USS Squalus 70th Anniversary

[Relyt]

As you all know, I'm a warship buff. And today, exactly 70 years ago, the Sargo class submarine USS Squalus suffered a terrible accident. It was undergoing diving pratice when the main induction valve (a valve that permits air into the submarine's diesel engines) failed to close and quickly flooded the submarine. 26 men drowned in the forward compartments of the submarine. However, this was also the first successful submarine rescue. A diving bell, called the McCann Rescue Chamber (which was designed specifically for rescuing trapped subm ariners) rescued 33 men from the submarine, which was lying on the bottom 243 below the surface. The submarine was later raised and renamed USS Sailfish and served well in the Second World War, managing to sink several Japanese cargo ships, as well as a Japanese aircraft carrier.

So anyway, sorry if I bored anyone. I hope not though.



By the way, this is a picture of the Squalus, and yes, that's what submarines really looked like back then.

[Lonesome Crow]

I don't know if anyone else can see this image but I can't.

[Relyt]

How about this one?

[Bagnew]

Nope, can't see either.

[Relyt]

I used a different site. How about now?

[Lonesome Crow]

Yes I can see it now... it was so long ago I forgot what it was we were supposed to be looking at... Oh yes I remember now.

Can you imagine telling the new crew "OK fellas, last time we launched this baby it sank like a stone and killed almost half it' crew, so let have those fingers crossed and start preying" ;D

[Relyt]

Preying on some of that submarine-made ice cream. Our subs have the best food in the Navy, including ice cream machines. Tasty.

[Lonesome Crow]

Well it's nice to know the USA are all geared up for the next Ice-Cream-War. ;D