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Master and Commander
Posts: 1889
Location: Patterson, New York | Subject: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
Never read this before; I found this story interesting:
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/13939/a-u-s-navy-nuclear-submarine-once-submerged-in-a-river-to-ride-out-a-hurricane |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 6180
Location: Summerville, SC | Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
We did it a couple of times at Pier November in Charleston while on DB's back in the '60's. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1454
| Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
When the 600 was moored at the Weapons Pier at low tide the boat took on a list. Clearly on the bottom. |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 3666
Location: Kansas City Missouri | Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
While aboard USS Odax in February 1972, we again provided publicity services by submerging in the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
Edited by GaryKC 2017-08-30 7:21 AM
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Plankowner
Posts: 9163
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
Narwhal is still sitting at Bremerton and still designated as available for a museum. Last I knew she was still destined for the Keyport Museum. |
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Senior Crew
Posts: 183
| Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
Some time in the late 1940's a sub came into Portland. I remember seeing it in the center of the Willamette River in downtown Portland, submerging. If my memory is correct, the deck was covered with flowers which floated away. That memory was a major reason for going into subs some years later. Any one have an idea where I could find more details of this event?
carl b. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1576
Location: Wollongong, NSW | Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
Heavy weather bottoming would work. If deep water is not possible, bottoming in a protected river, particularly if round a couple of bends from direct wave action, would see the submarine ride through it quite easily.
Some years back, Wewak and Balikpapan (mine), LCHs had just unloaded supplies in Darwin and were taking out stuff post cyclone Tracy cleanup. A cyclone was predicted and we couldn't get clear to clear, safe water in time to avoid the anticipated track. All ballast and water tanks were filled to the brim, tank deck was partly awash and we bottomed at high water on the old WWII Catalina hard. Berthing wires were fastened to strong points in the surrounding mangroves. Cyclone path changed, nothing to worry about; pumped the water out and came off at a subsequent high water. The several hundred tons of water would have kept us basically 'in position.' Even if we had risen on the hard, pumping out the water would have permitted us to float off in safety. |
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Plankowner
Posts: 9163
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
The good thing with this was the reactor was not active and no main sea water cooling was used. Just battery for power.
In 1967 the USS Guardfish SSN 612 missed the entrance buoy at Pearl Harbor and ran up on the reef and became stuck at a bad angle. reactor and main sea water were engaged and she sucked a ton of coral sand into her main condensers. She ended up in the yard for months getting cleaned out. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1889
Location: Patterson, New York | Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
Ric,
This was one of many qualification questions asked; "Why can't this boat sit on the bottom like a boat in a WWII movie?" When you answered because of the MSW intakes, then you were asked to draw the system and prove it.
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Plankowner
Posts: 9163
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: USS Narwhal (SSN-671) Submerged in Cooper River at Charleston 1989
WE saw it happen. We follows Guardfish about 30 minutes later and passed her sitting on the reef. It was explained to us what was happening and how it was not good. |
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