The Dolphin Brotherhood Page 2 the DOLPHIN BROTHERHOOD
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US Submarine Veterans Inc. (USSVI ) Volume 5, Issue 3 Seattle Base May-June 2003 British Chariots or “Human Torpedoes” No history of submarine warfare in World War Two could be complete without a mention of the "Human Torpedo" or "Chariot". The she er drama of their story, which could not be revealed at the time, introduced a unique level of selectiv- ity into naval warfare. The target was chosen and plans made well be- fore the actual deploy- ment, when they, just A British "Chariot" or "Human Torpedo" rides on the surface. as their bigger brothers the midget submarines, or X-Craft, The human-torpedo was "expendable"; it were towed into the area by a full- lacked the power to return to the open sized submarine. sea for a rendezvous with the parent sub- (See “Chariot” on page 6) Commander’s Corner by Patrick Householder, Base Commander participation in our April wondered where all my meeting to discuss his emails have been, my service on Russian and hard drive crashed! Nuff Soviet submarines was said. Cliff Nutter and I very well attended. My son were flag bearers in the Adam was inducted into Memorial Day ceremony the US Army that same at Tahoma National day so I was unable to Cemetery, and Bob Opple attend. Darn! The District 9 was the featured speaker meeting was held in at a similar service at Silverdale with attendance Greenwood Memorial of about 1/2 dozen Seattle Cemetery in Renton. The It's been an interesting Base members. The next Foxtrot is starting to look couple of months since our one will be in Portland, OR. real spiffy, thanks to the last paper. Igor Kolosov's For those who may have (“Corner” - Continued on page 11) The Dolphin Brotherhood Page 2 THE DOLPHIN BROTHERHOOD A Gray Day on Georgia Blue by Charlie Ryan On drizzly 23 April eight Seattle Base members (Pat other large objects. With her next patrol only two Householder, Dave Goodson, Cliff Nutter, Don Gen- weeks away, Georgia’s interior was a hive of activ- try, Don Smith, Peter McCafferty, Steve Shelton , ity as crew and yard workers moved through a and Charlie Ryan) rendezvoused at maze of cables and temporary ducting the Bangor Sub Base Main Gate to to get everything shipshape. visit USS Georgia (SSBN-729). Dave Goodson arranged this event Captain Ratliff showed us his state- through the graces of his relation- room, stowed our jackets and ship with Blue Crew CO, Christo- hosted us for lunch in the ward pher Ratliff, Commander, USN. room. During a leisurely meal the Captain Ratliff (USNA 1983) is Captain and XO answered ques- the son of Dave’s CO when he tions about SSBN capabilities served on Seahorse (SSN- and ship board life, and told us 669), and the idea for a visit some of their Navy experi- came up when Dave showed ences while we told a few the Ratliffs through the tales – some even true - Rusty Russki a few months from our sea days. back. After lunch two Senior After a Navy-style hurry- Chiefs guided us through up-and-wait delay getting an extended tour of all through main gate security compartments forward of we reached Georgia in the the engineering spaces. dry dock beside Delta Pier on Sailors and Chiefs in each Hood Canal. Captain Ratliff part of the ship briefed us on and XO LCDR Burian greeted their areas and explained us, handed out souvenir enameled USS Georgia some of the operating machinery. One amazing coins and escorted us across the gangplank. Ohio bit of technology was the conventional flush toilets Class boats look big in the water, but in dry dock with porcelain bowls! On a submarine!?! they appear truly GIGANTIC. For perspective, con- sider that each torpedo door is twelve feet long! Despite busily preparing for patrol, everyone from the Captain down was exceedingly friendly, infor- mative and generous with their time. After our tour Captain Ratliff escorted us back on deck. He spent another half hour explaining Geor- gia’s deck features and walking the length of the dry dock to point out and discuss exterior hull de- tails. Discussing the day’s on the ferry back to Seattle, all of us felt we had “hit the jackpot” by not only be- ing able to visit an Ohio Class boat, but by spend- ing four hours on board, having the chance to get USS Georgia (SSBN-729) cruises through Puget Sound country acquainted with the Captain and XO and being able to see the vessel up close in dry dock. To We descended traditional ladders about 25 feet into this “citizen sailor” who patrolled WestPac in the boomer, although the hull opening used for re- GUPPY and Tang Class boats in the late 1960s, supplying in port is a very untraditional 8 feet in di- Georgia’s technology and capability are nearly in- ameter to accommodate full pallets of supplies and conceivable. Even more impressive is the profes- VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 Page 3 sionalism, perform- National Office Manager Fred Borgmann was then introduced by ance and pride exhib- Cliff Nutter. Fred made a report of what they do at the office, it’s ited by every crew- location and he spoke of his philosophy in treating our members as member we observed customers. He let us know that there are over 10,000 members and that approx 800 are still on the dink list. While this is better than last or spoke with. Don year’s situation, USSVI is going to take a harder line with those Gentry observed, members not paid up by April 1. They will be removed organiza- “Those guys seem a tional rolls and from the AmSub magazine list until and unless they lot more civilized than are paid up. They are asking the Bases to work harder to keep the we were.” Oh well, af- dink list down. ter their hitches they can join USSVI and In response to a question, Fred let everyone know that the member we’ll change that! number they received on joining is a permanent number that stays with them while on or off the dink list. If a MAL joins, his name will be forward to the closest base so they can try to get him in and Captain Ratliff’s com- working with the group. There is some interest in making those mand philosophies of member numbers available to the Bases so that the numbers can “honor, courage and be recorded by the Base on the member renewal cards when the CO Chris Ratliff commitment” are not member renews. mere buzz words but principles that actually guide Georgia’s crew in Cliff introduced Don Mac Smith, Web Master for the Western Re- their daily activities. Georgia was commissioned gion’s seventeen sites. in 1984, and her current patrol will be her last one National Junior Vice Commander Bud Berg was then introduced. as an SSBN. After returning to Bangor she will He spoke of going after those on the dink list. There is a proposed transfer to Norfolk for conversion from 24 ICBM amendment to increase dues due to the cost of the Magazine silos to an SSGN capable of launching 168 Toma- “American Submariner” in the pending national election. There was hawk missiles. discussion of having “American Submariner” done commercially even though it is currently done by four Texas volunteers. Either [Editor’s note: At the end of our visit and drydock walk- way the cost has gone up, and although it would be more expensive around, Captain Ratliff escorted our group to the Navy to produce commercially, the quality of the product would probably van and our driver (another fine Georgia crewmember). be better Once we were all inside and the van began to roll away, I took once last glance back at Georgia. There was her National Secretary Pat Householder was introduced and he ex- skipper, standing at attention in the drizzling rain, giving plained how the USSVI Charitable Foundation was setup as a 501 us old seadogs a perfect salute. Thanks Cap’n, I’ll (c)(3) so that individual members can make tax deductible donations never forget that….] to the full extent of the law. He explained the six subsidiary groups, which include the General Fund, Museums Sub Fund, Li- brary Fund , Scholarship Fund, Brotherhood Fund and Memorial 2003 USSVI DISTRICT 9 MEETING MINUTES Fund. He mentioned that some bases do ‘fund matching’ of their member contributions. When the base makes a general contribu- Minutes of District 9 Meeting 0900 on 10 May 11, 2003 located tion there is no tax break. (because the base is not taxed). For the at the Red Lion Motel in Silverdale Washington tax break it must be from the individual and can be earmarked for the Charitable Foundation general fund or one of the specific funds. Meeting was called to order by Elliott Abram, Bremerton Base Com- mander. He let everyone know that the new and expanded 2003 Policy and Procedure Manual is available for purchase from the National Office Lost boats USS Runner (SS 275) 28 May 43 and USS Lagarto (SS ($10.00 including mailing) or may be downloaded from the USSVI 371) 3 May 45 web site at no cost. Invocation by Bremerton Base Chaplin Mike Donovan. Cliff Nutter explained the national USSVI web site has all forms Everyone introduced themselves, giving their Name, Base and Qual needed and the Chaplain’s Manual has been recently revised. He boat & date. Elliot introduced District 9 Commander Cliff Nutter and let all know that we have a new Base this past year in Central Ore- turned the meeting over to him.