Breaking News: (See Page 32.) Grenadier Found? Volume 16, Number 10 • October 2020 Modern Submarine Torpedo PRIDE RUNS DEEP Attacks Are Nothing Like What You See in the Movies We break down how modern torpedo attacks really go down and the types of torpedoes used to sink ships and other submarines. (Reproduced from The War Zone website - originally published April 14, 2020) by Aaron Amick “To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution.” What’s Inside Commander’s Message 2 General Meeting Minutes 3 Tolling of the Boats 6 Lost USS S-35 Located 10 USS Dolphin (AGSS-555) cruising on the surface. The deck crew emphasizes her compact size. Germany’s New Torpedoes 11 Dex Armstrong 13 Chapter News 15 Naval Group/Fair Use Upcoming Events Calendar 16 ost modern submarine-launched torpedoes are dual-purpose, meaning they E-Board Meeting Minutes 17 are able to sink a ship or submarine, but they have different characteristics and Seawolf-Class: “F-22” of Subs 18 methods for achieving those goals. Single-purpose torpedoes have a very specific USSVI Update Bulletins 19 Mmethod of attack and can be difficult to evade. In this article, we will cover the capabilities Hidden Chinese Sub Base 23 of both kinds of submarine-launched torpedoes and how they actually work, which is very USS Grenadier Found? 32 different than what you have probably seen in the movies. Mail Buoy 34 Modern submarine torpedoes come in two variants: thermal and electric. Thermal torpe- Editor’s Corner does use a fuel, such as OTTO Fuel II, which can be burned without an external oxygen Consider the lowly tin fish— source. A gas turbine or axial piston engine converts this fuel into torque that spins counter- every old torpedoman’s combi- rotating propellers, propelling the torpedo up to speeds in excess of 60 knots. Higher speeds nation secret lover and ongoing Taming of the Shrew nightmare. can be achieved if Hydroxylammonium Perchlorate (HAP) is injected during fuel combus- Now consider how far torpedo tion. A HAP boost gives thermal torpedoes a speed advantage over electric torpedoes. tech has advanced in recent years. Two articles in this issue Thermal torpedoes can have a much longer-range at higher-speeds than their electric spin you up to speed on the latest. “Newsletter running hot, (continued on page 7) straight and normal, sir!”—Jeff THE PERISCOPE • OCTOBER 2020 1 From the Wardroom . BASE COMMANDER - CO Dave Vanderveen Dave Vanderveen, 6061 Broadstone Circle Base Commander Huntington Beach, CA 92648 714-374-7349 [email protected] Shipmates and Ladies, VICE COMMANDER - XO We are officially into Autumn, the third season of 2020 since COVID Ed Barwick upended our lives! I am grateful that parts of the country are moving 5408 Lanai Street away from their tight restrictions as the illness loses its grip on parts of our population. Long Beach, CA 90808 562-425-6877 Regrettably, California has not reached the lower thresholds for lifting restrictions, so [email protected] we continue as before. That includes holding our October meeting via Zoom, though we MAY be able to source it from the WWII Submarine Memorial-West with just the SECRETARY - OPS Bill Moak Base Officers present at the Memorial. I will provide better information about that in 2865 Helm Street the early weeks of October. Simi Valley, CA 93065 805-581-4419 As we met in September, there was fresh news about divers having located the wreck of [email protected] USS Grenadier (SS-210) in the Malacca Straits. Jeff Porteous has included much better TREASURER - WEPS detailed information in this issue about their find, and I am anxious to read it. I was Mike Swanson dismayed to learn recently that a search for the wreck of USS Tang (SS-306) may not 1149 W. Santa Cruz Street be able to proceed because of tension between China and the United States. As I heard San Pedro, CA 90731 it, China believes the waters where Tang was lost are their territorial prerogative. It’s 310-832-5981 [email protected] unfortunate, because search technology is so good now, and Tang only lies at 180 feet. That should make her comparatively easy to locate, but the passage of time increases CHIEF OF THE BOAT - COB corrosion damage to her remains. Survivors of both Grenadier and Tang spent a long Ray Teare 602 E. Mountain View Ave. time in Prisoner of War camps, and sadly, few of them are still with us. Glendora, CA 91741-2765 626-831-5463 Congress recently passed a resolution supporting establishment of the Museum of the [email protected] Surface Navy aboard the Battleship Iowa in San Pedro. It is projected to open its first MEMORIAL DIRECTOR section in 2023, with completion slated for 2030. Most of the museum will be built into Paul Riggs the second and third decks of the Iowa, with additional display space, classrooms and 7708 Rapids Drive theater space in a building adjacent to the ship. As part of the plan, Iowa will be moved Huntington Beach CA 92648 southward from her current mooring to the new Market Place where Ports of Call has 714-642-1623 [email protected] been for many years. It’s an exciting prospect that supports the former USS Iowa’s role in educating the public about U.S. technology, naval history, and the ways sea power has IMMEDIATE PAST COMMANDER been used by our Navy. There are a few of us submariners associated with the Battleship Bill Moak Iowa, and we joke with the rest of the organization about how nice it will be to have a L.A.-PASADENA BASE WEBSITE Museum of the Target Navy. They rarely laugh. www.socalsubvets.org Please continue to protect your health and safety through social distancing, appropriate use of masks, and limiting your exposure in crowds. Isolation may be second nature to The Periscope is a monthly publication of the submariners, but I will be glad when we don’t have to do this anymore! Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of USSVI Dave Vanderveen Newsletter Editor Commander Jeff Porteous Los Angeles-Pasadena Base 15127 Matisse Circle La Mirada, CA 90638-4733 714-709-6584 [email protected] THE PERISCOPE • OCTOBER 2020 2 General Minutes of September 19, 2020 Zoom Mtg. Dave Vanderveen, Base Commander, called the Zoom meeting to order at 1105 hrs., and asked COB Ray Teare to offer an Invocation. Dave then asked for a moment of silence for all Submarine Sailors on Eternal Patrol from 1900 to date, and included for consideration Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the recently passed Supreme Court Justice. Dave mentioned the recent presumed discovery of the lost U.S. submarine Grenadier (SS- September 210) by French divers in the Malacca Straits. Details of this discovery will be published in the October Periscope. (See page 30, shipmates.—ed.) Zoom Meeting Mike then presented the financial report (already included in an email to the membership; Sailing List see details below), as well as confirming payment for our base’s share of the National liability Ed Barwick insurance premium. A one-year payment was submitted at this time. Herb “Bo” Bolton Treasurer’s Financial Report: Mike Swanson Sam Higa Jack Mahan Mike Swanson provided the account based upon September 19, 2020 as follows: Bill Moak Checking $8,858.89 Vern Murphy Savings $14,883.81 Jeff Porteous Cash On Hand $50.00 Paul Riggs Uncleared Checks: $00.00 Total $23,792.70 William Soule All vendors have been paid up-to-date. Mike Swanson Ray Teare Income: $335.00 Expenses: $140.00 Dave Vanderveen Ron Wagner Flower/Booster Club Donations: Dennis Walsh Ken Dorn $100.00 Gary Wheaton William Long (for Harold Staggs) $100.00 Mike “Willie” Williamson The Memorial Report was delivered by Paul Riggs, indicating completed repainting of the handicapped symbols and work done on the flag’s lighting; further consideration is now called for regarding wiring for the Memorial sign facing Seal Beach Boulevard. Copper- colored paint has now also become available for maintenance of the torpedo’s nose. All lighting is now LED, meaning brighter and longer-term performance. Dave then mentioned needed work to replace the flagpole halyard, and the elimination of corrosion on the pole. Dave then provided the results of the base election of officers, noting 21 ballots submitted; all candidates received votes with no write-ins, resulting in the following: Dave Vanderveen as Commander, Ed Barwick as Vice Commander, Mike Swanson as Treasurer, Bill Moak as Secretary, Ray Teare as COB, and Chuck Senior as Committee Chair. Bo Bolton and Ken Dorn continue their terms as Committee Chairs as well. (concluded on next page) THE PERISCOPE • OCTOBER 2020 3 AmazonSmile Charity Update Good news, shipmates—just got this in from AmazonSmile: “This is your quarterly AmazonSmile donation notification to inform you that U.S. Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation, Inc. General Minutes of September 19, 2020 Zoom Meeting (concluded from previous page) received a new donation of $295.26. AmazonSmile’s impact to date: $3,865.61 Then discussed was the manner in which the installation of officers would be conducted. to U.S. Submarine Veterans Dave pointed out some of our options, and District Commander Willie Williamson agreed Charitable Foundation, to conduct the installation. This may occur via Zoom, or perhaps at the memorial site. Fur- Inc. Thanks for supporting ther discussion will provide a decision before the October 17th date.