Steel Boats, Iron Men and their stories (plus a bit more)
Originally posted on theleansubmariner:
Submarine Warfare Insignia One way to distinguish a United States Navy Submariner from any other sailor is to see the dolphins predominantly displayed on his or her uniform. Officers wear a gold version and enlisted wear a silver version. I have seen many stories over the years about the origin of…
1917 “We need a bigger fleet” “You’re going to need a lot more sailors.” The war that had started in Europe in 1914 had ended up being a stalemate on land. The Germans were never able to get past their early gains without being pushed back. The Allies were also kept to minimal gains with […]
Read More 1917 – Submarines have many adventures (and so do Submariners)1916 – In the United States, the need for a more structured course of instruction in submarine operations was identified by the Secretary of the Navy and the Navy Department. The increase in number and complexity of submarines was the driving force behind this perceived need. An earlier submarine school for enlisted technicians was already in […]
Read More 1916 – The Unexpected Guests Come CallingIf there was any doubt about the impact of submarines in an open ocean war, they were dispelled for even the harshest critic in 1914-1915. The surprise attacks form the German U-boats were stunning to the public at large as they watched ship after ship damaged and sunk. While some in the American naval leadership […]
Read More 1915 – The submarines come of ageIn August of 1914, the world exploded. The two sides had already been preparing for war by calling up all of the conscripts that would be needed for a massive land war in Europe. Before it was over, the losses on both sides would be staggering. By wars end, a combined total of twenty million […]
Read More 1914 – The Suicide Club – SUBMARINE MOST PUZZLING WAR MACHINEThe war clouds were continuing to gather over much of Europe. The Kaiser and his leadership team recognized that in order to continue growing as a country, they needed more land and resources. The English and French were bound together by a series of treaties and this binding would propel all of the Powers towards […]
Read More 1913 – PERFECTING THE SUBMARINEApril is submarine month and April 11 is the day that that is recognized as National Submarine Day in the United States. It commemorates the official start of the American Submarine Force journey. While many other events related to submarines happened before that day, the adoption of a submarine led the way to the emerging […]
Read More 1912 – Captain Nemo Has Rival – Steel Fish Breaks All RecordsOnce upon a time my wife got a chance to join me and my fellow submariners on a dependents cruise. I am not sure they are even allowed anymore. But this was a pretty special occasion. The USS San Francisco (SSN 711) pulled into Maui in the Hawaiian Islands and the wives and some kids […]
Read More 1911 Whim of a Woman – The First Female Casualty on a Submarine“Experiencing minor difficulty. Have positive up angle. Attempting to blow.” I wasn’t quite nine years old when the USS Thresher went down for its final dive on April 10, 1963. I am sure I remember the news but I am also sure the significance of the tragedy did not reach all the way inside of […]
Read More April 10, 1963 -“Experiencing minor difficulty. Have positive up angle. Attempting to blow.”Originally posted on theleansubmariner:
Submarines have always been dangerous. The early submarines were even more so because of the emerging technologies that had not yet evolved. The men who rode the early boats were a different breed. This story is about one of them who was a national hero in Japan and left a legacy…
theleansubmariner 
You must be logged in to post a comment.