USS Torsk Photo Album
May 1947
Torsk is hit by a destroyer!
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From the log of USS TORSK (SS-423) for May 26, 1947.
0828 Underway
1220 Dived for practice torpedo approach by PCO Student Officer. Change course to 116T. The Captain assumed the conn.
1221 Went to Battle Stations Torpedo. The Captain turned the conn over to the PCO Student, LTCDR T. H. Williams, USN.
1223 Change course to 160T
1224 Change speed to 8 knots
1226 Change speed to 6 knots, change course to 055T
1228 Change speed to 2 knots
1234 Change course to 020T
1237 Change course to 310T, change speed to 4 knots
1240 Change speed to 2 knots
1240.30 Collided with USS JOHNSTON (DD821) in Latitude 41-13'-50" North, Longitude 71-48'-09" West, keel depth 58-1/2 feet, ships heading 312T. The Captain assumed the conn.
1240.31 Stopped all propellors. Put rudder amidships
1240.33 Sounded collision alarm
1244 Surfaced. Torsk had suffered extensive damage to periscopes, periscope shears, radar masts and antennae, hydraulic hoisting gear for periscopes and radar antennae and radio antennae. JOHNSTON had suffered a hole in her bottom with resulting flooding of a fire room.
1245 Secured from collision
1252 Went ahead at 14 knots on course 260T
1254 Secured from Battle Stations Torpedo
1310 Course change to 270T
1321 Course change to 285T
1335 Stopped, immediately went ahead at 14 knots
1337 Course change to 300T
1338 Course change to 330T
1342 Course change to 340T
1347 Stationed the manuevering watch
1353 Course change to 353T
1355 Course change to 355T
1356 With Southwest Ledge Light abeam to starboard, distance 150 yards, commenced steering various courses, at various speeds conforming to the Thames River channel.
1443 Moored port side to south side of Pier #12, US Naval Submarine Base, New London, CT. Ships present: various units of the US Atlantic Fleet, various yard and district craft, with SOPA in USS Argonaut (SS475)
(signed) R. M. Anderson, ENS, USN
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Ken's personal memories of the event.
"We were at periscope depth when the tin can hit us and I was in the control room (as part of my qualification process) standing just about under the lower conning tower hatch. Water started coming into the conning tower and the collision alarm sounded. The diving officer ordered the lower hatch closed, as I stepped up to the ladder to dog it down, I heard someone in the conn say "Oh my poor wife". That's when I thought I should have listened to my Mother, the last thing she said to me the day I left home for the Navy was "remember Kenneth, no submarines". I said OK Mom, knowing full well that was where I was going. I was only aboard a short time when this happened and I was scared out of my wits. Who ever the voice in the conning tower was, he was not alone in his fear, he had a lot of company. But that did not stop anyone from doing his job. I learned a very important lesson that day that stayed with me for the 20 years I was on the boats. When you have a well trained crew and every one does thier job as they have been trained to do, you can handle the situation. As was done that day by all hands aboard USS Torsk SS423.
We flooded negative and the trim tanks, dropped down far enough to let the tin can pass over the top of us and when we were clear of it did a blow and surfaced with a bunch of very wet sailors in the conn, but with no one hurt.
Take care and keep a zero bubble"
KEN GUILFOIL, May 25, 1999
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