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TRF Sailors help restore a landmark
http://www.kingsbayperiscope.com/storie ... .xml.shtml
By MC2(SW) Michael Wiss, Periscope staff
Six NSB Kings Bay Sailors showed their dedication, hard work and pride as they helped restore the USS Cod (SS 224) memorial submarine, which honors more than 3,900 submariners who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 100-year history of the United States Submarine Force.
The Trident Refit Facility (TRF) Sailors repaired the USS Cod's diesel engines, hydraulic plant, periscopes and rebuilt the acoustic torpedoes during the weeklong refit at the USS Cod homeport off Lake Erie in Cleveland Sept. 29 - Oct. 5.
The refit period was an unplanned event. According to TRF Weapons Officer ETCS(SS) David Parkinson (a Cleveland native), he happened to mention to the people who do upkeep for the ship what would it take to get the sub to sea? The volunteers who work there said gas and a crew, so Parkinson set the crew up to repair the memorial, which is considered a national treasure for all submarine veterans.
"It was kind of an off hand remark, I didn't know it would lead to anything," he said. "I told the volunteers what I did, and said that there are people in Kings Bay who would be willing to help with the project. It took a lot of hard work, but the sub is a beautiful and impressive sight."
The USS Cod is a World War II era GATO class fleet submarine that was commissioned June 21, 1943. The Cod is the last WWII fleet sub in combat configuration, which means the sub hatches are still functional, the boat can seal up and dive.
Cod is one of the finest submarines on display and is the only U.S. submarine that has not had stairways and doors cut into her pressure hull for public access. Visitors use the same vertical ladders and hatches used by the crew.
The Cod completed seven successful war patrols during WWII and was awarded seven battle stars. The sub was credited with sinking 12 enemy vessels totaling more than 37,000 tons of damage. On Cod's seventh and final war patrol, she would carve a unique niche for herself. Not for destroying enemy ships, but for performing the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history. On the morning of July 8, 1945 Cod arrived at Ladd Reef in the South China Sea to aid the Dutch Submarine O-19 which had grounded on the coral outcropping.
After two days of attempts at pulling O-19 free, the captains of both vessels agreed that there was no hope of freeing the Dutch sub from the grip of the reef. After removing the 56 Dutch Sailors to safety, Cod destroyed the O-19 with two scuttling charges, two torpedoes and 16 rounds from the Cod's 5-inch deck gun. The Cod was home to 153 men for the two and a half day run to the recently liberated Subic Bay Naval Base.
The Sailors who helped with the repairs were honored to be part of the refit crew. They even paid their own expenses and used their leave vacation time to help. According to ET2(SS) Michael Gorrell it was an honor to continue the legacy of the Cod.
"There are many incentives to a job well done," he said. "I compare this to doing repairs to the Statue of Liberty if it needed it.. I would want to be a part of that. Even though we paid our own expenses and leave time, it was well worth it to honor the sub."
The highlight of all the hard work was when the engines were fired up and years of accumulated dust and dirt poured out from the sub exhaust port and the big gun on the aft deck of the submarine was fired with a thunder that echoed across the waters of Lake Erie. According to ET2(SS) Mathew Allen it is an experience he will never forget.
"It was a great to be able to fire off the guns," he said. "People came up to us in a restaurant and shook our hand and thanked us for all the hard work we did. Knowing we made a difference was well worth the effort."
http://www.kingsbayperiscope.com/storie ... .xml.shtml
By MC2(SW) Michael Wiss, Periscope staff
Six NSB Kings Bay Sailors showed their dedication, hard work and pride as they helped restore the USS Cod (SS 224) memorial submarine, which honors more than 3,900 submariners who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 100-year history of the United States Submarine Force.
The Trident Refit Facility (TRF) Sailors repaired the USS Cod's diesel engines, hydraulic plant, periscopes and rebuilt the acoustic torpedoes during the weeklong refit at the USS Cod homeport off Lake Erie in Cleveland Sept. 29 - Oct. 5.
The refit period was an unplanned event. According to TRF Weapons Officer ETCS(SS) David Parkinson (a Cleveland native), he happened to mention to the people who do upkeep for the ship what would it take to get the sub to sea? The volunteers who work there said gas and a crew, so Parkinson set the crew up to repair the memorial, which is considered a national treasure for all submarine veterans.
"It was kind of an off hand remark, I didn't know it would lead to anything," he said. "I told the volunteers what I did, and said that there are people in Kings Bay who would be willing to help with the project. It took a lot of hard work, but the sub is a beautiful and impressive sight."
The USS Cod is a World War II era GATO class fleet submarine that was commissioned June 21, 1943. The Cod is the last WWII fleet sub in combat configuration, which means the sub hatches are still functional, the boat can seal up and dive.
Cod is one of the finest submarines on display and is the only U.S. submarine that has not had stairways and doors cut into her pressure hull for public access. Visitors use the same vertical ladders and hatches used by the crew.
The Cod completed seven successful war patrols during WWII and was awarded seven battle stars. The sub was credited with sinking 12 enemy vessels totaling more than 37,000 tons of damage. On Cod's seventh and final war patrol, she would carve a unique niche for herself. Not for destroying enemy ships, but for performing the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history. On the morning of July 8, 1945 Cod arrived at Ladd Reef in the South China Sea to aid the Dutch Submarine O-19 which had grounded on the coral outcropping.
After two days of attempts at pulling O-19 free, the captains of both vessels agreed that there was no hope of freeing the Dutch sub from the grip of the reef. After removing the 56 Dutch Sailors to safety, Cod destroyed the O-19 with two scuttling charges, two torpedoes and 16 rounds from the Cod's 5-inch deck gun. The Cod was home to 153 men for the two and a half day run to the recently liberated Subic Bay Naval Base.
The Sailors who helped with the repairs were honored to be part of the refit crew. They even paid their own expenses and used their leave vacation time to help. According to ET2(SS) Michael Gorrell it was an honor to continue the legacy of the Cod.
"There are many incentives to a job well done," he said. "I compare this to doing repairs to the Statue of Liberty if it needed it.. I would want to be a part of that. Even though we paid our own expenses and leave time, it was well worth it to honor the sub."
The highlight of all the hard work was when the engines were fired up and years of accumulated dust and dirt poured out from the sub exhaust port and the big gun on the aft deck of the submarine was fired with a thunder that echoed across the waters of Lake Erie. According to ET2(SS) Mathew Allen it is an experience he will never forget.
"It was a great to be able to fire off the guns," he said. "People came up to us in a restaurant and shook our hand and thanked us for all the hard work we did. Knowing we made a difference was well worth the effort."