248 - February 20, 2003 7:00 pm

Name:

Dwight Bonham

Tender:

Comments:

I am conducting research on US Navy torpedo testing conducted before and during World War II. Defeciencies with US torpedoes (Mk XIV) early in the war is a realitively well know topic, but I'm trying to find specifics on tests done in the operational areas (Australia and Hawii) which eventually solved most of the Mk XIV problems. I am hoping that you can assist me in finding some photographs by or comments from Tender personnel who witnessed these (or other) tests. The first real Depth Test(s) on the Mk XIV Torpedo were held in Frenchman's Bay near Albany, Australia on June 20,1942 using USS Skipjack (SS-184). The test was made under the direction of CAPT James Fife, with LCDR Theodore C. Aylward, the Torpedo Officer from the Submarine Tender USS Holland (AS-3) acting as the official witness. The test produced three rips in the recovered fishing nets which indicated that Mk XIVs were running between 8-15 feet deeper than set. A second series of depth tests was also held in Frenchman's Bay on July 18th, 1942 in which USS Saury (SS-189) fired four torpedoes at the same fishing nets from 850 to 900 yards away. All torpedoes were set to run at a depth of 10 feet. The first passed through a missing section of the net which had been torn away during heavy weather the previous night, providing no data. The other three torpedoes penetrated the fishing net uniformly at 21 feet (i.e. 11 feet too deep). Any pictures / info regarding these tests, the nets or the personnel involved would be of interest. My descriptions are certainly not all-inclusive; they are just a best guess. If you have any information or suggestions, please let me know. You may contact me at either dwight.bonham@tma.osd.mil or dbonham@prodigy.net In also be reached by telephone at (303) 676-3731. Please feel free to call me should you have any questions. Thanks Agai Dwight Bonham Major, US Army (Ret)

249 - December 7, 2002 7:00 pm

Name:

Jim Rosenback

Tender:

USS Clytie

Comments:

Dear Sirs , I am interested to find out if their is still any living crew members of the U.S.S. Clytie. My father Hank Rosenback Bosun Mate Ist Class served on her durning the war. I would sure like to hear from anyone with knowledge of those days. Sincerely Jim Rosenback

250 - November 15, 2002 7:00 pm

Name:

Jill Hoffman

Tender:

USS LY Spear

Comments:

I served aboard the L.Y. Spear from 1984-1988 as an engineman, working for both the auxilary and later the R-9 divisions. We spent time in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, the BahamaLondon and France. Maybe you spent time in Cuba for Gitmo training, or getting the ship in better shape while in the ship yards? It would be fun shareing and laughing over old memories! Jill hoffman

251 - October 30, 2002 7:00 pm

Name:

Dennis Tate

Tender:

USS Proteus AS-19

Comments:

I found your site almost by accident, but what a find! I served on the Proteus from December 1967 to June 1969, Machinery Repairman 3rd class when I transferred . There were 6 of us that came from the same A school class. Thanks for putting so much work into this site, really brought back a lot of memories. Dennis Tate

252 - October 18, 2002 8:00 pm

Name:

Jack Horner

Tender:

USS Frank Cable AS-40

Comments:

Hi, I was stationed on AS40 from OCT 87, until transfer in OCT 91. During that time I filled the following billets: A Division Officer; M Division Officer; Engineering Department Master Chief; Engineering Officer of the Watch; and Enlisted Surface Warfare Coordinator. While reading your history on AS40 and noticed a small error: USS Frank Cable AS40 made it's FIRST deployment in 1988 to lamaddalena, Sardinia, Italy to relieve USS Orion for a much needed shipyard overhaul. That deployment was 6 months. Jack D. Horner, MMCM (SW), USN Ret.

253 - October 10, 2002 8:00 pm

Name:

David Semenske

Tender:

USS Emory S. Land

Comments:

I am a plankowner of Land - having reporting in early 1979 while it was still being built by pugeot sound naval shipyard in Washington. I don't know if you know this but the ship is also noted for having the first drug dog detection team on board. The dog's name was patches and it's handler was a first class by the name of Lelande?. Interesting story about the dog while in the indian ocean, if I remember right some new sailors had flown in to meet the ship and needed their bags checked. So the British, (who actually own Diego Garcia) called upon patches to sniff for drugs. One of the sailors had a ball inside of his seabag and somehow it came out and bounced on the floor. Patches then wanted to play and could not understand what he was supposed to be doing. It took some time to convince the dog to sniff the other bags and get the sailors ball back. It was also involved in three hurricanes in the Atlantic on its way to the indian ocean Fredrick, george and henry. The movie perfect storm is based on those storms, the only time anyone can recall when three hurricanes brewed at the same time on the north atlantic. During one - a new officer was on board (female) and she got a voice message from the tracking station telling her we were in the middle of a hurricane. Her response was short and to the point "No, shit sherlock, get us out of here!". Needless to say we all lost it. If you need more pictures or information just let me know and i'll see what I can do. David Semenske

254 - October 7, 2002 8:00 pm

Name:

George Herold

Tender:

USS Sperry AS-12

Comments:

In the spring of 1945 at Pearl Harbor (Sub Base) I was awaiting transportation to the States. I was SM1CSS and had finished 11 war patrols in S27, FINBACK & PICUDA. A signalman was needed aboard SRERRY which was sailing for Midway, and I was chosen. It was to be a four or five day sail and I would be returned to Pearl on the first available ship, which happened to be GUNNEL. I was of little use on the bridge, except for signaling (searchlight & semaphore & yardarm blinker). There was a lot of flaghoist, yardarm stuff, and I was a complete failure at this. However, it was a nice cruise. I ate, slept and laid around on topside most of the time. We were unescorted. No enemy within a couple of thousand miles. Good chow, too. George Herold

255 - September 24, 2002 8:00 pm

Name:

Charles Luke

Tender:

USS Holland AS-3

Comments:

I am the son of Floyd Vance Luke who served on the USS Holland AS3 during WWII. He was on board when she sailed from Pearl to Manila, etc. Please tell me how to get into touch with any of Dad's old shipmates. Dad died in 1969 but I would like to visit with shipmates who knew him. Thanks.

256 - August 19, 2002 8:00 pm

Name:

Jim Heg

Tender:

USS Proteus AS-19

Comments:

Hello - I am Captain James E. Heg, USN (Ret.), now known mostly as Jim. As a lowly Ensign, I was in the commissioning crew of Proteus. My billet was Hull Repair Officer and GQ O.O.D. I was in PROTEUS until May 1944. I was then transferred to Relief Crew subdiv 201 and before the end of that month was transferred to USS BANG (SS 385). I have some interesting (to me) memories of the pre-commissioning, shakedown, final loadout at Mare Island, etc. When we arrived at Pearl from Mare Island, we anchored in West Loch and took USS ASPRO (SS 309) alongside for our first SS refit. We then proceeded to Midway. The first two submarines to come alongside were USS PARCHE (SS 384) and USS BANG (SS 385). PARCHE was in from her CMH patrol. It might interest you to know (if you don't already) that PROTEUS and SUBRON 20 were "married" together before any of the ships were constructed. During the construction of the submarines, CSD 201 (Cdr Mike Fenno) and CSD 202 (Cdr Lew Parks) were send TAD to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to oversee the training of the various ship's companies. In the meantime, PROTEUS was under construction in Oakland. During the course of the war, the subs of these two divisions refitted alogside PROTEUS quite often. In BANG, we had 3 refits by PROTEUS. BURRFISH also had at least 3, ASPRO 2, or more, and so on. Oh yes, why this e-mail? I have a very good B/W photo of PROTEUS (port side, broad on) taken in SFO Bay in 1944 and labeled "As Built" I thought it might make a good addition to your fine collection. Your site is a marvel. It has changed and grown since my first visit several weeks ago. With warm regards and thanks for all the effort you have spent to keep these old girls in our memories. Jim Heg

257 - August 10, 2002 8:00 am

Name:

Tender:

USS Gilmore

Comments:

I graduated em A school may 1973 flew to la mad to USS H W Gilmore As-16 until May 1974 then on to USS Orion AS-16 in Charleston S.C. until Sept. 1976 (EMFN_EM2)