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At random: When the nuclear powered submarine USS SEADRAGON surfaced at the North Pole while charting the Northwest passage in August 1960, the crew organized a baseball game. Because of Polar time differences, when a batter clouted a home run it would land in either the next day or in 'yesterday'.

A Question Re: Nautilus SSN-571 Moderators: Jump to page : 1 2 Now viewing page 2 [25 messages per page]
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Thomas Courtien

Posted 2011-11-30 8:25 PM (#52668 - in reply to #16279)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1905

Location: Patterson, New York

Subject: RE: A Question Re: Nautilus SSN-571

The name of the AO sounded familiar to me.

Then I got to this passage in the 1943 section:

"The 12th of February 1943 was a "red letter day" for SALAMONIE.

NOTE: "Red letter day" is a strange description for a tragic event. As part of
eastbound convoy UGF-5, she was under tactical command of Commander Task Force
36 and was acting as primary refueling ship for convoy escorts. SALMONIE was leader of column seven in the seven-column formation, and had on her port bow USAT URUGUAY, lead ship in column six. Little did anyone dream that SALAMONIE was destined for a midnight tragedy.

Zero one hundred was the time scheduled for ceasing the zigzag maneuvers. Promptly at the appointed time, the Officer of the Deck ordered the helmsman to put his helm right and return to base course. At this time the rudder jammed eight degrees left, and could not be freed by any emergency measures. The situation deteriorated rapidly with SALAMONIE shearing to port and the rest of the formation altering course in the opposite direction. Danger signals and TBS were used in attempts to ward off the dangerous situation, but to no avail. SALAMONIE rammed SS URUGUAY on her starboard side, just abaft the bridge. After inspections of the resulting damage, both ships were detached from the formation and ordered to proceed to Bermuda for temporary repairs."

My father was an engineer on the SS Uruguay when this collision occured; the troop ship was in extreme danger until it made port in Bermuda. The captain was awarded a citation for bringing the ship, crew, and troops safely to port.

Small world.

Don Gentry

Posted 2011-12-01 8:48 AM (#52674 - in reply to #52656)

Admin

Posts: 2316

Location: Renton, WA

Subject: RE: Welcome Aboard

Yes indeed - welcome aboard to Gene and Frank. Most interesting thread in a long time!

kenpag

Posted 2011-12-01 12:10 PM (#52676 - in reply to #52656)

Mess cooking

Posts: 7

Subject: RE: Welcome Aboard

Thank You

kenpag

Posted 2011-12-01 12:24 PM (#52677 - in reply to #52668)

Mess cooking

Posts: 7

Subject: RE: A Question Re: Nautilus SSN-571

We had two collisions ourselves while I served aboard the Salamonie involving the USS Wasp and the USS Rush ,refuel at sea could be pretty exciting at times.

Edited by kenpag 2011-12-01 12:24 PM

kenpag

Posted 2011-12-01 12:41 PM (#52678 - in reply to #52667)

Mess cooking

Posts: 7

Subject: RE: A Question Re: Nautilus SSN-571

Thank You

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