SAOC WEST 2 Rouillard abuse. What is life without those simple pleasures? So I quit the chemo pro- Unfortunately your fellow shipmate and gram. friend Paul Hansen recently crossed the bar. Amongst his talents Paul was the Editor of Therefore this will be my last newsletter and SAOC West’s Newsletter The Update. He was even if it is less than I would normally pro- unable to continue. I promised I would step duced just to taunt those who’ve complained forward to produce this newsletter for SAOC throughout that it was too long. West membership. I hope Paul would be pleased and that you enjoy the issue. I need to use what time I have left for per- sonal matters such as finishing a memoir Sadly below is his final message. How very for Grand and Great Grand Kids and to put difficult it must have been for him to write affairs in order. Obituary is already written, this. sorting through other matters. Sincere regards, Valerie Braunschweig. This issue was on schedule to be issued in the last week of March, maybe the first week of April. The Gods intervened. I found myself in hospital undergoing a bat- tery of tests including a bone marrow biopsy which allowed me not only to be a pain in the ass but to have one. A series of appointments with specialists culminated on Friday the 13th at the Cancer It l eaves the question as to what happens to Clinic with an Oncologist. What do you think The Update.. A members wife Valerie has ex- the odds of that appointment going well pressed qualified interest…. were? You would be right. Interested but she feels she doesn't have the experience necessary. I think she could do While we all have at least a vague under- WITH support from an editorial board of standing the concept of mortality, having members who also contribute material for It explained in terms of months rather than each issue. As a group it could work, so years or decades is a whole different conver- please If you think a newsletter provides, sation. They said the chemo might buy me a any value at all hold up your hand. few more, but the chemo debilitated me both mentally and physically. Paul Hansen The possibility of a bit more time in that Opinions expressed have been those of the Editor and may not condition is simply not worth it. I have to be align with views held by other submariners or, collectively, by the able to use and enjoy every day I have left. members of SAOC West. I need to be able to pick up the phone and give Marsh Campbell or Sylvain Spring 2020 SAOC WEST 3 IN THIS ISSUE: Front Cover Page 1 Editor’s Report Page 2 Board & List of Contents Page 3 President’s Report Page 4 Battle of the Atlantic Page 5 SAOC West Board Deployment of Navy Subs Covid 19 Page 6 Deployment (continued) Page 7 USN Theodore Roosevelt Page 8 Theodore Roosevelt/Cpt. Crozier Page 9 Mermaid Sapphire Page 10 Mermaid Sapphire (continued) Page 11 USS Bremerton Page 12 USS Bremerton (continued) Page 13 U S Bremerton (continued) Page 14 UK RN Dreadnout Subs Page 15 Hansen Memorial Page 16 Sexsmith Memorial Page 17 Tate Memorial Page 18 Wood Memorial Page 19 For a full list of the SAOC West Frawley Memorial Page 20 board please visit our website : SAOCWEST.CA Brown Memorial Page 21 This newsletter is pro- duced with acknowledge- Gardner Memorial Page 22 ment & appreciation Poem & Back Page Page 23 whenever possible or SAOC WEST 4 clubs have shut down or have been modified to try to adapt to the demographics and loss of mem- bership. This is my goal for this year to extend both comradeship and ties to current serving members of the RCN submarine service and those that have re- cently left the service and looking to keep connec- tions. VOICE PIPE The issue with this specific challenge is that many Hello my fellow submariners and submarine family groups fail to adapt and maintain strong working/ members. First off as the incoming President of the personal relations with fellow members. Well I feel SAOC (W) I want to extend my thanks to everyone that our group (SAOC-West) is more capable and who allowed me to be in this position of leader- more adaptable than any organization out there. I ship. Even though I have had many opportunities in have repeatedly seen many in all SAOC cells touching the past to show my gratitude and appreciation to all base and keeping in touch. So please keep on doing involved I take this moment to reflect on past accom- what we do, make that call.... talk to someone, keep plishments and past Presidents and realize that I in touch. have accepted the responsibility to being placed into If anyone wants to talk or call, I can be reached at this office. I hope I can fulfil all of your expectations. the following: Sadly, this year has not started out very well seeing Home: 778-425-2936 the COVID 19 Pandemic putting many restrictions in Cell: 778-922-5324 place both at work and in any social aspect. We have or email: [email protected] had to re-organize and manage the best way that So, let's hope 2020 becomes a better year, most submariners do, on the fly. Many of our monthly meetings have been cancelled as has our Thank you, sincerely: expedition up island to the Qualicum Beach Legion to Wade Bergland visit other fellow submariners. Currently our yearly BBQ and horseshoe tournament has been moved to the right for some date in July/August, we will keep you all informed. Another item of concern is the passing of some be- loved members of our group and the organization as a whole, Paul Hansen, Buster Brown, Mo Tate, John Sexsmith, and, Gus Gardner. Amazing submariners and friends to many, sadly they have passed. I must say that the average age of many renowned institu- tions is on the higher side of golden years. Many Spring 2020 SAOC WEST 5 Royal Canadian MARINE NAVY Royal Canadianne Battle of the Atlantic – 75th Anniversary Commemoration Throughout 2020 the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of The Battle of the Atlantic. Events will be held in communities across the country to cel- ebrate defining moment in Canada’s naval histo- ry, including a National Parade at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on May 3rd. The Royal Canadian Navy has become the coun- (Postphoned due to Covid 19) try’s “force of first resort” in response to world crises. As a result of its performance during the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN has been de- The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of ployed into harm’s way as a vanguard Canadian the Second World War and was fought at sea military response since 1945. It was deployed in from 1939 to 1945. Much of the burden of fighting the Korean War, the Suez crisis, the Cuban mis- the battle fell to the RCN which, at the outbreak sile crisis, the First Gulf War, following the events of the war, was comprised of only six destroyers of 9/11, the humanitarian relief effort following and a handful of smaller vessels. Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in response to the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Over the course of 2,075 days Allied naval and air forces fought more than 100 convoy battles We honour our past by remembering the tremen- and performed as many as 1,000 single ship ac- dous efforts Canadian sailors made in fulfilling tions against submarines and warships of the their commitment to secure Allied victory, and we German and Italian navies. Primary targets for salute the RCN’s resolute path forward in remain- the Germans and Italians were the convoys of ing committed to the safety, security and defence merchant ships carrying vital, life-sustaining car- of Canada at home and abroad. go from North America to Europe. For information about Battle of the Atlantic com- Canada’s navy was instrumental in turning the memorative events near you over the following tide of the war, and by the conflict’s conclusion months, please follow the RCN on its social me- had grown to become one of the largest in the dia platforms. world. The RCN destroyed or shared in the de- Note: Regrettably Covid 19 prevented public struction of 33 U-Boats and 42 enemy surface commemorations. craft. In turn, it suffered 2,210 fatalities, including nine women, and lost 33 vessels. navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/en/navy-life/history- boa-75th.page Today, our sailors continue to proudly represent https://navybikeride.ca/battle-of-the-atlantic-75th-anniversary- Canadians at home and on the world stage. commemoration/ Spring 2020 SAOC WEST 6 Deployment of Canadian navy submarines on hold due to COVID-19 Todd Coyne Senior Digital Producer, CTV News Vancouver Island Published Tuesday, May 12, 2020 2:06PM PDT Last Updated Tuesday, May 12, 2020 5:48PM PDT HMCS Victoria undergoes testing in Esquimalt, B.C. on Feb. 24, 2020, ahead of its planned deployment (CTV News) VICTORIA -- What was meant to be a “Further maintenance is required before they can “milestone” return to sea for Canada’s military be deployed,” said National Defence spokesper- submarines in 2020 is now on hold amid the nov- son Jessica Lamirande on Monday. “However, in el coronavirus pandemic.