The Final Chapter of USN Diesel Attack Submarines

HNSA Crest with photos of visitors at the ships.

The Final Chapter of USN Diesel Attack Submarines
Slides from Presentation that was primarily video.

Richard Pekelney

Today's Talk

* How boats are disposed of at end of life
* A very short background on Fleet and Tang class boats
* Photos from Brazil during scrapping of ex-USS Greenfish
* Video from Turkey aboard ex-USS Tang
* Video from Taiwan aboard ex-USS Cutlass
* Q&A

End of USN Service

* Lost in combat (52 US Boats during WW II)
* Casualty in peacetime (11 diesel boats, 2 nuclear)
* Use as training target, SINKX
* Scrapped
* Sold to US allies
* Museum donation

Fleet Submarine Class

* During WW II
- 2% of USN personnel, 55% of enemy shipping sunk
- Destroyed 686 warships, 2,346 merchant larger than 600 tons
- 23% of USN submarine personnel (over 3,500 men), 52 US Boats lost
- Consists of Gato, Balao, Tench classes
* After WW II
- GUPPY upgrades during 1950s
- USN operation Until 1970s
- Many sold to US Allies during 1970s, two still operating 2004

Tang Class Submarine

* First post-WW II US Submarine Design, 1949
* Basis for first three nuclear classes
* Very successful after replacement of GM pancake engine with Fairbanks Morse O.P. engine
* Six built, two still operating in 2004

Brazil

* Five ex-USN Submarines
* ex-USS Greenfish (SS-351)
- Begun in 1945, Commissioned 1946
- GUPPY II upgrade in 1948
- Decommissioned 1973, transfer to Brazil 1973
- Amazonas (S-16), Scrapped 2001

Rio Beach
Photo of the beach in Rio

Ex-Greenfish Aft
Photo of ex-Greenfish from Aft showing everything 6 inches above the waterline gone.

Ex-Greenfish Maneuvering Room
Photo of ex-Greenfish from Aft showing empty maneuvering room and engine room.

Ex-Greenfish Conning Tower
Photo of ex-Greenfish showing smoke pouring out of the conning tower as it is cut in half.

Ex-Greenfish Pile of Scrap
Photo of a huge pile of submarine parts..

Taiwan, Republic of China

* ex-USS Cutlass (SS-478)
- Commissioned 1945, had a war patrol against Imperial Japanese Navy in WW II
- GUPPY II upgrade in 1949
- Decommissioned 1971, transfer to Taiwan 1973
- Hai Shih (SS-791)
* ex-USS Tusk (SS-426)
- Begun during WW II, Commissioned 1946
- GUPPY II upgrade in 1948
- Rescued USS Cochino crew
- Decommissioned 1973, transfer to Taiwan 1973
- Hai Pao (SS-792)

Turkey

* 23 ex-USN Submarines from 1948-1987
* ex-USS Tang (SS-563)
- Commissioned 1951, Tang Class
- Decommissioned 1980, leased then sold to Turkey 1987
- Pirireis (S-343)
* ex-USS Gudgeon (SS-567)
- Begun during WW II, Commissioned 1952, Tang Class
- Decommissioned 1983, leased then sold to Turkey 1987
- Hizirreis (S-342)
* Ex-USS Thornback (SS-418)
- Commissioned 1944, Balao Class, then GUPPY II
- Decommissioned 1972, transfer to Turkey 1972
- Ulucalireis (S-338), Museum since 2000

Videos

The videos were shown at the conference, below are some views:
http://www.maritime.org/turkey/video/index.htm
http://www.maritime.org/taiwan/pages/video001.htm

Thank You-TN Hai Shih

The entire contents of this film were filmed aboard Hai Shih (ex-USS Cutlass) in Feb 2004. External at sea footage was filmed in Jan 2004.

The Historic Naval Ships Association, the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association and the producers all wish to thank the R.O.C. Navy for its assistance in documenting Hai Shih.

Republic of China, Naval Forces Command
RADM Lei Kuang-shu, Deputy Chief of Staff
Rear Admiral Wan, Shang-jiunn
LT. Saul Fan, Navy GHQ

Thank you to the entire crew of Hai Shih.

Thank You Taiwan

Mr. Andy Tseng, Government Information Office
Paul Chang, Taiwan Economic and Cultural Organization
Joel Kao, Taiwan Economic and Cultural Organization
Jennie Chuang, Taiwan Economic and Cultural Organization

Gerald Cook, American Institute in Taiwan
John Mellor, American Institute in Taiwan

We also wish to thank the production crew:
Director: Mr. Wan
We apologize for missing the names of the cameraman and soundman.
Editing: R.O.C. Naval College Staff

Producers:
Richard Pekelney
Terry Lindell

Thank You, TCG Pirireis

The entire contents (exception below) of this film were filmed aboard TCG Pirireis (ex-USS Tang) in Jan of 2004. Film of TCG Pirireis live firing a torpedo was filmed during a previous exercise. Torpedo exiting tube was stock from the Turkish Navy.

The Historic Naval Ships Association, San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, and the producers all wish to thank the Turkish Navy for their assistance in documenting TCG Pirireis and TCG Hizireis.

Republic of Turkey, Naval Forces Command
RADM U. Omer Esenturk, RADM (UH), Chief, Logistics Directorate
RADM A. Can Erenoglu, Commander of Turkish Submarine Fleet
Captain Ramiz Abay, Commodore Submarine Flotilla
CDR Can Uzonsoy
LTJG Goksen Elbir

Thank You, Crew of Pirireis

Dz.Bnb. Selcuk ERDURAK Commanding Officer
Dz.Kd.Yzb. Okan YULDIZ Exec. Officer
Dz.Yzb. Gunhan GULBIT'EN Chief Eng. Officer
Dz.Bnb. Selcuk ERDURAK Captain
Dz.Yzb. A.Erkmen BILGE Weapons Officer
Dz.Yzb. Izzet BEZGIN Operations Officer
Dz.Utgm. Zafer SEN Electronics Officer
Dz.Utgm. Ismall KOC Communications Officer
Dz.Utgm. Hakan BAYRAK Damage Control Officer

Entire Crew of TCG Pirireis

Thank You, Turkey Production Crew

Insert Studios, Istanbul, Turkey

1st Unit
Gokhan Gurek, Director
Ekrem Ak, Cameraman and Editor
Erdem Eron, Sound Operator

2nd Unit
Getin Seker, Cameraman
Hakan Gedikogh, Camera assistant

Turkish Navy
Dz.Yzb. Gunhan Gulbeten, Assistant Editor

Producers:
Richard Pekelney
Terry Lindell
Carl Nolte

Thank You, Amazonas/Greenfish

Joao Ferrer - SERMAPI

Tony Ferrer

Lt. Cmdr. Peter Rabang

Harry Nystrom

Rich Pekelney

For More Information

* For info on Museum Boats
- http://www.hnsa.org/index.htm
- http://www.hnsa.org/class.htm#SS

* For more information on the trips, and many more photographs:
- http://www.maritime.org/taiwan/index.htm
- http://www.maritime.org/turkey/index.htm
- http://www.maritime.org/rioweb/index.htm

* Or contact Rich Pekelney