Volume 2, Issue 2 I A Newsletter for the Supporters of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum Keepers of the Undersea The Commander ofthe Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Vice Adm. George Emery, discusses the past, present and future of his boats. by Heather Burnett and Gordon Calhoun ver the years, the his godfather who had a 27-year submarine force of the naval career and was a veteran of United States Navy has World War II. "It was his stories and 0 made a significant my respect for the man that lead me contribution to world wars and to the to joining the submarine force," preservation of world peace. At its Emery says. current strength today, our Navy In a recent speech at the Hampton operates over 90 fast attack and Roads Naval Museum, Emery ballistic missile submarines with discussed the evolving role of several thousand sailors manning submarine throughout naval history, them. In command of the Atlantic its influence on Hampton Roads, and boats is Vice Adm. George W. the future role the submarine will Emery. play in the Navy. The first submarine As a highly decorated and the Navy acquired was to be called distinguished veteran of the undersea USS Holland (SS-1 ), named after its warfare service, Emery has to his Irish-American designer, Holland. credit the following in his naval Competing for Navy contracts with Pictured here is Vice Adm. George W Emery, career: service aboard five nuclear­ John Holland was a man by the name Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Adm. Emery recently spoke at the powered submarines; commander of of Simon Lake. museum and discussed the history of the USS Groton (SSN-694) and USS Among his ideas, Lake wanted to submarine here in Hampton Roads. He Ohio (SSBN-726); Deputy Director put wheels on the bottom of the boat reminded the audience about the value of of Strike and Amphibious Warfare; so that it could clear minefields and today's submarine force. (U.S. Navy picture provided by the SUBLANT Public Affairs and Executive Assistant and Naval destroy underwater telephone cables. Office) Aide to the Under Secretary of the He designed two excellent boats, the Navy. His first exposure to Argonaut I and the Protector. While Russians where they were used in the submarines came at an early age from the Navy did finally award a contract Russo-Japanese War. Inside The Day Book to Lake, he never decisively won over During the First World War, the the Navy. In the words of Naval Hampton Roads area did for the Director's Column.......... 2 historian Antony Preston, "Not only submarine what it was already • One Raider's Story......... 2 was the Protector very strongly built, famous for achieving with the surface U-Boat Torpedo............. 3 but her diving was smoother than the ships, repairing and new Holland. Yet those wheels seem to construction. Newport News Wolves at the Gates....... .4 have annoyed the US Navy to the Shipbuilding got into the submarine Mining the North Sea..... 8 point where they turned her down." construction business by building Wings Over the Bay...... lO With the rejection of the Protector by USS Seal (SS-19 1/2) The Seal was The Museum Sage......... ll the United States, Lake sold it, and what the Navy called the "G"-class four more like the Protector, to the Keepers continued on page 6 New 8l Improved One Raider's """ The Director's Column Story by Becky Poulliot by Bob Matteson e start the new year with a educational program. First, we Editor 's Note: As part of its education hail and farewell. By the welcome the new docents who program, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum Wtime you receive this issue, graduated this past December. They offers first person interpretation of historical the Hampton Roads Naval Museum are Paul Bohn, David Dashiell, Bill characters. Two of these characters are a V­ B oat commander and a convoy commander. in Eley, Walter Geddits, Gene Hanlin, will have a new volunteer coordinator this issue, we feature the U-Boat commander. onboard. Interviews have been Stuart Landersman and Franco ongoing and we hope to have the staff Pucci. earts pound and stomachs member in place sometime in January. Secondly, the museum will tighten. Throats become dry. Take an opportunity to come in the sponsor a series of lectures on Naval HEyes dart uneasily from side office, or call and say hello to the new aviation, each located at a site related to side. Nobody talks. Skin starts to member of our museum. to the topic. The lectures are scheduled get clammy and palms sweat. The On Dec. 15, we bid a fond farewell during the mid-day to attract active silent crew listens as the seconds tick to Senior "Mac", EMCS (SS) Brian duty personnel in addition to the away. The noise on the surface makes F. McMurtrie, who served as interim general public. This program is a new the sailors strain to listen that much coordinator for our docents since last outreach effort for us, so please plan harder, anxiously awaiting that summer. Senior Mac's enthusiasm was on participating. You can find more unmistakable double clicking sound infectious. He was extremely flexible information on this new lecture series one hears just before a depth charge and scheduled events with very little on Page 10 of this issue of The explodes. notice. He also worked many evenings Daybook. Suddenly, white knuckles tighten to keep up with special programs. Speaking of the newsletter, this down on anything that can be held onto Senior Mac's retirement ended a issue focuses on the submarine. The when the deadly "click-click" is heard. distinguished 22-year career in the U.S. submarine is a most valued weapon by Officers and crew alike are deafened Navy. During his tenure, he served as the world navies. Articles discuss the by the sudden barrage of explosions. a nuclear power plant technician and modem U.S. Navy submarine force, the The boat's outer hull sustains supervisor aboard five submarines, a U-Boat menace off the American irreparable damage and it has to submarine tender, the aircraft carrier coastline in 1942 and the Allied efforts surface; and the order is given to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in World War I to stop the U-Boats with surface to a very hostile welcome. during the war with Iraq and a Hampton Roads-built undersea mines. KapiUinleutnant Horst Petrich, the submarine support facility. We wish Happy New Year! U-Boat's commanding officer, wanting him well as he begins a new career, to assess the damage to the hull, is the that of a college student. first up the ladder to the bridge. It was Other changes at the museum his boat that spotted the Allied convoy include several additions to the and signaled to the other boats in the Iller wolfpack to attack, he thought. He About The Day Book HRNM Staff had sunk one merchant from convoy Director ONS-7, but he had alerted the convoy The Day Book is an authorized publication ofthe Hampton Becky Poul/iot guards. No sooner does Petrich open Roads Naval Museum (HRNM). Its contents do not necessarily Curator reflect the official view ofthe U.S. Government, the Department Joe Judge the hatch and climb those last steps to of Defense, the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps and do not Education Specialist the boat's deck, when suddenly U-65 7 imply endorsement thereof. The HRNM is a museum dedicated Bob Matteson is rammed broadside by a British to the study of 200 years of Naval history in the Hampton Exhibits Specialist escort. Knocked off the bridge and into Roads region. The museum is open Monday from 9 am. to 4 Marta Nelson p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from I 0 am. to 5 p.m. Museum Technician the cold water by the jarring blow, The DayBook's purpose is to educate and inform readers on Ofelia Elba Petrich turns around to look for his boat • historical topics and museum related events. It is written by the Assistant Curator when he sees the water rushing into the staff and volunteers of the museum. The newsletter takes its Tom Dandes BTCS (SW) tremendous gash the DE left in its side. name from a 19th century Norfolk newspaper. HRNM LPO Within minutes his boat with all hands Questions or comments can be directed to the Hampton EM I Francis Cannon Roads Naval Museum editor. The Day Book can be reached at Editor of The DayBook aboard, save himself, sinks out of sight. 444-8971 , by fax at 445-1867, or write The Day Book, Hampton Gordon Calhoun The cold chill he feels is not from Roads Naval Museum, One Waterside Drive, Suite248, Norfolk, Director, HRNHF the icy waters, but from watching his VA23510-1607. 7heDayBookispublished bi-monthly with a Maj.Gen.Dennis Murphy, crew of 44 men and officers go to their circulation of 1000. USMC (Ret) Raider continued page 11 2 A Relic of a Hard Fought Duel A recovered torpedo on display from U-352 by Joe Judge or residents of the East Coast, receiving an order World War II arrived with a fury they opened fire, Fin the spring of 1942, a somber and hoping to prevent fearful time colored by the bright glow the German crew ofburning ships. The German Operation from reaching the Paukenschlag, a submarine offensive submarine's deck against American shipping lanes, had gun. The crew of U- opened with spectacular success.