FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER Issue 41 599 7 USSVI Golden Corner Base Newsletter Issue 041 August 2023 wel FIDELITY MEDALLION TO BADGE OF MILITARY MERIT TO THE PURPLE HEART – AUGUST 7 IN THIS ISSUE Greetings Shipmates, Hope you are all bearing the heat wave well – stay cool and hydrated. Some notable August events: • USS Nautilus reaches North Pole on August 3, 1958. See the article on page 15 on how Sputnik is related to this event. • August 7 observes those that were awarded the Purple Heart medal. It is a combat decoration for those wounded or killed in action. • Japan announced its unconditional surrender to Allied Forces on August 14/15, 1945 – known as VJ Day. The formal surrender occurred on September 2. • August 31st, 1862 was the last day of Rum rations for US Navy sailors. Originally established by congress, one half-pint of distilled spirits, on March 1794. Some late breaking news as I was preparing this newsletter. Pleased to announce the arrival of Easton Bryant, born 08.10.2023 5:52pm - 8 lbs 12 oz, 21 inches long. Congratulations Hannah! Hope to see you at the July meeting! Fair Winds & Calm Seas, Brett Official Base Charity: Official Base Charity: Hot & Humid Summer
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 2 • USS Bullhead (SS-332) Lost on August 6,1945 with the loss of 84 crew members in the Lombok Strait while on her 3rd war patrol when sunk by a depth charge dropped by a Japanese Army p lane. Bullhead was the last submarine lost during WWII. • USS Flier (SS-250) Lost on August 13,1944, with the loss of 78 crew members while on her 2nd war patrol. Flier was transiting on the surface when she was rocked by a massive explosion (probably a mine) and sank within less than a minute. 13 survivors, some injured, made it into the water and swam to shore. 8 survived and 6 days later friendly natives guided them to a Coast Watcher and they were evacuated by the USS Redfin (SS-272). • USS S-39 (SS-144) Lost on August 13,1942 after grounding on a reef south of Rossel Island while on her 3rd war patrol. The entire crew was able to get off and rescued by the HMAS Katoomba. • USS Harder (SS-257) Lost on August 24,1944 with the loss of 79 crew members from a depth charge attack by a minesweeper near Bataan while on her 6th war patrol. Harder had won a Presidential Unit Citation for her first 5 war patrols and CDR Dealey was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. Harder is tied for 9th in the number of enemy ships sunk. • USS Cochino (SS-345) Lost on August 26, 1949 after being jolted by a violent polar gale off Norway caused an electrical fire and battery explosion that generated hydrogen and chlorine gasses. In extremely bad weather, men of Cochino and Tusk (SS426) fought to save the submarine for 14 hours. After a 2nd battery explosion, Abandon Ship was ordered and Cochino sank. Tusk's crew rescued all of Cochino's men except for one civilian engineer. Six sailors from Tusk were lost during the rescue. `Honoring our fallen submarine heroes is fundamental to our creed as members of U.S. Submarine Veterans (USSVI), which is… “To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country.” THE HARDER (SS-257) IS SEEN HERE IN THIS 19 FEBRUARY 1944 PHOTO TAKEN AT MARE ISLAND DURING REFIT. THE NEWLY INSTALLED GUN ACCESS HATCH AND DOOR IS SEEN ON THE FORWARD PART OF THE BRIDGE. ALSO, A 5"/51 CAL GUN HAS BEEN INSTALLED WITH AN EXTENSION ADDED TO THE DECK. THE PRESSURE PROOF LOCKER IS FOR READY SERVICE AMMUNITATION. ADDED TO THE FRONT OF THE NUMBER 1 SCOPE IS A REINFORCING GUARD TO PROTECT THE SCOPE HOUSING DURING CRASH DRIVES. THE "SJ" METAL RADAR MAST HAS BEEN MOVED TO BEHIND THE SCOPES.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 3 USSVI NEWS 2023/08/04 Naval Submarine League “Sub Clubs” Shipmates, The following Bulletin briefly describes a program initiated by The Naval Submarine League to support our active Submarine Force by creating “Sub Clubs”, with the goal of having a “Sub Club” for every active submarine. For those that will be attending the National Convention in Tucson, Tim Oliver, the NSL Executive Director and a USSVI Holland Club member, will be at the Convention if you want to talk with him in person. There is also a link at the end of this bulletin for more information. SUB CLUBS OFFER SUPPORT TO A NEW GENERATION OF SUBMARINERS An important part of the mission of the Naval Submarine League (NSL) is to encourage support for every submarine through Sub Clubs. Several USSVI bases are working with the NSL on this initiative. Since many Navy League councils have “adopted” submarines, we also encourage them to collaborate with Sub Clubs. A Sub Club presents a great opportunity to connect with this new generation of submariners by providing tangible support to the men and women of today’s Submarine Force. Let these crews know that the American public appreciates what they are doing for our country by starting or joining a Sub Club! While there are about 70 U.S. submarines in service, only 12 Sub Clubs or associations have been established to support 17 of our submarines. The NSL would like each boat to have the support of a dedicated Sub Club. To help with this endeavor, the NSL provides guidance and information to those interested in being a part of these associations that build morale among the crew and their families and help establish community relationships and educate the American public. What exactly is a Sub Club? A Sub Club is an organization formed to offer support to a specific boat, her crew, and their families. The organization varies but usually includes representatives and/or committees that perform various roles to build the relationship with the sub and its crew. Sub Clubs are typically established in a location that has a connection with the submarine’s namesake city, state, honored American, or historical submarine. The Naval Submarine League works to identify an NSL member who is local to the homeport of the submarine and can volunteer as a liaison to the boat. Sub Club membership generally consists of volunteers - interested civilians, parents of the crew’s families, or organizations that would like to be involved in supporting the sub. Anyone can participate! This adopting community develops a meaningful connection to this unique part of our military that is personal, fun, and rewarding. The ssn777club.org is a great example of a Sub Club that supports multiple boats: USS North Carolina (SSN 777), USS Asheville (SSN 758), and the USS Charlotte (SSN 766). This club does a fantastic job of keeping in touch with its supporters through a newsletter ssn777club.org/newsletters. The ussmontanacommittee.us is an example of a very motivated Commissioning Committee that recently transitioned to a Sub Club and will continue to provide ongoing support to the USS Montana (SSN 794). To learn more about joining an existing Sub Club or for more information about how to form a Sub Club, please contact [email protected]. 2023/07/10 American Submariner Magazine Shipmates, The current Issue (Issue #3) of American Submariner is now online on both the old and new websites. You must be signed into access it. Thank you for using the on-line version of our magazine. V/R Bill Andrea, NC Current Issue American Submariner Library USSVI History Note: The history of USSVI since 1966 is undergoing research. Should you be able to help, please contact the USSVI HISTORIAN Ron Martini @ [email protected] Link to American Submariner Magazines: Current Issue: https://www.ussvi.org/file/american -submariner/2023- Q2.pdfhttps://www.ussvi.org/file/a merican-submariner/2023-Q2.pdf Past Issues: https://www.ussvi.org/americansubmariner-magazine? NATIONAL STOREKEEPER
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 4 AUGUST WAYPOINTS USSVI ANNIVERSARY GOLDEN CORNER BASE ANNIVERSARY Nathan Scott Bailey 2015 Lowell Rust 2019 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Noah Booty 1942 Sherman Swofford 1948 Anthony Gody 1957 John Harris 1960 GOLDEN CORNER OFFICERS: Base Commander: Ed Evering Sr. Vice Commander: Dave Rocheville Secretary: Walker “T” Bousman Treasurer: Richard Franklin Chief Of The Boat: Tom Vaughan Chaplain: Norm Garrett Eagle Scout Chair: Luis Garcia Newsletter Editor: Brett Shone Librarian: Brett Shone FROM THE WARDROOM The August meeting will be held on August 16, 2023 at Merrel's Pizza. The meeting will start at 1800 hours. WE will order off the menu. The restaurant is in Easley SC. Hope to see you all there.. Golden Corner Base Commanders Comments The dog days of Summer are truly with us. Diane and I have now completed our move to our new home. We moved off Lake Keowee to a small subdivision about six miles from our old lake house. House was too large and too big of a yard. We downsized to a smaller house in a subdivision about 6 miles from the lake house. We have grown as a base over the past two years while losing a couple of Subvets to Eternal Patrol. I appreciate each and every new member as well as having our regular members continue with us. I am also pleased we have had members step forward to take leadership positions. I want to thank the officers who are no longer in leadership positions for their long service to our Subvet base. Job well done. Ed Evering Base Commander THANK YOU for the donation: Richard Franklin donated a book to the base library: Pearl Harbor From Fishponds to Warships : a Complete Illustrated History Additionally, during our Tolling ceremony on Memorial day, we received a donation of 16 books. To see what our library contains – click or scan to the right >>> See Brett Shone if you want to check out a book or donate. GOLDEN CORNER BA SE LIBRARY CLICK LINK or scan below
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 5 Submitted by Walker “T” Walker along with Veterans from our communities assisting with a Veteran's Last Patrol Ceremony at the Veteran's home with his family. These ceremonies are sometimes with many Veterans and sometimes with only one Veteran and their immediate family.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 6 Base News… SUBMITTED BY THE COB…. Credit: Reprint from the “Stimson Draft” Points To Ponder 01. If a bottle of poison reaches its expiration date, is it more poisonous or is it no longer poisonous? 02. Which letter is silent in the word "Scent," the S or the C? 03. Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned? 04. Every time you clean something, you just make something else dirty. 05. The word "swims" upsidedown is still "swims". 06. Over 100 years ago, everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses. 07. If people evolved from monkeys, why are monkeys still around? 08. Why is there a 'D' in fridge, but not in refrigerator? 09. As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake! 10. I'm responsible for what I say, not for what you understand. 11. Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it the most never use it. 12. My tolerance for idiots is extremely low these days. I used to have some immunity built up, but obviously, there's a new strain out there. 13. It's not my age that bothers me - it's the side effects. 14. I'm not saying I'm old and worn out, but I make sure I'm nowhere near the curb on trash day. 15. As I watch this generation try and rewrite our history, I'm sure of one thing: it will be misspelled and have no punctuation. 16. As I've gotten older, people think I've become lazy. The truth is I'm just being more energy efficient. 17. I haven't gotten anything done today. I've been in the Produce Department trying to open this stupid plastic bag. 18. If you find yourself feeling useless, remember: it took 20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of lives and four presidents to replace the Taliban with the Taliban. 19. Turns out that being a "senior" is mostly just googling how to do stuff. 20. I want to be 18 again and ruin my life differently. I have new ideas. 21. I'm on two simultaneous diets. I wasn't getting enough food on one. 22. I put my scale in the bathroom corner and that's where the little liar will stay until it apologizes. 23. My mind is like an internet browser. At least 18 open tabs, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no clue where the music is coming from. 24. Hard to believe I once had a phone attached to a wall, and when it rang, I picked it up without knowing who was calling. 25. My husband says I keep pushing his buttons. If that were true, I would have found mute by now. 26. There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is that once you get old, you stop being polite and start being honest. Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273- 8255 Medical Advice Line: 1-800-988- 5641 or 352-379-4142 National Caregiver Support Line 855-260-3274 Domestic Violence Hotline 800- 799-7233 National Call Center for Homeless Vets 877-424-3838
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 7 Today in US Submarine Naval History August 1 1944 USS Puffer (SS 268) damages Japanese oiler, Sunosaki, northeast of Borneo. August 3 1958 USS Nautilus (SSN 571) becomes the first submarine to cross the "top" of the world during Operation Sunshine when the boat passes under an arctic ice cap at the North Pole. "For the world, our country, and the Navy - the North Pole," declared the boat's commanding officer, Cmdr. William R. Anderson. The mission had been personally authorized by President Eisenhower as a response to the USSR's Sputnik program. August 4 1943 USS Finback (SS 230) sinks Japanese cargo ship Kaisho Maru in the Java Sea off the north coast of Java while USS Seadragon (SS 194) damages Japanese transport Kembu Maru east of Ponape. August 5 1944 USS Barbel (SS 316) sinks Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship, Miyako Maru, off Tokuno Jima while USS Cero (SS 225) attacks a Japanese convoy off Minanao and sinks oiler, Tsurumi, in Davao Gulf. August 6 1988 USS San Juan (SSN 751) is commissioned at New London, Conn. The Los Angeles-class nuclearpowered fast attack submarine is the third to be named after San Juan, Puerto Rico. The boat is assigned to Submarine Group Two. August 8 1942 USS Narwhal (SS 167) sinks Japanese crab boat, Bifuku Maru, southeast of Shiriya Saki while USS S-38 (SS 143) sinks Japanese transport, Meiyo Maru, at the southern entrance of St. George Channel, between New Britain and New Ireland. Also on this date, USS Silversides (SS 236) attacks a Japanese convoy emerging from Kobe Harbor and sinks freighter Nikkei Maru in Kii Strait. August 10 1942 Off Kavieng, New Ireland, USS S-44 (SS 155) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese cruiser, Kako, as she retires from the Battle of Savo Island. August 12 1944 USS Pompon (SS 267) and USS Puffer (SS 268) attack Japanese convoys and damage and sink Japanese destroyers. August 13 1777 David Bushnell and his brother, Ezra, designed the first submersible vessel: Turtle. 1945 USS Atule (SS 403) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.6 and damages Coast Defense Vessel No.16 off Hokkaido. Also on this date, USS Torsk (SS 423) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship, Kaiho Maru. August 14 1945 USS Spikefish (SS 404) sink the Japanese submarine (I 373), in the Sea of Japan. Also on this date, USS Torsk (SS 423) sinks Coast Defense Vessel (No.13), and Coast Defense Vessel No.47. August 16 1944 USS Croaker (SS 246) sinks Japanese auxiliary minesweeper, Taito Maru. 1958 USS Seadragon (SSN 584) launches at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. USS Seadragon decommissions in 1984. 1986 USS Nevada (SSBN 733) is commissioned at Groton, Conn. The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine is the fourth named after the Silver State. August 17 1942 The submarines USS Nautilus (SS 168) and USS Argonaut (SM 1) land more than 200 Marines on Makin Island, Gilbert Islands, in the first amphibious attack made from submarines. August 19 1936 Lt. B. L. Braun, pilot, completes test bombing against the submarine USS R-8 (SS 85) off the Virginia capes, sinking the old submarine and proving the value of properly armed aircraft in antisubmarine warfare. 1943 USS Finback (SS 230) sinks the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser (No.109) off the eastern Celebes. August 22 1944 Submarines Haddo (SS 255) and Harder (SS 257) encounter three Japanese escort vessels off the mouth of Manila Bay. Haddo sinks Sado 35 miles west of Manila; Harder sinks Matsuwa and Hiburi about 50 miles west-southwest of Manila.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 8 August 23 1944 USS Haddo (SS 255) torpedoes Japanese destroyer Asakaze as the enemy warship is escorting tanker, Niyo Maru, 20 miles southwest of Cape Bolinao, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Asakaze later sinks near Dasol Bay after attempts at salvage fail. Also on this date, USS Tang (SS 306) attacks a Japanese convoy off Honshu, sinking cargo ship, Tsukushi Maru off Hamamatsu. August 2 5 194 4 USS Picuda (SS 382), in attack on Japanese convoy at the western entrance to the Babuyan Channel, sinks destroyer Yunagi 20 miles north -northeast of Cape Bojeador, Philippines and merchant tanker Kotoku Maru. August 26 1949 While operating in stormy seas off northern Norway, USS Cochino (SS 345) suffers a series of serious battery explosions that result in her loss. Though Cochino's crew is successfully rescued by USS Tusk (SS 426), the submarine loses seven of her own men during this difficult effort. August 2 7 194 4 USS Stingray (SS 186), after being depth charged and lightly worked over while reconnoitering the designated spot lands a party of one Filipino officer, 14 men and 60 percent of the supplies earmarked for delivery to guerilla forces at Saddle Rock, Mayaira Point, on northwest shore of Luzon. Heavy Japanese shipping in the vicinity compels Stingrays departure before all stores land. August 29 1915 After pontoons are brought to Hawaii from the west coast, and following extensive additional diving work, the submarine USS F-4 is raised from the bottom and taken into Honolulu Harbor for dry docking. Previously, in March 1915, during a routine dive a few miles off Honolulu, F -4 sinks in 51 fathoms of water, with the loss of her 21 crewmembers. 1944 USS Jack (SS 259) attacks Japanese convoy H3 and sinks minesweeper W28 and army cargo ship, Mexico Maru, northwest of Menado, Celebes. August 30 1929 At New London, Conn., 26 men test the Momsen lung to exit an intentionally -bottomed submarine. The device was created by Lt. C.B. Momsen following the failure to save surviving crew members trapped in USS S -4 (SS 109) that sank after a collision with Coast Guard cutter USS Paulding in 1927.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 9 This German U-boat was crewed by American sailors By Miguel Ortiz Updated on Jul 12, 2023 On June 17, 1943, the Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine launched submarine U-858. The Type IXC/40 U-boat carried out two patrols during the war. For her second patrol, the German U-boat was sent to the East Coast of the United States to wreak havoc on American shipping. However, on May 10, just over a week after Hitler's suicide, the submarine surrendered to two destroyer escorts approximately 700 miles off the New England coast. It was the first enemy ship to surrender to the United States following Germany's defeat. U-858 surrenders 700 miles off the New England coast on May 10, 1945 (U.S. Navy) With an American prize crew transferred aboard, the captured U-858 sailed for the United States. On May 14, four days after the surrender at sea, the submarine was formally surrendered at Fort Miles in Lewes, Delaware. USS Pillsbury (DE-133) and USS Pope (DE134), the ships that accepted U858's surrender at sea, arrived later that day. Half of the German crew was removed from the submarine, including three of the four officers, and a U.S. Navy crew was assigned to the U-boat. U-858 flies the American flag at anchor in Delaware with a Sirkorsky HNS-1 helicopter and blimp overhead (U.S. Navy) American submariners were given the task of sailing U-858 along the East Coast and making port calls as part of a war bond drive. The sight of a captured Nazi submarine helped encourage the American people to make a final effort to donate to the cause and finish the war in the Pacific. Although they weren't crewing U858 in combat, the American sailors still faced challenges aboard the former Nazi submarine. A U.S. Navy boarding party sets out for U-858 (U.S. Navy) Reports described U-858 as "a sewer pipe with valves." Chuck Kline, an American sailor who served aboard U-858, told Military Times that these reports weren't far off. "The Germans had no regard for creature comfort on their submarines," he recalled. "The first time we got into cold weather, we were up at Portsmith, New Hampshire, and getting into that cold water, it was like a rain storm inside that boat. We put oil cloth over our sacks so they wouldn't get wet." Kapitanleutnant Thilo Bode (center), captain of German U-boat U-858, surrenders to Commander J. P. Norfleet (right) (U.S. Navy) In addition to the leaks which caused pools of water to accumulate in the submarine, U858 had no shower or laundry facilities. Moreover, the controls
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 10 were all labeled in German. Kline and his shipmates had to write up labels in English and place them on the controls. Luckily, no mishaps occurred while U-858 was under American control. By 1946, the U-boat made it down to Key West, Florida before returning to New England. The Navy used the submarine for torpedo practice until it was scuttled by USS Sirago (SS-485) off the New England coast in November 1947. During her service, U-858 saw no action and did not sink or damage any allied ships. The Navy Once Had a Spy Sub With a Secret: Tiny Ski Legs BY KYLE MIZOKAMI PUBLISHED: AUG 13, 2021 • USS Parche was a Cold War era attack submarine modified to conduct spy missions underwater. • Parche featured a number of unique modifications, including ski legs that allowed it to rest on the seabed. • Today the USS Jimmy Carter conducts similar missions, though without the tiny submarine legs. One of the most unusual submarines ever produced for the U.S. Navy was USS Parche. Originally built as a nuclear powered attack submarine, Parche was heavily modified over the course of her career to conduct underwater espionage missions. The missions included top secret efforts to tap undersea communications cables, allowing U.S. intelligence to monitor traffic to and from Soviet naval bases. The U.S. Navy’s corps of submariners is often known as the “Silent Service,” and for more ways than one. While a submarine’s mission is to run silent in wartime, submarine crew are notoriously tight-lipped even in peacetime. Still, despite the secrecy details of some of the most unusual ships and missions of the Cold War have leaked out into the public domain—including USS Parche. USS Parche cutaway. H.I. Sutton/Covert Shores Parche was commissioned in 1973 as a Sturgeon-class nuclear powered attack submarine. By the time she was decommissioned in 2004, she was the most highly decorated U.S. Navy submarine of all time. Even as late as 1994 the Navy stuck to a cover story that Parche was testing “ocean engineering equipment” and supporting “the development of enhanced submarine warfare capabilities in shallow waters.” In reality the sub was a spy, one meant to conduct a particular series of missions. In the early 1970s, the U.S. intelligence community discovered the Soviet military had laid undersea communications cables in the Sea of Okhotsk in the Pacific Ocean and the White Sea in the Atlantic. Many of these cables linked Soviet naval bases—some home to submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles—to the mainland. The intelligence community concluded that if it could somehow tap these cables, reading the traffic passed back and forth, the data could prove invaluable. Undersea authority H.I. Sutton, author of the Covert Shores blog, has written a new article describing the extensive modifications done to USS Parche that allowed it to become the Navy’s James Bond sub. Parche was fitted with “skegs,” or retractable ski legs that allowed
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 11 the submarine to come to rest directly over the undersea cables. The sub, Sutton and his illustrations reveal, was also fitted with a “moon pool” diver’s hatch, allowing divers to exit to and from the interior of the submarine. A late career refit saw the sub cut in half and grow by 100 feet, as additional room was added to carry even more covert mission equipment and berthing spaces for mission specialists. Most of Parche’s modifications were hidden underneath the waterline. One mod the Navy couldn’t hide was a diver’s chamber behind the sub’s sail. Any time Parche surfaced, the chamber would be visible, so it was designed to look like a Deep Sea Rescue Vehicle, or DSRV. The fake DSRV, designed to rescue submariners from stricken submarines, was a red herring that belied the boat’s true mission. The Seawolf-class fast -attack submarine USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23) transits the Hood Canal as the boat returns home to Naval Base Kitsap -Bangor, September 2017. DVIDS Parche was decommissioned in 2004, her role taken over by the USS Jimmy Carter. Like Parche, Jimmy Carter was originally built off a regular attack submarine hull but lengthened by approximately 100 feet to accommodate specialized equipment. The submarine’s extension likely includes room for unmanned underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, and perhaps small crewed submersibles. Sutton speculates the ship may perform many of the same tasks as her predecessors, including cable tapping such countries as China, Russia, and North Korea, with today’s cables also carrying Internet traffic. USS Parche earned nine Presidential Unit Citations, ten Navy Unit Commendations and thirteen Navy Expeditionary Medals. Parche earned more Presidential Unit Citations than any other U.S. warship in history. The Navy defines the PCU as awarded for “outstanding performance in action”. It’s important to keep in mind that Parche never actually saw combat and fired a shot in anger, which makes its awards even more remarkable.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 12 Navy SEAL’s LongAwaited ‘Dry’ MiniSubmarine Capability Has Finally Arrived For decades the Navy has been trying to realize a small submarine to transport SEALs inside a pressurized cabin, and now its operational. BY JOSEPH TREVITHICK | PUBLISHED JUL 24, 2023 3:53 PM EDT The U.S. Navy's newest special operations mini-submarine has now officially entered service. Unlike earlier SEAL Delivery Vehicles, the new Dry Combat Submersible allows the occupants to travel to and from their destination submerged, but without being immersed in often frigid water the whole time. This is a capability the Navy has been working to acquire for decades now. The Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) reached initial operational capability (IOC) with the Navy sometime in June, its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, announced earlier today. Back in May, John Conway, the program manager for Undersea Systems within U.S. Special Operations Command's (SOCOM) Program Executive Office-Maritime (PEOM), had said the initial DCSs would be operational by the end of that month. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered two DCSs to the Navy and is finishing work on a third example. A picture of one of the Navy's Dry Combat Submersibles (DCS) out of the water. DOD DOD "The Lockheed Martin team is proud of the work that has gone into the development and delivery of DCS and supporting USSOCOM to this IOC milestone," Jason Crawford, senior program manager for Manned Combat Submersibles, said in a statement in the press release. "We look forward to delivering the third DCS and supporting DCS into Full Operating Capacity." The DCS is derived from a minisubmarine design called the S351 Nemesis from MSubs in the United Kingdom. MSubs has been part of the Lockheed Martin-led team designing and building the DCS since the American defense giant began work on the project in 2016. An S351 Nemesis. MSubs Though details about the DCS's dimensions and capabilities are limited, the 30-ton displacement and 39-foot-long S351 has an allelectric propulsion system that gives it a maximum range of 66 nautical miles when traveling at a speed of around five knots, according to MSubs. It can dive to depths of around 330 feet (100 meters). Nemesis required a crew of two to operate and has space for up to eight other individuals or suitably sized cargo weight up to approximately one metric ton. By comparison, from what has been reported in the past, the Navy's newest SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV), the Mk 11, is just under 22 and a half feet long and can carry only six passengers along with its crew of two. Also known as the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS), it is unpressurized and therefore is SUBMARINES IN THE NEWS [Cite your source here.]
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 13 not as capable in terms of its maximum depth as the DCS. More importantly, for the Navy and its elite SEALs, who will be the primary users of the DCS, it has a self-contained lock-in/lockout chamber on top of the hull. As seen in the video below, the service's existing SDVs are socalled "wet" submersibles where their occupants ride fully exposed to the water around them on the way to their destination. This can make for a very cold ride, even in regions where average temperatures might trend on the warmer side. This, in turn, increases operator fatigue and can present potentially serious health risks. Lockheed Martin's press release also highlights how current SDVs do not allow their occupants to hydrate, since they have to wear wet suits and scuba gear the entire time. This is another potentially significant issue for longer transits. "The Dry Combat Submersible has the potential to transform undersea warfare for special operators,” Gregg Bauer, C6ISR vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin, said in a statement today. “DCS provides safe, clandestine delivery for occupants over long distances in a completely dry environment and features a lockin and lock-out chamber. Occupants arrive at the mission warm, rested, hydrated and ready." This also means operators can return to their recovery point in the same way after a mission, which may have been conducted entirely underwater. The SEALs, in particular, are trained to conduct a variety of missions below the waves, including sabotage and demolition. DCSs could also be used to help insert SEALs and other special operations forces ashore or extract them. The Navy has been publicly trying to acquire a DCS-like capability for decades now. The service had begun to lay out requirements for what became known as the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) in the 1980s. ASDS was canceled in 2009 after the prototype – a design roughly twice the size of the DSC – was destroyed in a fire the year before. Technical issues had already led to significant cost growth. A follow-on Joint Multi-Mission Submersible program was also axed in 2010. The prototype Advanced SEAL Delivery System submersible seen here on top of the rear deck of the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Greenville. USN DCS has seen its own delays, as well. In June 2020, SOCOM said it expected the mini-submarine to reach IOC within about a year. The DCS does have limitations, largely due to its size. Unlike the Navy's SDVs, the new minisubmarine is too big to be launched from submerged submarines via currently available Dry Deck Shelters (DDS), as well as larger DDSs the service is working to acquire now. The Navy's Virginia class attack submarines and Ohio class guided missile submarines are also the only ones that can be configured to carry DDSs at present. Currently, the DCS will have to be deployed via a mothership on the surface, such as an amphibious warfare vessel. The Navy has also been looking at ways to more rapidly deploy the first-generation DCSs using U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III cargo aircraft to deliver them first to forward locations. With this in mind, the Navy is already eyeing a follow-on DCS Next and wants that improved design to be deployable from a Virginia class attack submarine. Concept art that has been released so far shows what appears to be a mini-submarine with the ability to dock externally on the hull of its mothership submarine. This is how the Navy had expected to employ the abortive ASDS. It's not clear whether the service plans to subsequently modify its initial DCSs to that future configuration, or how feasible that might be. An artist's conception of the follow-on DCS Next. SOCOM Regardless, after the better part of a decade of work on DCS, and decades more before that on designs intended to provide similar capabilities, the Navy now has a way to transport SEALs and other special operations forces to and from their destinations in an all-new level of comfort.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 14 Going Under: Here Are 10 Of The Best Submarine Museums In The US Story by Aaron Spray MSM.com • The United States has a wide array of naval museums, including submarines. Some notable US submarine museums include the Maritime Museum of San Diego and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. • Submarines like the USS Cobia and USS Albacore have rich histories, having served in World War II and the Cold War. They are now preserved as National Historic Landmarks. • Unique submarines like the H. L. Hunley, built during the Civil War, and the U-505, a captured German U-boat, are also on display in museums such as the Losch Conservation Center and the Museum of Science and Industry. The United States has by far and away the most impressive series of naval museums in the world. The United States has 5 aircraft carrier museums, many battleship museums (including the dreadnought USS Texas), and many more retired naval vessels preserved as museums. But not all of the museum ships are surface vessels. The USA is also home to many submarine museums. Here are some of the best submarine museums around the United States to visit. USS Dolphin The USS Dolphin is one of the more modern submarines to be preserved in the United States. It was a dieselelectric deep-diving research and development submarine that was in service between 1968 and 2007. She served for the longest period of any submarine in the Navy. Today, she can be seen at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, one of the best submarine museums in America to visit. Class: Dolphin Class Museum: Maritime Museum of San Diego USS Cobia The USS Cobia is one of several preserved Gato-class submarines built by the United States Navy. Today, the USS Cobia has been listed as a National Historic Landmark. The USS Cobia served in World War II (she was commissioned late in the war in March 1944), and she went on to earn four battle stars. Class: Gato-Class Museum: Wisconsin Maritime Museum USS Becuna The USS Becuna submarine served during the late World War II and early Cold War (1944 to 1969). She was named after a pike-like fish found in Europe and operated in the Pacific War, sinking two Japanese tankers. After the war, she was mostly used as a training ship and is now a National Historic Landmark. Class: Baleo-Class Museum: Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia USS Albacore The USS Albacore was a unique research submarine that pioneered the modern hull of American subs. She was built post-war (commissioned in 1953) and served in the Navy during the Cold War. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1980 and is today a memorial in New Hampshire. Location: Albacore Park, 600 Market Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire USS Growler The USS Growler was built to carrier cruise missiles (one of the first submarines built for cruise missiles). She was the second of only two Grayback class submarines. She was a conventional dieselelectric submarine and offered an early capability to provide a nuclear deterrent during the early Cold War. Today, she is preserved at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. Class: Grayback-class Museum: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum H. L. Hunley The H. L. Hunley is the most unique submarine on this list. It was built by the Confederacy during the Civil War and was the first combat submarine to sink a warship (the USS Housatonic). She was sunk before being able to get back to port but was raised, brought back into service, and sank again. She was raised again in 2000 and is on display. Museum: Warren Lasch Conservation Center, North Charleston, South Carolina Visitors can also see the remains of the legendary USS Monitor of the Civil War at the Mariner's Museum in Virginia. USS Marlin The USS Marlin was a training submarine that served the Navy for 20 years between 1953 and 1973. She also has the distinction of being one of the smallest submarines ever built for the US Navy.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 15 Class: T-1 Class Training Submarine Location: Freedom Park, Omaha, Nebraska USS Requin The USS Requin is a Tench-class museum submarine on display in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is among the best preserved submarines in the US. She was built during World War II in Maine and was part of the massive war effort of the USA. She was too late to participate in the war as the Japanese surrendered just three days before she was scheduled to begin her first war patrol. Class: Tench Class Museum: Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USS Nautilus The USS Nautilus is a rare example of a nuclear-powered submarine to be preserved as a museum ship. She was one of the world's first nuclearpowered submarines to be built and was the first to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole in 1958. She was commissioned in 1955, decommissioned in 1980, and made a National Historic Landmark in 1982. Class: Tang-Class Museum: Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton, Connecticut U-505 Not all the modern and historic submarines in the United States are of American origin. Go to Chicago, and visitors can see a rare surviving German U-boat of World War II, making her one of the most interesting naval museums in the USA. U-505 was built for the Kriegsmarine but was captured by the US Navy on 4 June 1944 (around the time of DDay). She had an unlucky career and, at one point, was called the most heavily damaged U-boat to return to port. Class: Type IXC Museum: Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago The World's First Nuclear Submarine And Its Incredible Trip To The North Pole Story by Cassidy Ward MSM.com Launching of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) © Naval History and Heritage Command Between March 1869 and June 1870, Jules Verne published his nowfamous science fiction story "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." It tells the tale of a group of adventurers aboard a technologically advanced (for the time period) submarine controlled by the eccentric Captain Nemo. The fictional vessel of Verne's story was powered electrically — something of a novelty at the time, the first electric streetlights wouldn't be installed for another eight years — allowing it to reach depths and explore environments never before seen. Verne called his vessel the Nautilus. When the United States government decided to build a nuclear-powered submarine, it took inspiration from Verne's cutting-edge vessel, at least in the name. The USS Nautilus was the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, and it revolutionized the way we navigate the world's oceans, not to mention the way we conduct warfare. The Nautilus carried out a number of missions over the course of 25 years in the water, but it's most famous was an under-ice crossing of the North Pole, cutting a new path between the Pacific and Atlantic. Here's how that happened. Hyman G. Rickover, The Father Of The Nuclear Navy Rickover (left) with model of Nautilus © U.S. Navy Hyman Rickover was born in Poland and moved to the United States with his family as a child. After high school, unable to afford college tuition, he joined the Navy. Rickover proved ambitious and capable, climbing the ranks swiftly. By 1946, he was assigned to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Often called the Atomic City, Oak Ridge was intentionally built to support the Manhattan Project and, more broadly, nuclear research. Once World War II ended, control of the city was transferred from the United States government to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Rickover's job at Oak Ridge was to develop a nuclear energy plant, but he became enamored with the idea of a nuclearpowered submarine. With the backing of the Chief of Naval Operations, Rickover became Director of the Nuclear Power Division, Bureau of Ships as well as chief of the Reactor Development Division of the Naval Reactor Branch at the AEC. From there, he led the charge for the development and construction of Nautilus and a class of nuclear submarines that followed. Developing The Submarine Thermal Reactor (STR)
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 16 The Nautilus was powered by a Submarine Thermal Reactor (STR) which utilized a pressurized water reactor. Before the development of the Nautilus, no such reactor existed, and they had to be invented for the project. Today, pressurized water reactors are the most common nuclear reactors in the world. You can find them in dozens of nuclearpowered submarines as well as landbased nuclear power plants. The reactor technology for the Nautilus was developed by the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, under the umbrella of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It worked by feeding pressurized water into the reactor core. There, it came into contact with the fissionable fuel source, typically uranium. As heavy elements split into lighter ones, they shed electrons and neutrons into the water, heating it. The heated water was then fed into another chamber, where it was released in the form of steam, spinning a turbine. This reactor design had benefits over existing submarines because it doesn't require the introduction of air into the engine and needs only a small amount of nuclear fuel to operate. Combined, that meant the crew could operate more quietly and for extended periods between surfacing. The Nautilus Nautilus shortly after christening © U.S. Navy Construction of the history-changing submarine was authorized in 1951 and began in the summer of the following year. Construction continued for roughly two years before it was completed. Then, on January 21, 1954, the ship was launched into the Thames River in Connecticut. Mamie Eisenhower was there, in her duty as First Lady, and she broke a ceremonial bottle of champagne on the hull. Once finished, the ship came in at 319 feet long, 21.5 feet tall, and it displaced more than 3,000 tons of water when fully submerged. Owing to its nuclear fuel source, it spent most of its time in service submerged, rising to the surface only when necessary or between missions. When in motion, Nautilus could dive as far as 700 feet below the surface of the ocean and cruise in excess of 20 knots, roughly equivalent to 37 kilometers per hour (23 miles per hour). Prior to the Nautilus, the world's most advanced submarines could stay underwater for a day or two at most. That was the gold standard and the time to beat. Nautilus smashed those limitations, regularly staying down for weeks or months at a stretch. Even now, more than half a century later, she remains an impressive ship. Underway On Nuclear Power While the ship officially launched on January 21, 1954, it didn't really get underway for almost another year. It remained tethered in port until January 17, 1955, when the Nautilus' first commander, Eugene P. Wilkinson set her off with a simple radio message, "underway on nuclear power." While the ship was technically operating under its own power, it remained in port for several months while the crew finished running tests and kicking the proverbial tires. Then, finally, on May 10, 1955, Nautilus made for the ocean for the first time. Its shakedown cruise took it from Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut to San Juan, Puerto Rico. They made the trip of roughly 1,400 nautical miles in 89.8 hours, submerged the entire way. At the time, it was the longest trip a submarine had ever made while submerged. It was also the fastest speed a submarine had ever maintained for more than an hour at a time. With the first journey in the history books, the Nautilus spent the next couple of years traveling the world's oceans, performing tests and exercises, and visiting various naval bases and ports. Basically, doing the submarine equivalent of the red carpet tour circuit. The Sputnik Crisis October is always spooky season, but October of 1957 was particularly scary because there was a new unknown in the world. Or, more accurately, there was a new unknown orbiting the world. On October 4, 1957, the world was rocked by the successful launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik. The small machine, only a few feet on a side, was a huge technological achievement, the world's first artificial satellite to successfully reach orbit. It would eventually lead to the space race, satellite communications, GPS, and more, but nobody knew that at the time. Instead, when Sputnik started circling the globe a whole bunch of people lost their cool really quickly. Suddenly, the Soviets had a hightech gadget whizzing over our heads at high speeds. Moreover, it was operating at an altitude that no one had ever been to before. Whatever they were planning to do with their satellite, there probably wasn't much we could have done about it. This is why some folks were concerned that the Soviet Union might use its newfound technological capabilities to drop bombs on us from above. Just a
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 17 decade earlier, the United States had used its own technological superiority to develop and use nuclear weapons. It wasn't keen to be on the other side of that equation. Voyage To The North Pole USS Nautilus (SSN-571) plunges through the Arctic Ocean © Naval History and Heritage Command While Sputnik turned out to not be a bomb-dropping satellite, it caused a considerable uproar at the time of launch. So much so that then U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the Nautilus to cross the North Pole, under the arctic ice. The crossing was, in part, a demonstration of the United States' technological capabilities in the water, and a show of power in advance of the looming submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) program. In short, the Soviets did a trick, so the U.S. needed to do one, too. In the summer of 1958, Nautilus was hanging out on the west coast of the United States, stopping at ports in California and Oregon before heading north. On June 9, Nautilus left her port in Washington state for the firstever journey beneath the north pole. The mission, known privately as "Operation Sunshine," was a complete secret, only revealed after a successful crossing. That was intentional because the point was to show that the Nautilus was capable of such a journey undetected. It had the added benefit of allowing the crew to make a couple of missteps along the way, without being scrutinized. Turning Back Commander briefs the ship's officers on ice conditions © National Archives The crew of the Nautilus left for the open ocean on June 9, 1958, with the intention of becoming the first submarine to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic, by way of an under-ice north pole crossing. While crossing the planet's north pole presents a number of unique challenges, the setbacks began almost as soon as the ship left port. They made it only as far as the Chukchi Sea, between Alaska and modern-day Russia. There, shallow waters cover an ancient land bridge across the Bering Strait. When the Nautilus entered these waters, they were filled with a gnashing collection of sea ice, too thick for them to safely sail through. Instead, the Nautilus turned south, headed for the furthest thing from the north pole: Hawaii's Pearl Harbor. The crew put up its feet for a few weeks among Hawaii's tropical climes, waiting for sea ice conditions to improve, before setting out again. Considering the challenge ahead of them, it's only fair that the crew got a brief island vacation in advance. To The North Pole Again Commander Anderson watches ice in preparation of north pole transit © National Archives By late July, sea ice conditions had improved, and the Nautilus set out for the Arctic again on July 23, 1958. This time, the crew was determined to make it. It cut a path up the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor to the Bering Strait and the Chukchi Sea. While ice conditions were better, crossing the strait is no easy task. The strait averages only about 100 feet deep for most of its length and some of the remaining sea ice extended up to 60 feet beneath the surface. To make the passage, the Nautilus had to squeeze between ever-drifting canyons made of floating icebergs and the sea floor. Once beyond the strait, Nautilus continued northward and reached the geographical north pole on August 3, 1958. The ship didn't surface at the pole. Instead, it traveled another 1,600 nautical miles and surfaced off the coast of Greenland a few days later. When Eisenhower later spoke about the crossing, he suggested that the newly pioneered route between the Pacific and the Atlantic might one day be used for trade, though the potential wartime applications were more apparent. The crossing accomplished its goal and the ship's captain William R. Anderson was awarded the Legion of Merit, while the ship's crew received the Presidential Unit Citation for the heroic effort. The Sperry Gyro Compass Observing overhead ice with onboard instruments © National Archives Central to the success of the trip was the navigational equipment aboard. At the planet's magnetic poles, conventional navigational equipment goes haywire, being unable to rely on the Earth's magnetic field for orientation. There was some concern that the Nautilus might become lost at the north pole, but the crew was confident the instruments would prevail.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 18 For most of their journey, the crew of the Nautilus relied on dead reckoning, the process of orienting yourself via landmarks as well as speed and direction estimates, and used that in the crossing as well, particularly at the pole when the instruments were less reliable. Still, the crew didn't have to rely on dead reckoning for much of the trip, thanks to the Sperry compasses onboard. The Nautilus had a Sperry MK 19, which had previously been used to travel to latitudes of 86 and 87 degrees north, with good performance. The Sperry gyro compass is capable of seeking north while also providing directional information to find its position. The crew used the compass, which remained true until between 88 and 89 degrees north, then used dead reckoning to make the crossing. Once they were 17 miles beyond the pole, the sailors shut down the Sperry, flipped it 180 degrees, and turned it back on. Along the way, they checked the MK 19's performance against two other Sperry instruments, an MK 23 and a Sperry Gyrosyn. The instruments remained in agreement throughout, providing added confidence in the ship's navigation. Nautilus Decommissioned Hero's welcome for Nautilus crew © National Archives After 26 years in service, the Nautilus was decommissioned on March 3, 1980, in part because it had developed a shimmy. When traveling above about 4 knots (7.4 kilometers per hour or 4.6 miles per hour), the ship would vibrate, making it potentially more detectable by radar. That's not exactly a quality you want in your stealthy nuclear submarine. During its tenure, the Nautilus sailed nearly half a million miles all over the world, earning it a designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1982. Four years later, in 1986, the Nautilus went on display at the Submarine Force Museum in Connecticut, not far from where it was built a few decades earlier. It has been there ever since, with a few exceptions. The ship was closed to the public in 2021 for renovations, some of which reconfigured the ship to make it safer for civilian visitors, and re-opened to guests in August 2022. At the time of this writing, the Nautilus is perched in Connecticut's Thames River, just outside the Submarine Force Museum.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 19 Crypto scammers targeting your community groups By Cristina Miranda, FTC Consumer Education Specialist Crypto investment talk is everywhere — even in your local community groups in real life or online. But scammers join these groups, too. Their mission? Gain the group’s trust…and then exploit relationships and trick you into crypto investment scams. But how do you spot and avoid these scammers? Scammers use common bonds to build trust. They might speak the same language as you, claim to be the same age, or pretend to share things in common like your religion, ethnicity, hobbies, or profession. Why? Because when they then offer crypto investment advice or help, they think you’ll be more likely to listen. Once they start chatting with you, before long, they’ll ask you for money to invest in crypto, make up a reason you need to send a payment in crypto, or both. But if you give it to them, the money or crypto will be gone. The bottom line? Crypto investing comes with lots of risks, including scams. To spot the scams: Don’t believe promises that you’ll make money, get a big payout, or earn guaranteed returns. Those are signs of a scam. No one can guarantee crypto investment riches. Ask online group moderators to remove people pushing crypto. Or, if you’re a group moderator, remove anyone offering advice or “help” with crypto investing to prevent scams. Research before you invest. Scammers are exploiting what people don’t know about crypto. It pays to search online for the company or currency name with the words “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” Find out how it works and where your money is going. If you need help making investment decisions while avoiding fraud, visit Investor.gov. And remember, anyone who tells you to pay by cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift card is a scammer. If you pay, there’s usually no way to get your money back. Read more at ftc.gov/cryptocurrency. Need to report a cryptocurrency scam? Visit Reportfraud.ftc.gov. New FTC data reveals top lies told by romance scammers New data released recently by the Federal Trade Commission sheds new light on lies that romance scammers use to take advantage of people — lies that reports to the FTC show cost nearly 70,000 consumers $1.3 billion in 2022. Using data from the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network, the new data spotlight breaks down the most common lies that consumers reported being told when they were contacted by romance scammers last year. Topping the list was scammers telling consumers that they needed money because a friend or relative was sick, hurt or in jail – a lie consumers reported hearing in nearly a quarter of reports. The next most commonly reported lie was that the scammer had great investment advice to share with their newfound romantic interest, followed closely by the lie that the scammer was in the military, or that they needed help with some sort of important delivery. The data spotlight also highlights a growing tactic used by romance scammers: sextortion, when a romance scammer convinces a consumer to share explicit photos and then threatens to share those photos with the consumer’s social media contacts. The spotlight notes these reports have increased more than eightfold in the past three years, with consumers ages 18-29 six times more likely than older consumers to report this form of romance scam. According to the spotlight, consumers most often report being contacted by romance scammers via social media, though they often push to move to other messaging apps. Consumers also reported losing more money by sending cryptocurrency than any other method. VA launches mobile medical units to increase access to health care for homeless Veterans VCL staff have fielded nearly 1 million contacts WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will deploy 25 mobile medical units across the country during the next six months to provide health care and support to homeless and at-risk Veterans. The first MMU arrived today at the VA Orlando Healthcare System, and the full deployment schedule
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 20 for upcoming MMUs can be viewed here. Mobile medical units are vans or trucks that move from one location to another to provide a private space for eligible Veterans to meet with medical providers, including mental health clinicians, social workers, and other staff that provide primary care, women’s health, audiology, laboratory, and telehealth services to those who may not have access to a local VA medical center. Ending Veteran homelessness is a top priority for VA, and President Biden has made supporting Veterans a key pillar of his Unity Agenda for the nation. In 2022 alone, VA housed more than 40,000 formerly homeless Veterans, prevented more than 17,700 Veterans and their families from falling into homelessness, and helped nearly 191,700 additional Veteran families who were experiencing financial difficulties retain their homes or avoid foreclosure. Thanks in part to these efforts, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has fallen by 11% since early 2020 and by more than 55% since 2010. In 2023, VA has set a goal to house at least 38,000 Veterans. “Veterans experiencing homelessness face a variety of barriers to accessing health care, including a lack of transportation,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “With these new mobile medical units, homeless and at -risk Veterans don’t have to visit VA hospitals — we come right to them.” This announcement builds on sweeping new investments to address Veteran homelessness announced by the White House in June. VA’s efforts to end Veteran homelessness are built upon the evidence -based “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes first getting a Veteran into housing and then providing them with the wraparound support they need to stay housed, including health care, job training, legal and education assistance, and more. These MMUs have been made available through VA’s Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams, whose mission is to address the unique needs and distinct challenges homeless Veterans face both accessing and engaging in health care. In addition to MMUs, VA already has 83 Mobile Vet Centers around the country to provide confidential counseling and outreach to eligible individuals in communities that are distant or remote from existing services. ### If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877 -4AID -VET (877 - 424 -3838). Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 21 Support official base charities: Upstate-Carolina Adaptive Golf
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 22 "Bringing friendships to veterans in hospice care" www.veteranlastpatrol.org 864-580-8005 Link to VLP Newsletters Donate to Veteran’s Last Patrol
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 23 BOOK HIGHLIGHT: FICTION Depth of Revenge by Richard Golden Goodreads: 3.75 · 8 ratings As leader of the Israeli submarine Tekumah, Commander Gilad has the sole authority to launch nuclear-tipped cruise missiles against cities housing millions. But while out at sea, the unthinkable occurs. Devastating nuclear explosions in Israel and attacks against Israeli embassies destroy any chance of peace in the Middle East. BOOK HIGHLIGHT: NON FICTION Operation Storm By John J. Geoghegan Goodreads: 4.06 · 158 ratings The riveting true story of Japan's top-secret plan to change the course of World War II using a squadron of underwater aircraft carriers a generation ahead of their time. Meticulously researched and masterfully told, "Operation Storm" tells the harrowing story of the Sen-toku, their esperate push into Allied waters, and the U.S. Navy's dramatic chase of one of these juggernaut subs. MOVIE HIGHLIGHT Above Us The Waves Approved | 1 hr 32 min | 1955 | Drama War IMDb: 6.6/10 Reviews: 1.6K In World War II, the greatest threat to the British Navy is the German battleship Tirpitz. Being anchored in a Norwegian fjord, it is impossible to attack it with any chance of success. But the Navy trains a special commando to attack it, using little submarines to plant underwater explosives under it.
FROM THE DEEP: GOLDEN CORNER BASE NEWSLETTER | Issue 41 24 SUBMARINE ART Title: Submarine Cartoon Caption: H.T. Webster cartoon in The Globe and Commercial Advertiser of New York. Description: The U-boat launched an entirely new form of naval warfare, and the Allies spent most of the war looking for ways to counter the threat. Some of the suggestions proved more effective than others. Here, a cartoonist pokes fun at some of civilians' more simplistic ideas for defeating the submarine menace. Vice Admiral William Sims, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, clipped this cartoon out and sent it to his friend, Captain William V. Pratt, of the Chief of Naval Operations staff. In pencil, he jotted the words "Exactly this thing was seriously presented to me by an "inventor"!!!" Catalog #: NH 997701 Original Location: William V. Pratt Papers Circa this Year: 1917