
Robert Franklin Gibbs Torpedoman First Class
Alfred Charles Priester Torpedoman Second Class
Sherman Luther Shirley Torpedoman First Class
Donald Smith Civilian, Builder's Representative (General Motors)
Charles M. Wood Civilian, Builder's representative ( )
Survived (table)
Name Rank or Rate Last Submarine Assignment in Squalus
Warren Wiley Smith, Junior Signalman Second Class S-37, Cavite P.I Reported to Squalus in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. While on the bottom posted to conning tower to hammer on hull to help locate Squalus, then to communicate with Sculpin and Falcon with Morse-encoded hammer strikes.
Appendix B: YouTube videos frame by frame descriptions
editAppendix C: Glossary of Naval Terms
editBureau of Ships (BuShips)
boat
fairwater (aka conning tower)
conning tower (see 'fairwater')
control room
torpedo room
oscillator
spaces
bow
stern
aft, abaft, after
fore, forward
topside
below decks, down below, below
overhead, the overhead
sculpin (fish)
squalus (fish)
sailfish (fish)
emergency dive, crash dive
shear
ways (construction)
References
edit- ^ CINCLANTFLEET History Log June 1968 to July 1969, page 104 at 4. a.
Footnotes:
Photo credits:
Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton, Connecticut
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Shipyard, Squalus Museum, Portland, New Hampshire
U.S. Naval Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut
Bibliography:
Back From The Deep (c) 1994 Carl LaVo, U.S. Naval Institute Press, ISBN 1-55750-507-1 (bound edition)
Back From The Deep (c) 1994 Carl Lavo, U.S. Naval Institute Press, ISBN 978-1-61251-170-2 (Kindle edition)
On The Bottom Rear Admiral Edward Ellsberg, Open Road, Integrated Media (Kindle edition)
Men Under the Sea (c) 1939, Rear Admiral Edward Ellsberg, Open Road, Integrated Media (Kindle edition)
The Terrible Hours (c) 1999, Peter Maas, 49 East 33rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10016
Twenty-Fifth Annual Navy Say Observance (1946). Booklet. United States Submarine Service, United States Naval Submarine Base,
New London, Connecticut.
U.S. Subs in action (c) 1983, Robert C. Stern, Squadron/Signal publications
External links:
YouTube, search term "USS Squalus", see:
"The Squalus Story"
"Charles Momsen and Submarine Escape 4: The Loss and Escape of the USS Tang"
"Submarine Squalus Raised Again (1939)", British Pathe
"USS Squalus bow seen during recovery attempts. HD Stock Footage"
"McCann, Momsen, the Squalus Rescue", (Jeff Scism)
"USS Squalus Tribute", (Brass Rose)
"USS Sailfish 1979 West Pac Video" (Thomasbechi18)"
"Pigboats ...."
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Shipyards/Portsmouth/
Submarine Force Library and Museum, https://ussnautilus.org
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, https://history.navy.mil
Membership Departmewnt, U.S. Naval Institute, 118 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5035. Tel: (800) 233-8764 Fax: (410 269-7940. Website: www.usni.org