Salvage of the Kursk

 Kursk salvage information some may not have seen.

Clip is 20 minutes long and very interesting..

https://youtu.be/WlB9IdESaXU?si=Xl9PsxS6Szwy8WKo

The US Navy is about to launch a submarine built for a mixed-gender crew, the first of its kind

 

On board the USS Alaska in 2010, the year that a law barring women from serving aboard submarines was dropped. Image used for illustration purposes. Stephen Morton/AP Photo

The USS New Jersey, designed for a co-ed crew, is set to join the US fleet on Saturday.

A ban on women serving on US submarines was lifted in 2010, leading to hundreds joining the service.

Future US submarines will be gender-neutral, addressing privacy and space issues for co-ed crews.

A submarine designed to fully integrate male and female sailors is set to join the US fleet on Saturday.

The USS New Jersey "is the first Virginia-class submarine designed and built for a full gender integrated crew," according to Naval Sea Systems Command.

Delivered last April after eight years of construction, it will enter active service on September 14, following a ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey.

A long-standing ban on women serving aboard US submarines was lifted in 2010, and as of 2023 there were 609 women assigned to submarines in operation, per the US Naval Institute.

"The submarine community is a fully gender-integrated warfighting force," said Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, commander of Submarine Forces Atlantic, according to Stars and Stripes.

Gaucher added, per the outlet, that all future nuclear-powered attack submarines and all new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines are to be designed "gender-neutral from the keel up."

For the New Jersey, that meant adjusting many details, from the height of overhead valves to the privacy of washrooms and berths, the outlet reported.

Since admitting women onto submarines, the US Navy has faced the challenge of retrofitting and reorganizing vessels for co-ed use.

Last year, the Navy announced plans to expand the number of submarines taking on co-ed crews from 30 to 40, the Navy Times reported.

Lieutenant Commanders Andrea Howard and Emma McCarthy, who joined the influx of women to the fleet, wrote last year about the adjustments needed — both physical and social — in integrating them on ships designed for all-male crews.

Space is tight, and the distribution of bathrooms and berths doesn't always match the crew's needs, they wrote.

"The number of women on board often does not conform to three- or six-man rack configurations," they said.

Similar issues apply to the washrooms, with some crews dividing up the space and others deciding to use them in all-male and all-female blocks.

"Transit to and from these spaces for showering also warrants an unambiguous, uniform standard for decency," they said.

But the physical arrangement of a submarine was only part of the issue — the workplace culture also needed to adapt, they said.

"Crew reactions ranged from treating the women the same, to making the experience awkward (knowingly or unwittingly), to showing disinterest in helping or—at worst—actively subverting," they wrote.

The first influx of female junior officers also drew sometimes awkward curiosity from male crew members, they said.

"A fishbowl effect developed any time one of the first female junior officers did something for the first time," they wrote.

The USS New Jersey is the 23rd Virginia-class submarine and the third Navy vessel to be named after the state. In 1900, New Jersey was the site of the construction of the first-ever US submarine

The Alfa-Class Submarine was a 'Nuclear Nightmare' for Russia

 

The Alfa-class submarine, developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, was an innovative but problematic vessel. Its titanium hull and unique lead-bismuth-cooled reactor allowed it to achieve record-breaking speeds and deep diving capabilities, making it one of the fastest submarines of its time.

However, the Alfa-class faced significant drawbacks, including noisy operation, complex maintenance, and radiation risks to its crew.

Despite these issues, the Alfa-class remained in service for over 30 years.

Though it proved to be a menace to NATO forces, it was hampered by the very technologies that made it exceptional.

The Alfa-class Submarine was a Nuclear Nightmare for the Soviets

The Cold War era saw some incredible advances in technology in both the Soviet Union and the United States, notably in the area of submarine research and development. Project 705 Lira, or the Alfa-class submarine that was built for the Soviet Navy, was one such advancement. Considered highly innovative for its time, this ambitious Cold War-era project possessed a unique titanium hull and high-speed capabilities. 

But its innovative design was tempered by operational challenges. 

Alfa-class submarines were meant to be a counterweight to NATO’s various fast-attack subs, notably the ubiquitous Los Angeles-class submarines. The Alfa-class submarine’s primary role was to serve as an interceptor. In other words, it would hunt down and destroy enemy submarines.

Soviet designers wanted the Alfa class to achieve high underwater speeds. The goal was to make a boat that could outrun and outmaneuver any of its American or NATO rivals, either underwater or on the surface. 

The Titanium Alloy Hull

Thus, a titanium alloy was used for the ship’s hull. 

This hull could go deeper and faster than the steel hulls that most submarines for either the American or Soviet navies could go. Not only does titanium allow for greater speed because it is lighter, but it can withstand greater pressure than can steel. 

This meant the Alfa class could go very deep undersea.

These boats could go an average of 46 miles per hour (40 knots), earning the Alfa-class submarine the title of being the fastest submarine in the world for its time. The lighter-weight titanium hull was but one reason for the high speed. Soviet engineers installed a powerful liquid-metal cooled reactor, too. 

These two factors operating in tandem ensured the high rate of speed for the sub.

Speaking of reactors, the Alfa class had a unique nuclear-powered reactor. Whereas most submarines use water-cooled reactors as a power source, the Alfa-class was designed with a lead-bismuth-cooled fast reactor. This unique coolant system meant that the boat could be equipped with a smaller reactor, which allowed the Alfa class to travel at faster speeds. 

And here is where we get to the drawbacks.

As innovative as the Soviets were when it came to designing nuclear reactors, the Reds were also quite sloppy in their application. I mean, how many nuclear disasters, both at sea and on land, did the Soviet Union endure? 

And I’m not just talking about Chernobyl. 

Anyway, the reactor on the Alfa-class submarine was one of the biggest drawbacks when it came to operating this boat. Notably, the smaller, lead-bismuth-cooled nuclear reactor created polonium-210 as an unfortunate byproduct. So the submarine could move faster underwater and dive deeper than its rivals, but the longer the crew operated the boat, the greater their exposure to lethal radiation poisoning. 

The Nuclear Reactor was a Hot Mess—Literally 

Indeed, as Peter Suciu outlined in these pages just a few weeks ago, an Alfa-class submarine designated K-64, the lead boat of this submarine class, suffered a massive reactor failure in 1972. The issue with the lead-bismuth-cooling was that the alloy needed to be constantly heated to prevent it from cooling, solidifying, and basically backing up the reactor. When the reactor on K-64 leaked, the metal alloy solidified as soon as it hit the cooler air outside the reactor. 

The leak was so bad that it effectively damaged the surrounding components, compromising the integrity of the K-64. 

Soviet engineers opted to mothball the sub rather than try to rebuild it. Interestingly, part of the decommissioning process involved cutting the submarine in half and sending the forward section – with all the controls – to the Soviet Navy’s submarine warfare training center in Leningrad.

Setting aside the K-64 fiasco, even on Alfa-class submarines that operated “within norms,” the liquid-metal coolant was corrosive, which created massive maintenance woes for the ship. 

Other problems related to maintaining the submarines. Its greatest strength, the titanium-alloy hull, was also its greatest weakness. Welding the submarine’s hull was a complex affair. As such, it was prone to cracking. That’s definitely not something you want to have occur on any ship – especially one that has a primary function of operating below the waves. 

Alfa-Class© Provided by National Interest

Even if everything was operating according to design specifications, these boats were unsafe. Long-term exposure to unsafe levels of radiation posed significant health risks to the crew. Over time, those who did continuous deployments aboard the Alfa-class subs suffered health declines as a result of constant exposure to polonium-210. 

Oh, and the internal temperatures of the submarines as a result of the output of the reactor created hellish conditions for the crews. 

Run Toxic (and Loud), Run Deep

One of the primary purposes of any submarine is stealth. But the Alfa class was one of the noisiest submarines the Soviets produced during the Cold War. In effect, the Alfa class, despite its high rates of speed and innovative hull design, failed in the paramount mission of any submarine. These boats were way too noisy beneath the waves, meaning rivals could hear them coming from over the horizon. 

So the Alfa class gets high marks for innovation, maneuverability, and speed. But the boat failed to deliver on key elements necessary for any submarine – namely stealth – and the Alfa was notoriously unsafe because of the very elements that gave the bot its greatest advantages: its unique hull and nuclear reactor. 

Still, the Alfa class served for more than 30 years, with the final units being retired in 1996. These boats were dangerous for their crews and didn't always work to specifications. But they did last decades in service, and they proved to be a continual menace to NATO ships.

First submarine fully integrated for coed crews to join Navy fleet next week Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-09-05/navy-sailors-submarine-women-15079956.html Source - Stars and Stripes

 

The Navy received the New Jersey, its 23rd Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine in April 2024. The first fully integrated sub for mixed-gender crews, the New Jersey will join the fleet on Sept. 14, 2024, during a commissioning ceremony.  (Ashley Cowan/Newport News Shipbuilding)

WASHINGTON — The first submarine fully integrated for mixed gender crews will join the Navy fleet next week during a commissioning ceremony in its namesake state of New Jersey. 

The future USS New Jersey, a fast-attack submarine, will become a deployable part of the Navy’s force during the ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey on Sept. 14, culminating five years of construction that represents a historic shift in how Navy submarines are designed. 

The New Jersey is the 23rd Virginia-class submarine, but it is the first of its kind — designed from the keel up with specific modifications for gender integration. “The submarine community is a fully gender-integrated warfighting force,” said Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, commander of Submarine Forces Atlantic. 

Modifications included obvious ones — more doors and washrooms to create separate sleeping and bathing areas — and some that are more subtle — lowering some overhead valves and making them easier to turn and installing steps in front of the triple-high bunk beds and stacked laundry machines. 

The design changes were made to accommodate the growing female force of submariners. In the past five years, the Navy has seen the number of officers and enlisted sailors in the submarine force who are women double and triple, respectively, Gaucher said. 

As of August 2024, 730 women were assigned to operational submarines — serving as officers and sailors on 19 nuclear-powered, ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines, and 19 nuclear-powered attack boats, according to Submarine Forces Atlantic.  The increase follows the 2010 lift of the ban that barred women from serving aboard submarines. 

A decade later, in 2021, the Navy announced a long-term plan to integrate female officers on 33 submarine crews and female enlisted sailors on 14 submarine crews by 2030. “To support women serving onboard submarines, the submarine force, starting with [the Pre-Commissioning Unit] New Jersey, is building all future [nuclear-powered attack submarines] and the new Columbia-class, [ballistic-missile submarines] gender-neutral from the keel up,” 

Gaucher said. Construction on the New Jersey began in 2019 at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division in Virginia. The warship was christened in 2021 and delivered in April to the Navy at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. 

Before construction of the New Jersey, the Navy retrofitted existing Ohio-class submarines with extra doors and designated washrooms.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-09-05/navy-sailors-submarine-women-15079956.html

Source - Stars and Stripes

‘Take her down!' WWII submarine skipper sacrificed with final order

 

‘Take her down!' WWII submarine skipper sacrificed with final order

With the Battle of Midway raging in the Pacific in June 1942, Japanese forces 2,500 miles to the north were seizing control of the Aleutian Islands of Kiska and Attu.

Their aim was clear: Distract American forces from Midway while sending a message that Japan was capable of hitting additional territories belonging to the United States.

In the months that followed, the northern region would host a series of fights whenever weather permitted. U.S. submarines made their presence known that Fourth of July, when the submarine Triton sank the destroyer Nenohi.

But it was the following day that saw the combat debut of two names destined for submariner immortality: The USS Growler and its skipper, Cmdr. Howard Gilmore.

Howard W. Gilmore was born in Selma, Alabama, on Sept. 29, 1902. He enlisted in the Navy in November 1920 before commissioning at the U.S. Naval Academy.

In 1931 Gilmore transferred to the Navy's submarine school at New London, Connecticut. Climbing the ranks and earning a reputation as more aggressive personality than his peacetime counterparts, Gilmore attracted the attention of superiors and was rewarded by being named executive officer of the submarine USS Shark (SS-174).

While serving aboard Shark, Gilmore's career - and life - were almost cut short. On shore in Panama, he and a crewmate were assaulted by thieves. Gilmore's throat was cut in the brawl, but he survived.

In December 1941 Gilmore was given full command of Shark, but the role was short lived. The day after the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor Gilmore was transferred to the Gato-class submarine USS Growler (SS-174).

The boat's first war patrol was to the Aleutians, where, on the morning of July 5, 1942, it spotted a tempting sight: Three Japanese destroyers off the island of Kiska.

Approaching directly, Gilmore loosed two torpedoes, dealing serious damage to Kasumi and killing 10 of its sailors. Next, it blew off the bow of Shiranui, killing three seamen and forcing the destroyer to be towed to Maizuru, Japan, for repairs.

Gilmore then calmly turned toward the destroyer Arare. He fired another two torpedoes, the second of which sent the ship and its crew to the ocean floor. Arare's commanding officer and 42 survivors were rescued by the damaged Shiranui.

For these efforts Gilmore was awarded the Navy Cross - but he was just getting started.

In a second patrol Growler sank four merchant ships, totaling 15,000 tons, in the East China Sea near Formosa (now Taiwan). Gilmore was awarded a gold star in lieu of a second Navy Cross.

After an uneventful third patrol, Growler set out on what would become an ominous fourth.

Departing Brisbane, Australia, on New Year's Day 1943, Growler headed toward Rabaul in the western Solomons, sinking a transport on Jan. 16 and another on the 19th. On Jan. 30 it damaged a freighter but was driven down by a barrage of gunfire and depth charges.

The area had become a hornet's nest, courtesy of Japanese evacuations from Guadalcanal.

On Feb. 4 Gilmore tailed two freighters escorted by two patrol craft toward Gazelle Channel. As he moved Growler into position for an ambush, the lead Japanese ship proved ready and fired on the sub at 5,000 yards.

Gilmore ordered a dive, forced to wait out an hour-long depth charge attack. One concussion ruptured a manhole gasket in the forward main ballast tank. Emergency repairs slowed the leak.

Just before 6 a.m., Gilmore, believing the patrol vessels to have moved on, brought Growler to periscope depth to pursue a ship five miles away.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 7 Growler's crew spotted a target. Gilmore ordered torpedo tubes readied and reduced the range to 2,000 yards, but the Japanese vessel reversed course.

Growler's radar lit up. The enemy ship was headed straight for the sub.

The nemesis was Hayasaki, a 920-ton ammunition ship converted to an auxiliary escort. It was armed with one 3-inch and two 25mm anti-aircraft guns, as well as a single 13mm machine gun.

With the range between Growler and Hayasaki too close for the sub's torpedoes to arm, Gilmore ordered "Left full rudder."

Just then the collision alarm sounded and the antagonists crashed head-on at 17 knots, throttling the sub and knocking everyone off their feet.

Growler heeled 50 degrees. An 18-inch section of bow bent sideways, disabling the sub's forward torpedoes.

Hayasaki had been rammed amidships but its 13mm gun crew, realizing they were holding a tiger by the tail, fired on the sub's conning tower with the only weapon they could bring to bear.

At point-blank range, the machine gun crew killed Ensign William Wadsworth Williams and Fireman 3rd Class Wilbert Fletcher Kelley.

Grievously wounded, Gilmore clung to the bridge frame.

Belowdecks the battered XO, Lt. Cmdr. Arnold F. Schade, was finding his feet when he heard Gilmore's next order.

"Clear the bridge!"

Wounded personnel were pulled down the hatch. Then came Gilmore's final order.

"Take her down!"

Schade hesitated, as did the crew under the conning tower, but Gilmore did not appear. Another 13mm burst swept the upperworks, leaving a hole that let in the sea.

The crew closed the hatch and submerged.

Assuming command, Schade used controlled flooding to level Growler off while the crew scrambled to make temporary repairs.

After about 30 minutes he ordered "battle surface," but the damaged Hayasaki had already withdrawn to Rabaul.

There was sign of Gilmore.

Thanks to its skipper's sacrifice, Growler managed to limp back to Brisbane, where it was restored to combat readiness.

"The performance of the officers and crew in effecting repairs and bringing the ship safely back to base is one of the outstanding submarine feats of the war to date," Commodore James Fife Jr., the chief of staff of Asiatic Fleet Submarines, remarked.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 13, 1943, Rear Adm. Andrew C. Bennett, the commandant of the Eighth Naval District, awarded Howard Gilmore the Medal of Honor. Present to receive it was his widow and their children.

Under Schade's command Growler took part in five more patrols, sinking the destroyer Shikinami and the escort ship Hirado on Sept. 12, 1944.

The boat dispatched a total of 15 ships, totaling 74,900 tons, and claimed seven more damaged.

During its 11th patrol, however, Growler, then under command of Thomas B. Oakley, vanished somewhere in the South China Sea off Mindoro, possibly falling victim to the destroyer Shigure.

Hayasaki, meanwhile, managed to survive mines, air attacks and submarines until the end of the war. After two years of repatriation duties, on Oct. 3, 1947, it was ceded to the Soviet Union as the Olekma.

Howard Gilmore's memory is marked in the Howard family plot - his widow's family - in Magnolia Cemetery, Meridian, Mississippi.

Carved in stone are his last words, which remain similarly etched into the memories of every U.S. Navy submariner.

"Take her down!"