Submarine Warfare Archives
ASDS Fire
By Bull Nav
(Photo: Honolulu Star Bulletin)
The one and only Advanced SEAL Delivery System mini-sub caught fire the other day.
The black, 65-foot Advanced SEAL Delivery System minisub was undergoing routine maintenance in its shore-based facility at 8:30 p.m. Sunday when Navy personnel monitoring the battery recharging process noticed sparks and flames coming from near some of the battery compartments, officials said.
It took a while to put the fire out.
The building was immediately evacuated, and seven trucks and 25 federal firefighters responded but it took six hours to extinguish the fire and cool any remaining hot spots in the battery compartment, the Navy reported yesterday.
This thing is a great idea. The usual Swimmer Delivery System consists of the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle which is housed inside a drydeck shelter atop a SSGN. The SEALS exit the submarine into the drydeck shelter, it is flooded down and equalized with sea pressure, and then they drive the SDV away. Yes, they are wearing breathing gear, but they are continuously exposed to the seawater environment. It takes a physical toll on the SEALs while in transit to the mission area.
The ASDS on the other hand transports the SEALs in a dry environment so that they are rested and ready to go once they arrive at the mission area. Originally conceived in the early 1990s, there were originally supposed to be six built. The ASDS can be mated to specially configured LOS ANGELES fast attack submarines.
This is the only one.
The battery-powered minisub, designed to ride piggyback on an attack sub to within range of a hostile coast or other target, has been part of a troubled program that began in 1992. The vessel was delivered to the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command in 2001 and assigned to Pearl Harbor's SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 in 2003.There were initial problems with its propeller system, then problems with the electrical system and batteries.
A 2003 General Accounting Office report said the electrical system repeatedly shorted out and drained its silver-zinc batteries more quickly than the Navy projected. The zinc batteries were replaced with lithium-ion batteries.
The GAO report said the program, which initially called for six vessels, was to cost $527 million but rose to more than $2 billion.
Defense Industry Daily reported in April that "technical, reliability, and 400 percent cost overrun issues proved nearly insuperable." Plans for six subs were halted in 2006, and the remaining ongoing effort was directed "to boost the performance of the existing sub and complete its operational testing," the publication said.
I remember being on my first boat and hearing that by the time I got to our Department Head school, they would be looking for Submarine Qualified officers for pilots. Only once did I hear that, then you did not hear about it for a while.
Unfortunately, this is yet another example of our lack of shipbuilding ability. This would give us a capability unlike any other nation, and now our only one is wrecked. The Lithium Ion batteries used represent one of the most advanced battery technologies available, yet as far as I know it is not quite mature. Your car battery uses a lead-acid system, while Hybrid-electric vehicles use Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH). One day it is expected that Lithium Ion batteries will be used in Hybrids, but we are not there yet. In fact, I am surprised that the Navy is using it in the ASDS.
This fire is very bad, and will probably render the ASDS unable to go to sea for quite some time. One might consider this as the loss of a one-of-a-kind strategic asset.
I am looking forward to the investigation.
Another Fast Boat Commissioned
By Bull Nav
080503-N-2888Q-044 WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 3, 2008) Crew members render salutes as they officially bring the newest Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) to life during her commissioning ceremony. North Carolina is the fourth Virginia-class submarine to be commissioned and the first major U.S. Navy combatant vessel class designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind. North Carolina will be homeported in Groton, Conn., as a member of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Lucy M. Quinn (Released)
The VIRGINIA Class SSN's are some incredible boats, with innovative design features.
I hope we build enough of them...
108 Years Ago
By Bull Nav
On 11 April 1900, the Navy took delivery of the first submarine, SS-1. Since then, today has always marked the birthday of the Submarine Force.
From those humble beginnings, it grew to have a significant impact on the war with Japan. While comprising less than 2% of the Navy, the Submarine Force accounted for 55% of all Japanese ships sunk during World War II.
Today, about 3% of the Navy manpower (about 10,000 men) man the 52 SSNs, 14 SSBNs, and 4 SSGNs that comprise the force (about 21% of our total combatants). Though you don't hear of them much in this day an age of the Global War on Terror, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, rest assured that those guys are going to sea and making significant contributions.
It is not for nothing, that our Submarine Force is referred to as the "Silent Service." During the '90s while the number of submarines was cut in half, worldwide combatant commander requirements increased 1000%. SSNs went to sea for months at a stretch, in radio silence. Likewise the SSBNs continued with their deterrent patrols, just as they have since the days of the 41 for Freedom.
They are always out there, always on patrol or on a mission.
Happy Birthday!
For more info, go to the SUBLANT history or the USS NAUTILUS (SSN571) Museum website.
Also, The Subreport has a daily roundup of submarine-related issues.
UPDATE: Since LtCol P asked (and Richard answered quite nicely) in the comments, I did not realize some folks might not know what the SSGN is. You can go to the SUBLANT site here to see the detail on the conversion of the first 4 Tridents to carry up to 154 Tomahawk Cruise missles, and a whole bunch of SPECWAR folks.
USS THRESHER (SSN593)
By Bull Nav
It was 45 years ago today that we lost the first of two nuclear submarines.
The USS THRESHER (SSN593), the first of a new class of fast attack submarines, was lost with all hands while conducting sea trials off the coast of Massachusetts.
The Navy quickly figured out what went wrong and made some sweeping operational and material changes (to include implementation of the SUBSAFE Program) which significantly enhanced subarine operations.
There will be a memorial service this Saturday in Kittery, ME.
Happy Birthday, USS JEFFERSON CITY (SSN759)
By Bull Nav
(Photo: USS JEFFERSON CITY Website)
Ah, my first boat, that on which I qualified Submarines and on which I am a Plankowner.
It was a cold, clear, blustery day at Pier 23 on Norfolk Naval Base.
The crew was formed up in ranks at the back of a pavilion on the pier, when the wind really picked up. The tent posts at the front began to weaken and the lines securing the tent began to come undone. The SUBLANT Chief of Staff, a likeable man name CAPT Al Konetzni (Big Al, the Sailor's Pal) came back and started grabbing guys to go up and hold the tent posts.
I remember him clearly saying, "A case of beer to everyone who comes up and keeps this thing from blowing down."
Eventually, the entire crew, with the exception of the Chiefs and Officers was up front, holding onto the tent posts to keep them from snapping.
When the order was given to "Man the rails" we ran across the brow and stood at attention topside, just barely keeping our footing. I remember feeling like we were going to get blown into the Elizabeth River...and did I say it was cold?
No one was knocked off the boat and the ceremony was cut short to allow everyone to head across the base for the reception.
Two days later we got underway for some fun in the VACAPES.
No Sonar in the SOCALs
By Bull Nav
Well, once again, a court has decided that it knows what is best for the country:
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A federal judge says the Navy must follow environmental laws placing strict limits on sonar training.
So the ball is now back into the President's court, while our ASW readiness continues to be affected because some people would attempt to protect the environment based on faulty (or no) data (and where have we heard that before?).
ASW - Anti-submarine Warfare - is not an easy game. The primary tool surface ships have is active sonar, which is when you put sound energy into the water and look for a "return" similar to a radar return. In the undersea environment, there can be lots of things that cause false returns: schools of fish, whales, ships, and undersea mountains, just to name a few. When the operators get little to no practice, they will not be ready when a real situation comes along.
Therefore, as I see it, these judges are affecting readiness and the ability of the Navy to do its part, as chartered by Congress, to defend the country. Making decisions based on feelings and a serious lack of data are going to cost us one day in a big way.
These guys need to back off, and let the Navy train the way it needs to train.
A VMI Man Makes a Cameo
By John
Ever since my VMI days, I've been a huge fan of Robert Kaplan. Back when I was a second classman, one of my professors had us read The Coming Anarchy. From then on out, I was hooked. I couldn't put Imperial Grunts down, and Balkan Ghosts is pretty much required reading for any military leadership deployed to Kosovo.
Right now I'm in the middle of Hog Pilots, Blue Water Grunts.... Kaplan's latest. So imagine my delight when, on page 146, I found a good friend and Brother Rat highlighted in a chapter that covered Kaplan's embeds on the USS Benfold and USS Houston.
Prior to departure, lunch was served in the officers' wardroom- a replica of the Benfold's, though so much smaller that the Formica-covered walls seemed almost to breathe. Instead of a picture of Eddie Benfold, there was, there was the Houston's insignia, featuring the American and Texan flags, along with the Latin words for "Always Vigilant." The officers sat jammed together, making light fun of a Virginia Military Institute graduate at the end of the table, Ensign David Bartles of Falling Waters, West Virginia, who, they told me, could never stop talking about how superior VMI was to the Naval Academy and every other institution of higher learning.
Try to picture the size of my sh*t-eating grin after reading that. My buddy Bartles (we never called him Dave), one of the most junior officers on the ship, sitting around the wardroom telling higher ranking officers that their schools sucked.... well, compared to VMI at least.
Bartles, by the way, was one of the sharpest guys in our class. He graduated number 2 in our class, and (I believe) top graduate in a Mechanical Engineering program that started with 60+ cadets our Rat year and was down to 10 by the time of graduation. He breezed through the rigorous Navy Nuke School in Charleston, as well as navy Dive School.
Those are the type of brains that it takes to get into the submarine service, or so I hear. Why do you think we let Bullnav post here???
Another great Submariner from the greatest generation passes
By Bull Nav
I just found out that one of the greatest submariners ever, winner of the MOH, 4 Navy Crosses and a DSC has passed away:
CNO Statement on Passing of Retired Rear Adm. Eugene Fluckey
Release Date: 6/30/2007 1:34:00 PM
Special from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Every man and woman serving our Navy today joins me in mourning the death of retired Rear Adm. Eugene Fluckey, recipient of the Medal of Honor and a true naval hero. We extend humbly to his family our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies in this, their time of great grief and sorrow.
He was a true leader. Bold, innovative, he truly cared about his men.
In his final war patrol report as commanding officer of USS Barb, he had this to say about his crew: “What wordy praise can one give such men as these; men who … follow unhesitatingly when in the vicinity of minefields so long as there is the possibility of targets … Men who flinch not with the fathometer ticking off two fathoms beneath the keel … Men who will fight to the last bullet and then start throwing the empty shell cases. These are submariners.”
He will be sorely missed.
Bubblehead also has it.
A Submarine Underway
By Bull Nav
Ladies and Gentlemen: good evening. For your reading pleasure this weekend, I offer you a tale of a submarine getting underway and going to sea. I hope you find it acceptable.
On with the show…
On the 1MC: "Station the Maneuvering Watch."
For a submarine this announcement has the same meaning as, "Station the Special Sea and Anchor Detail" on a surface ship (you know, those big gray things that can submerge only once). Whether the ship is getting underway or is entering port, it means man stations per the approved watchbill. Typically the most experienced and proficient folks are the ones in key positions, and you have extra watches manned due to the unique nature of leaving or entering port. Additionally, a navigation brief has been held by the ship's Navigator for all the key watch standers to fully brief the upcoming evolution. This way you know what to expect in the way of traffic, tides and currents, weather, specific navigation aids, turns and turn bearings, etc.
By the time this announcement is made the Officer of the Deck (OOD) should already be suited up and on the bridge in order to take the watch. If in port, this requires relieving the Ship's Duty Officer (SDO) and assuming the deck and the conn.
In this case, I was ready to go.
Read More »
Submarine not missing
By Bull Nav
It appears that there were indications last night that USS SAN JUAN (SSN751) may have been in trouble
NORFOLK (NNS) -- During the early evening of March 13, units of the USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) received a series of indications that USS San Juan (SSN 751), a Los Angeles class submarine conducting pre-deployment training with the Enterprise CSG, was in distress.
However, the excitement was short-lived
Fortunately, the submarine established communications in the early morning hours of March 14, and indicated that there were no problems; hence, units were able to stand down from the search and rescue that was already well underway.
There are certain things a submarine can do to indicate it is in trouble. Shooting a red flare is one of them.
Losses of communications, followed by the reported sighting of a red flare, are distress indicators. These indicators, combined with establishing communications with only two of the three submarines operating with the Enterprise CSG, was sufficient information to activate missing submarine procedures.
Navy News has the whole statement. Once again we see that even during exercises, there is no room for error and that we take enormous risks every time we go to sea. The last time we lost a submarine was in 1968. I will have a cold one for those guys tonight...
UPDATE:The Sub Report has links to a lot of the articles out there about this issue.
UPDATE TWO: CBS News reported that a SUBSUNK message was sent at about 0330 this morning. That is significant because it meant the families were notified.
The timeline appears to be: 1930 - red flare sighted. Attempts made to contact all three subs. Two were contacted. The SJ was not. 2200 - SJ does not communicate per a previously agreed upon plan. 0530 - SJ communicates when it thought it was supposed to. It will be interesting to see what the investigation finds.
Submarine Week!!!
By Bull Nav
OK, if you don't have the Military Channel on your cable or satellite provider, get it now. Next Monday they start Submarine Week, and what will obviously be the greatest week in the history of the Military Channel. Watch and learn, and send me any questions you may have...
