Volume 2, Issue 2

I A Newsletter for the Supporters of the Naval Museum Keepers of the Undersea The ofthe 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 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 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 , "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 ...... 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 ..... 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 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 coastline in 1942 and the Allied efforts surface; and the order is given to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in 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 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. 352 began to abandon German submarines found America ship, after making unprepared to wage war on her doorstep sure that their vessel and the result was a second "happy time." would be scuttled. KapiUinleutnant Hellmut Rathke, The crew, still under commander of U-352, had been briefed fire from the Icarus on the short but eventful history of the and taking casualties, American campaign. With success in took to the water as U- mind, he crossed the Atlantic and 352 slid beneath the stationed his ship about 300 off waves. Cape Hatteras in May 1942. After failing A period of to sink one tanker, Rathke decided to confusion ensued as Fort Story based Navy divers recover a torpedo warhead from U- bring his U-Boat closer to shore to change the Icarus launched 352. The warhead can been seen in the museum 's V-B oat exhibit. his luck. On May 9th Rathke sighted the one more depth (U.S. Navy photo) mast of a small freighter on the horizon charge at the sinking hulk, and radioed held the exploding mechanism. and, determined to sink the ship, fired two to Norfolk for permission to pick up The warhead section was recovered torpedoes. Rathke made a fatal mistake, the survivors. An answer finally came from the wreck of U-352 in the late as the ship in his sights was not a freighter from the Sixth Naval District in 1970s by the Navy's but the Coast Guard cutter Icarus, under Charleston to bring the survivors in. Ordinance Disposal Group Two, the command of Lt. Maurice D. Jester. Rathke and his surviving crew operating out of Fort Story and the Rathke's torpedoes missed their target. members would spend the rest of the salvage ship Opportune (ARS-41) from Within two minutes of the war as prisoners. Jester received the Little Creek. The Navy was responding unsuccessful torpedo attack Jester, a Navy Cross for the destruction of U- to reports from civilian divers about the native of Chincoteague, Va., had his crew 352. presence oflive ordnance in and around at battle stations and the Icarus ready for The short, deadly battle had lasted the wreck of the submarine. U-352 had counterattack. Jester ordered a diamond a little less than an hour. It was one of become a controversial wreck site after pattern of five depth charges laid, which the first successful U-Boat sinkings by jts discovery by a fisherman in the early exploded all around U-352. Immediately Americans in World War II, and a 1970s. Reports of civilian divers after they exploded the submarine was bright spot amidst the destruction removing human remains, and perhaps crippled, as its electric motors had been caused by Operation Paukenschlag. exhibiting them as macabre trophies, knocked off their mounts, other The museum's U-Boat exhibit contains surfaced in Parade and other instruments were lost, and the a reminder of the battle, symbolizing magazines. The West German executive officer had been killed. U- the struggle waged off the coast in government and members of Congress 352 began to drift helplessly. Aboard 1942. spoke out against the desecration of the the Icarus, Jester's soundmen told him The artifact is a section from one of ship. The treatment of U-352 's wreck • that the submarine was moving, but U-352 's torpedoes. The nose-cone is still an oft-cited example in slowly. The Icarus continued to attack, shaped piece of metal is the warhead discussions about the need to protect rocking the U-Boat with depth charges. section of a G7e torpedo, the standard shipwrecks from unprincipled Under the sea, Rathke realized that his German torpedo of World War II. The vandalism. crippled ship could take no more, and G7e had an electric propulsion system, In the meantime, the warhead he surfaced. with a range of5,000 meters and a top remains a silent witness to the terrible Aboard the Icarus, gun crews speed of 30 knots. Visitors to the battle waged between the Icarus and watched as the U-Boat surfaced about museum will notice a round hole in the U-352 in 1942, a small but furious 1000 yards to starboard. Without top of the warhead, which originally snapshot of the . Jlb.

3 Wolves at the Gates of Norfolk Operation Paukenschlag Gives America a Wake-Up Call by John Simanton he United States had only officially been at war for a T month when the British passenger steamer Cyclops was torpedoed and sunk approximately 300 miles east of Cape Cod. The sinking of the Cyclops was the beginning of one of the great disasters in American naval history. Adm. Karl Donitz, commander of the submarine forces of the German navy, had elected to greet the United States' new identity as a hostile belligerent with the words "einen kraftigen paukenschlag" or "a powerful blow on the kettledrum." In a matter of days, the East Coast of the U.S. was witnessing aU-Boat rampage which would stretch through the Within sight of Cape Henry, Virginia, the oiler SS Robert Tunney burns after being torpedoed upcoming weeks to cover the first half by a German U-Boat in 1942. The sunk several other merchant ships in American of 1942. Paukenschlag, also called waters during Operation Paukenschlag, or Operation Drumbeat. (National Archives photo) Operation Drumbeat, the German operation. The U-Boat command Adolphus Andrews, had no Naval submarine offensive in East Coast decided to use the more numerous Type aircraft at the outbreak of war and had waters, sent a shudder through the VII boats only after they discovered it to rely on the Army. The Army patrols American people. Civilians, soldiers could make the trip by adopting strict fuel were not much better as they only had and sailors alike were stunned by this consumption. a total of nine bombers for the entire dramatic demonstration of America's At the time of the operation, the U- Eastern seaboard. Naval assets vulnerability. Boat crews were at their professional amounted to mostly Coast Guard patrol Paukenschlag can best be understood peak. Although the German submarine ships, supplemented by a few as a prolonged raid rather than as a fleet was growing, the boats could still squadrons of U.S. Navy and campaign. Even thought short of assets, count on a good leavening of highly escorts. What was worse, the Kriegsmarine was always alert for any trained pre-war personnel in their crews. with convoys not instituted for some possibility of vulnerability in the Allies' As a result, these boats could be counted time, these assets were used in an seaborne commerce. Paukenschlagwas on to take maximum advantage of the "offensive patrol" role hunting for designed to use limited assets to wreak opportunities presented to them and were submarines and proceeding at high maximum havoc for as long as the efforts allowed to operate alone. They would speed to the scenes ofU-Boat attacks, yielded a sufficient return in ships and cruise near significant landfalls, such as generally arriving long after the U-Boat cargo destroyed. America's increasingly Cape Hatteras, and attack as opportunity had moved on. Back in World War I, hostile neutrality had been a thorn in the offered. Aware that the United States did President had summed side of the German navy throughout not have a land pipeline network to carry up this "offensive" method as "hunting 1940-41 . Once Germany declared war oil from the Southwest to the industrial the hornets all over the farm." This on the United States on Dec. 11, Northeast in those days, the German description still held true. American targets were fair game. Naval High Command hoped to disrupt It was not until April that the With America now an open target, the American industry, especially beginnings ofa convoy system emerged. U-Boat command weighed its assets, and shipbuilding, by attacking the coastal Early on, a "bucket brigade" policy was decided to begin the operation group of tanker traffic. Although it did not do this employed as an interim substitute for five submarines to American waters to to the extent hoped, the tanker losses convoy -'with coastal shipping instructed initiate attacks. Because of the distance inflicted were especially severe. to proceed by daylight and shelter in from the U-Boat bases in to the The initial measures to counter this harbors or defended waters overnight. It American coastline, the larger Type IX offensive were not up to the task. The was not very effective. boat was initially selected for the Commander Eastern Sea Frontier, Adm. Wolves continued on page 5

4 Wolves continued from page 4 not infrequently sighted from fashionable accused a man of "Nordic type" who The individual Naval districts would Florida resorts, and on June 15, two large supposedly listened to the tanker's organize convoys and escort them American freighters were torpedoed by crew in the Dutch West Indies. In through their assigned waters but this was a U-Boat within full view of thousands sinking a ship under the nose of the less effective than it should have been of pleasure-seekers at Virginia Beach." Navy in Hampton Roads, though, U- due to the lack of a system coordinating The war had truly come to America. 754 certainly did not lack audacity. such convoys and escorts as they passed From the American point of view, one By the summer of 1942, from one district to another. Ultimately, of the most embarrassing sinkings in the improvements in American anti­ an effective coastal convoy network was Hampton Roads area was the attack on began to fall into set up which cut the losses. Until this the freighter SS Tiger. The Tiger was place. The convoys were organized and became effective in the summer of 1942, carrying 60,000 barrels of oil from escorted. The Coast Guard was however, the U-Boats had a very easy Aruba, Dutch West Indies on the night organizing civilian pleasure craft into time of it. of March 31, 1942. As it approached Corsair squadrons and manning beach British experience notwithstanding, the Virginia Capes, it signalled for a pilot. patrols to ensure that U-Boats would be defense of our coastal shipping did not What it received instead was a torpedo sighted and sunk. The Navy and Army seem to have received serious from Capt. Oestermann 's surfaced U- were starting to fly aircraft with radar and • consideration prior to U.S. entry into magnetic detectors to allow effective the war. U.S. coast defense policy was night search. By mid-July, it became fragmented in those days. The long iif~~~~~~ clear that the easy pickings along the U.S. shadow of the - coast were a thing of the past. The U- combined with limited budgets had l Boats elected to move to easier hunting focused the Navy on defeating an grounds. invasion fleet on the high seas, while There were some bright spots for the the Army had a system designed for American military. Two weeks after the coastal defense. The most effective Tiger sinking, USS Roper (DD-147) organization may well have been the sank U-85 offBodie Island, N.C. on April Coast Guard. Tasked with observing 14. The Roper's crew expertly correlated coastal traffic to prevent smuggling and radar, and lookout reports to track in conducting search and rescue down and destroy the German boat. The operations, they were well oriented for sinking of U-352 off Cape Hatteras by the task. Their lack of numbers the Coast Guard cutter Icarus (see article prevented them from providing a better on page 3) was one of the other notable asset against the U-Boats. sinkings. The military, though, should not After the U-Boats moved to easier receive all the blame. Local authorities hunting grounds, the results of Operation in tourist communities did not Paukenschlagwere nothing short of total immediately adopt blackout This is a picture of a Type VII U-Boat which success. The U-Boats sank or damaged was the mainstay of the Kriegsmarine 's procedures. This allowed U-Boat submarine force during World War II. Between 291 tankers, freighters and warships, to have an illuminated five to eight ofthese boats operated in American including 85 within the boundaries ofthe backdrop of neon lights to silhouette waters in 1942. Displacing 769 tons, it was Fifth Naval District, with no more than targets. capable of 17 knots on the surface and 7 112 12 U-Boats in American waters at one knots submerged. (National Archives photo) The results were terrifying. There time. The Americans were able to sink were reports all along the Eastern 754. The torpedo struck Tiger amidship, five U-Boats (U-85, 215, 352, 516 and seaboard of merchant ships and tankers killing a fireman on watch in the engine 701) before the Germans abandoned the being sunk within sight of land, and thick room. Tiger sank in shallow water with operation in July, 1942. sludges of oil could be seen on American its superstructure still partially above Of interest to the museum, our old beaches. Some of the area sinkings water. Most of the crew was saved by a friend USS seems to have put included the tanker Gu/ftrade which was Norfolk-based subchaser. in an appearance. When the wreck was sunk two miles off Barnegat, N.C. while While the sinking itself was discovered in 1974, it was noticed that • it was no more than 300 yards from a embarrassing, no lessons were learned it showed signs of having been depth Coast Guard cutter; three barges and their from the experience. Fifth Naval charged. Records from the Fifth Naval tugboat were shelled by a surfaced U- District documents speculated and District show that on June 19, 1942, a 574 off Cape Charles, Va.; and the collier blamed the sinking on the U-Boat Navy blimp and a Coast Guard cutter David H. Atwater was also sunk off Cape having been tipped off by disgruntled dropped five depth charges on a Charles by aU-Boat that was only 600 or "German-born former crew stationary contact. The target is yards away. Adm. Donitz himself wrote, members" of Tiger or by an inspector believed to have been the wreck of "No frantic boast... burning tankers were with the tanker's owner. Some even Monitor. J1b.

5 Keepers continued from page 1 of submarines built between 1912 Along the nuclear deterrent these highly successful boats. The through 1914. The shipyard also mission, the second new role shipyard recently completed the last received contracts to repair several submarines were ask to handle was a two boats of the class, Greeneville submarines that had served in the "hunter-killer" task. During the first (SSN-772) and Cheyenne (SSN-773), war. Unfortunately, however, after half of the twentieth century, both of which will be commissioned the repair contract, the submarine all submarines were primarily tasked to in the near future. but disappeared from the Hampton sink surface ships. With nuclear In 1988, the Navy upgraded the Roads area until the late 1950's. power plants and improvements in Lo, Ange/e>-;.i' with the The 1950's brought about the nuclear power revolution. With the construction of the world's first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN-571 ), submarine roles changed dramatically. With nuclear power, ~---~ submarines could stay under for Measuring over 557 feet in length and displacing 18,750 tons, the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines are the largest American submarines ever built and the second largest in the world. They have the reputation of being among the most quiet naval vessels in service. Each of these silent giants carries 24 Trident ballistic missiles while performing its strategic nuclear deterrent mission.

sonar, submarines could track and commissioning of USS San Juan destroy other submarines. One of the (SSN-751). The "improved" Los first of these new "attack" submarines Angeles or "688i" boats have two was USS Shark (SSN-591). Built at major design improvements, and about the same time as the Robert E. provide a Naval commander with Lee in Newport News, the Shark was more attack options than ever before. an early example of a submarine with The first improvement is the addition a "teardrop" hull. This new design of a vertical launch system (VLS) on allowed higher speeds underwater. the front of the boat, allowing the Nineteen sixty was also the year submarine to carry and rapidly fire that Commander Submarine Force the · Tomahawk cruise missile. This Atlantic Fleet or COMSUBLANT, lethal weapon can attack enemy moved from Groton, Conn. to targets on land or at sea at distances Norfolk. The move of SUBLANT up to 500 miles. Submarines used Shown here is the Robert E. Lee (SSBN- touched off a renaissance of the this system to launch some of the first 601) a few days before its launching at . Newport News Shipbuilding in 1959. This boat was the first ballistic submarine to be built by the yard. The attack submarine Shark (SSN-591) is to the left of the Robert E. Lee. (U.S. Navy photo) extended periods of time. Theoretically, a nuclear boat can stay With 61 boats built, the Los Angeles-class is the most successful submarine design of the post­ under as long as crew provisions World War 11 Navy. It measures over 360 feet and displaces around 7,000 tons. Twenty-five of allow. With this ability, the these boats are based at the Norfolk Naval Station. The class has since undergone two improvement stages. Starting with USS Providence (SSN-719), the Los Angeles-class was equipped with submarine became an ideal candidate Tomahawk cruise missiles. In 1988, the Navy commissioned USS San Juan (SSN-751) which for a nuclear deterrent role. became the first attack submarine to be equipped with a vertical launch system (VLS). In addition In 1960, Newport News to the VLS, the bow planes were taken off the and moved to the front of the boat. Shipbuilding launched USS Robert submarine in Hampton Roads. In the attacks on Iraq during Operation E. Lee (SSBN-60 1) which was the late 1960's and early 70 's, many of Desert Storm. The second major • Navy's third "Polaris" missile the Lafayette-class ballistic missile design improvement was to relocate submarine. At the time, it was the submarines and several of the newer the diving planes. On o.Jder largest submarine ever built. attack subs were built and maintained submarines, the diving planes were Equipped with 16 of the Polaris here in Hampton Roads. In the mid placed on the conning tower. With nuclear missiles, Robert E. Lee, and 1970s the Navy authorized its current the 688i-class, the bow planes have its sister boats George Washington and attack submarine, the Los Angeles been moved to the front of the boat, Patrick Henry, were part of the Navy's or "688"-class. Newport News allowing the submarine to perform contribution to nuclear deterrence. Shipbuilding has built over 30 of Keepers continued on page 7

6 Keepers continued from page 6

better in Arctic ice packs. As today' s commanding officer of SUBLANT, Emery is in charge of all submarine operations in the Atlantic. SUBLANT oversees the attack submarines based in New London, Conn., the giant ballistic missile or " boomer" submarines in Kings Bay, Ga. and the attack submarines and support ships here in Norfolk. As of now, there are 25 attack submarines, two tenders and one drydock based in Norfolk. Emery is looking forward to the

newest addition to his fleet. In the Pictured here is USS Norfolk (SSN- 714) running on the surface. The Norfolk is the 26th member spring of 1996, Seawolf (SSN-21) of the Los Angeles-class submarine. It was launched at Newport News Shipbuilding in 1981. will be commissioned. Emery (U. S. Navy photo) commented that this boat is excellent showers and 90,000 pounds of food. 2,000. Currently more than 40 for its " superb quietness and Submarine crews can be submerged contractors ranging from the giant coincident sensor system." Seawolf for periods of 30 days or longer with Newport News Shipbuilding and the will carry more than 50 weapons, be no sunlight or direct contact with the to small capable of traveling at 35-plus knots outside world. Crews operate on a electrical companies are all tied to the and have eight torpedo tubes. 18-hour (6-hour shifts), as opposed submarine force. Compare this with Holland' s first to a normal 24-hour day, often Emery's submarine force today submarine from 1896, which had one submerged at depths greater than 800 remains ready to support a myriad of torpedo tube, was capable of feet. diverse missions including traveling at 7-knots and carried only Despite the cramped living intelligence gathering, mine laying three torpedoes. One can see just how conditions, Emery very proudly and delivery, and retrieval of special far the submarine force has come in notes that submarine crews are the forces such as SEAL teams. It is also a hundred years. The second boat of the most effective anti-submarine and anti-surface platform in the Navy. · "Today submarines are involved everywhere around the world," Emery says. "You can imagine any spot in the ocean and I can tell you Due to enter service in the spring of 1996, the Sea wolf-class submarine marks the next generation plausibly (that) there's a submarine of attack submarine. It measurers over 325 feet in length and can carry over 50 weapons. With its eight torpedo tubes, vertical launch missile system and the quietest sound performance of any there and you cannot deny it. The submarine in the world, Seawolf will be a formidable opponent. Currently there are plans to ballistic missile submarines continue to build one or two more of this class before a new submarine class will take over. provide the nation with a vital strategic deterrent just as they have been since this class, the Connecticut (SSN-22), finest sailors in the Navy and are 1960, providing stability to the is scheduled for launching in 1998. close-knit. "Every person who is on international world and deterring the Life aboard the modern submarine that boat wants to be there. They use of weapons of mass destruction. in many ways is similar to submarines volunteered for submarine duty. The world community is very aware of of old, and in some respects, it is Every sailor on that boat knows every our submarine and the fleet homeported harsher. Even though the modern other sailor. On a carrier, the in Norfolk will continue to play a role."J.b. nuclear submarine is 10 times the size commanding officer could spend his of the World War II diesel subs, most entire tour walking all over the ship • of the boat's space is for the nuclear and still not find every space." reactor and other equipment needed The submarine force, like all for propulsion. To give one idea what branches of the military, are facing it is like, a Los Angeles-class budget pressures. Emery says that the submarine has a crew of 120 men. submarine squadrons in Hampton The editor would like to thank the Commander These men must live inside an area Roads will eventually be reduced from Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, VADM George Emery and the SUBLANT Public equal to a three-bedroom house with their current strength of 25 boats down Affairs Officer LCDR Gregory Smith for their one washer and dryer, six toilets and to I 0 with a personnel strength of cooperation with this article.

7 Another Nail in the Kaiser's Coffin The of 1918 by Joe Mosier

centerpiece of the World War English had attempted to close the touching the wire would create an gallery of the Hampton Roads Channel at its narrowest point (about electrical charge and thus explode the aval Museum is the Mark VI 26 miles), the Dover Straits. The Royal mine without actually making contact mine display. The mine consists of a Navy deployed nets and mines in fields with it. As a result, fewer mines were black ball about three feet in diameter of increasing complexity backed up by needed in a field to achieve the same fixed atop a two- square anchor box a flotilla of anti-submarine vessels. effect. Earle calculated the North Sea with four small wheels. It is a survivor Unfortunately, the so-called Dover Barrage could be laid with fewer than of one of the most successful Barrage proved to be largely I 00,000 mines. Although the British organizational efforts of the United ineffective. One of the problems was were skeptical, on Nov. 17, 1917, they States Navy during that conflict. the poor quality of British contact accepted the American offer to lay the Between October 1917 and November mines early in the war. U-Boats had barrage. 1918, about 100,000 such mines were to make actual contact with the mine The problem for the U.S. Navy constructed in the Hampton Roads for it to explode. In tests with British was that the Mark VI existed in area. After trans-Atlantic shipment, submarines deliberately running into prototype only. The mines would have they were freighted across , reassembled and laid in a 230- long ·minefield between Scotland and . The purpose of this effort was to keep German U-Boats away from shipping which moved vital war goods from North America to Europe. On Feb. I, 1917, the German government instituted unrestricted submarine warfare. This policy meant that there would be no warnings prior to attacks and that neutral ships would be considered fair targets. From Oct. 1916 to Jan. 19f7, U-Boats had sunk a monthly average of 154 ships grossing 307, 172 tons. In the first three months after Germany removed all restrictions, The U.S. Navy Mine laying Fleet underway in the North Sea. Some of the ships in the squadron this statistic zoomed to a monthly were converted passenger ships from Norfolk. They could lay one mine every II and halfseconds . (U.S. Navy Signal Corps photo) average of 326 ships of 648,414 tons. Americans were enraged by the mines (hopefully with reduced to be built, transported to Great Britain, increasing attacks on U.S. merchant charges), the mines only exploded 33 loaded on and properly vessels as well as other German percent of the time. So, while the planted before the barrage would affronts. As a result, .Congress Admiralty considered attempting to become a reality. To speed production, declared war on Germany 'on April 6, close the northern exit of the North Sea over 500 subcontractors were hired to 1917. with minefields, it calculated that over build the parts of the mines. These But how were the Allies to counter 400,000 would be needed. Given that were then shipped to Saint Julien's the U-Boat threat? One of the most the stock on hand was only 20,000, it Creek, Va. on the southern branch of fruitful hunting grounds for German U­ was clearly not practical. the Elizabeth River. Here, in a newly­ Boats was the area west of Great The head of the U.S. Navy's erected 22-building facility, sailors Britain. Lacking the immediate access Bureau of Ordnance, Adm. Ralph assembled the mines and filled each to the Atlantic they were to enjoy Earle, saw th\!_potential of a new tyJJ_e with 30Q pounds of TNT. The sailors during World War II, German U-Boats of antenna mine, the Mark VI, to solve referred to each mine assembled as were forced to transit either through the the problem. This mine used a thin "another nail in the Kaiser's coffm." or northward through copper wire as its trigger. The trigger In a few months this facility handled the North Sea and around Scotland to was suspended above the mine by 25,000,000 pounds of . This reach this area. As early as 1915, the means of a glass float. A submarine Anotlter continued on page 9

8 Another continued from page 8 offered the potential for a serious for the Old Dominion Steamship line. The barrage began to prove itself disaster if an accident occurred. The The remaining two had sailed between even before it was completed. Its fust devastation caused by an explosion in New York and Boston as part of the victim was U-86 damaged on July 6, the harbor at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Eastern Steamship Company. On May 1918 while returning from patrol. By Dec. 1917 caused Navy officials to 11, 1918, the squadro·n departed war's end on Nov. 11, at least six U­ consider a less urban setting for the Newport, Rhode Island for Scotland. Boats (UB127, UB104, UJ56, assembly point. In April1918, ground The first mining run occurred on UBJ23, U92and UJ02)hadsunkand was broken for the Yorktown Navy June 6. After departing the Firth of more were damaged. As important, Mine Depot. Although it did not Moray, the squadron made for Udsire the presence of the barrage caused become operational until after World Light south of Bergen, Norway. the German navy to reconsider its War I ended, it remains active today as the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. At the rate of 1,000 per day, the mines assembled at St. Julien's Creek were transferred to Southern r Railroad's Pier No.4 at Pinner's Point in Portsmouth for loading. The Navy took over a fleet of 24 Great Lakes steamers as mine . Beginning in Feb. 1918, two or three of these ships sailed every eight days from Pier No. 4 to the west coast of Scotland to unload. Trains and canal boats then carried the mines to and Invergordon on the North Sea coast. Here the U.S. Navy had constructed warehouses and servicing facilities for the minelaying operations. To Capt. Reginald G. Belknap fell This is a diagram showing the Mark VI mine deploy. The trigger for the mine was a copper wire. A submarine touching the wire would create an electrical charge thereby setting off the 300 the actual task of placing the minefield. pound explosive. The trigger sometimes was too sensitive and over 3, 000 exploded prematurely Belknap had been in charge of the once they were deployed. Over 100,000 ofthese mines were assembled at St. Julian 's Creek, VA. Navy's first mine-laying experiments (HRNM graphic adapted from a 1918 National Geographic drawing.) in 1913. As Commander Mine Taking up station line-abreast, the ships operational tactics and created Squadron One, he took charge of two moved off on a southwesterly course another detriment to U-Boat crew 1890-vintage , USS San and began to deploy one mine each morale. Many officers Francisco and USS as well 11.5 seconds. The total laid in the first considered the whole minelaying as eight former merchant ships run exceeded 4,000 mines. A British effort a monumental waste of converted at shipyards in the New minelaying squadron joined in the resources which did little positive, York area between Nov. 1917 and effort but was limited by the smaller while constricting where the British March 1918. The conversion consisted size of its vessels. By the completion fleet could operate. However, by mostly of stripping out the vessel's of the barrage on Oct. 26, 1918, there Secretary of the Navy Joseph us interior and laying down tracks along had been 13 excursions for the Daniels reckoning, the war cost the which the wheeled mines could be American squadron and 11 for the Allies $100 million a day. The cost moved. The Otis Elevator Company British. In one of the joint trips, to the United States for the North Sea installed elevators in most of the ships 6,820 mines were planted in four Barrage was $80 million. Daniels felt to allow as many as four decks of mines hours. At its completion the North that if it shortened the war by one day to be carried and deployed. Sea Mine Barrage consisted of it had more than paid for itself. Many of the converted minelayers 70,117 mines (56,571 laid by Mine Whatever its cost, the sheer • had strong ties to the Hampton Roads Squadron One, 13,546 by the Royal complexity of the undertaking and area. Four had been built at Newport Navy) in a field 240 miles long and the speed with which it was News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. up to 35 miles wide. On average, completed made it one of the most for service with the Morgan Line there were about a dozen mines to the reqJ.arkable efforts of World War I in between New York and Galveston, square mile set at varying depths. which Hampton Roads played a Texas. The SS Jefferson and the SS Potentially it became a three- significant part. 1il> Hamilton had provided passenger dimensional nightmare for any service on the New York-Norfolk run transiting U-Boat.

9 Wings Over the Bay The museum to sponsor a series of talks with author Amy Waters Y arsinske about Naval aviation in Hampton Roads by Gordon Calhoun Wings Over the Buy om Eugene Ely's first flight in 910 to the recent commissioning Lecture Schedule F!of USS John C. Stennis (CVN- 74), the Hampton Roads area has been Feb. 7-History of Early Naval at the world focal point ofNaval aviation. Aviation in Hampton Roads-Talk will This is the subject of a new book by focus on Naval aviation in the 19th author and Naval historian Amy Waters century, Eugene Ely's flight, NAS Yarsinske. Titled Wings Over the Bay: Norfolk and NADEP Norfolk. To be Where US. Naval Aviation Really Began, held at Breezy Point Officer's Club at this groundbreaking history tells the story noon. of the men and women who have built and served in the aviation arm of the U.S. March 25-History of AIRLANT­ Navy. Beginning Feb. 7, she will give a Talk will focus on the aircraft carrier series of talks about Naval aviation. in Hampton Roads and the Atlantic Y arsinske believes that the subject of Fleet Naval Air Force. To be held at Naval aviation should be approached Norfolk Live at noon. A tour of USS The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is proud America (CV -66) to follow talk. from a personal perspective. "Flying is to sponsor a series of talks by Amy Waters a very personal experience and every Yarsinske. She will speak on the history and experience is different, " she said. She experience of Naval aviation in Hampton Aprilll-Naval Aviation Today-Talk Roads. See the schedule at right for topics will focus on the history of NAS noted that one must look at Naval and locations. aviation history as any other history, a Oceana and Naval aviation traditions. collection of human experiences within of Naval aviation and aircraft since Co-sponsored by the Hampton Roads an historical framework of time and childhood when she took a tour aboard Squadron Association of Naval place. Naval aviators have the USS John F Kennedy (CV -67), then a Aviation. opportunity in this book to tell their story, brand new addition to the carrier piers at often in their own words. "The worst Norfolk. "I still have all the memorabilia Call the museum at (804) 444-8971 mistake we make as historians is from school field trips and family visits for times and more information. The overwriting our subject. No one tells the aboard the carriers and air stations in lectures are open to the public. seat-of-your-pants flying story better than Hampton Roads, thirty years worth of it." the aviator himself. The Hampton Roads Yarsinske was born and currently 1994) has sold out twice and is being experience speaks loudest for itself. resides in Norfolk. She holds two reprinted for a third time. Unfortunately, no one has told the whole bachelor of arts degrees from Randolph­ Through job and personal story, in manuscript from the beginning Macon Woman's College in economics experiences, Yarsinske has gained to the present, until now." and English; a Master ofPianning degree extensive knowledge on the U.S. Navy The pilots and the Naval flight officers from the School of Architecture, as well as getting to know the Naval are not the only people who get attention University of Virginia; and is a doctoral aviation community up close and in Wings Over the Bay. Yarsinske candidate in urban studies at Old personal. She is known and respected includes the experiences of the men and Domil]ion University. Yarsinske is the for her vast knowledge and writing of women who serve in a variety of support author of several books, a regular Naval aviation history and Hampton roles. This list includes everyone from contributor to journals, and columnist Roads historical framework, as well as • the sheet metal mechanics who overhaul for several newspapers and magazines. her urban planning work and community F-14s at NADEP Norfolk to the "white She has most recently completed her service. shirts," otherwise known as safety participation in an urban design/ Amy Yarsinske is married to Lt. personnel aboard aircraft carriers, who architectural book destined for Raymond Yarsinske, Jr., a Naval flight make sure aircrews going to and from international release next year called The officer. They have two children. Jib. aircraft navigate the flight deck Center is the City: International Issues unharmed. in the Identity of Place. Her Norfolk Personally, Yarsinske has had a love book, Sunrise City By the Sea (Donning,

10 The Museum Sage Editor 's Note: The Hampton Roads Naval Museum proudly presents installment number two of "The Museum Sage. " As always, ifyou have a question write to the Editor of The Day Book c/o Hampton Roads Naval Museum, One Waterside Drive Suite 248, Norfolk, When is the museum going to VA 23510-1607 or call (804) 444-8971. get off its duff and make use of modern technology?

Sometime in January, the museum, in about the web and have access to it, cooperation with the Virginia call us for the URL address. Association of Museums, has its own little comer on the World Wide Web. Sage Stumper... By being placed on the Web, the museum hopes to attract more visitors Shown on the right is a picture of the by allowing computer users from USS (BB-32/AG- around the world to read more about 17) at the Norfolk Naval Base in 1941 . us . Anyone having further questions In the upper right hand comer, you will about the museum' s "Web page" or notice a clock with only ten numbers wondering what this World Wide on it. If you know what this is, call us. Web is in the first place may call You will be rewarded. ~ Gordon Calhoun at the museum. For those of you who already know Raider continued from page 2 deaths. Of course he knows it could commissioned Type VIle U-65 7 at the thought Petrich. U-Boat service was happen, they all did; but to most young Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven, considered the cream of the crop and people, death is something way off in Germany. What a glorious day, Petrich for Petrich to command a crew of these the future. thought. The ·pier was filled with men was like being the creme de Ia It does not take long for Petrich dignitaries. A Kriegsmarine band was creme himself. to be jolted back to reality. Petrich playing. Adm. Schniewind, the Chief After the sea trials, Petrich and his treads water for a lifetime before an ofNaval War Staff, was there and Adm. boat were assigned to XI U-Flotilla Icelandic fishing trawler rescues him. Donitz personally spoke to the officers operating out ofWilhelmshaven. They He remembers a better time in late and crew. It was a happier time then, were later based out of Bergen, 1942 when he was promoted remembered Petrich. Norway, because there were reports of to kapitanleutnant and given A few weeks after the an Allied invasion of Norway about to the command of the newly commissioning, U-65 7 fmished her sea take place. While these reports turned trials. It was a time when everything out to be false, the flotilla remained in was new. The boat, the crew, no one Norway to interdict the convoys bound had worked together before. Everyone for the Soviet Union. was anxious and determined to make For the next three and one-half sure that everything was right with it. years, Petrich remains a fisherman The boat underwent sea trials for two onboard the Icelandic trawler that weeks as it crossed the English Channel rescued him. He thinks very little about and back again. U-657 had its share of the war his country was engaged in . discrepancies but none insurmountable. The disgrace he feels over losing his Soon the ship yard had U-657 back in boat and crew is too over powering; and • good shape . not until after the war, when Germany During sea trials, the officers and has been defeated, does he feel he can crew had the kinks worked out and a face his mother and family . ~ new comradery emerged. Like all crews, the crew of U-65 7 frequented local beer halls, told sea stories, listened Kapitanleutnant Horst Petrich in uniform. This first person interpretation is done by HRNM to songs and sang a little themselves. docent Capt. AI Petrich. USN (Ret). There's no better way to unify a crew,

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