Just got the first set of 8 Grunion photos. Submariners, we would aoppreciate your analysis and comments.
More photos to follow.
To view click Search 07 Photos, then double click the “latest album”, then “sideshow”
Just got the first set of 8 Grunion photos. Submariners, we would aoppreciate your analysis and comments.
More photos to follow.
To view click Search 07 Photos, then double click the “latest album”, then “sideshow”
Viewing your site from here in the Turks & Caicos Islands (South of the Bahamas).
I salute all of you involved for your perseverance. A Bravo Zulu to you for your good work.
B. Nelson
As an old diesel boat sailor myself (SS-420 USS Tirante), I applaud your efforts, and your discovery of this great old boat. It’s never good for the family members to not know what happened to their loved ones.This was great news to wake up to this morning. Thanks for a job well done.
Will there be additional inner sub photos posted? How many engines there make, and were they diesel? Thanks
I have been following your progress over the last year and am so happy for all involved. my father Normin Strang served aboard the USS Charr SS328 from 43 to 46 and pasted away a few years ago.
DBF
Charles Strang
It seems like there is some sort of rope or cable holding the hatch open. Seems odd.
Well done!
Such an execptional demonstration of the “Love and strength in the ‘bond’ of Family” — by seeking the Lost member (s)!
Also, an execptional conbination of planning, use of resoources, seamenship, technical skills and technology being broght to bear to achieve this and other stunning “finds”.
The awsome power and destruction of war and conflict are all too visable in the world. The even stronger force of Peace continues to be made evident by your group’s success in “finding” these lost family members — who gave their All to help win this Peace.
Again, WELL DONE and thank you.
End of one long saga. Obviously she was still watertight compatible until crush depth. Still homework to be done as to the exact cause of loss.
First photo for 24 aug is of a valve with a reach rod attached.
Commenly used in submarine water systems.
The reach rod allows operation of a valve under a deck or in a lower level from above.
All photo’s definately WW II clas submarine
R/ John
Machinist Mate Chief Submarines Retired.
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Tonight I will be placing a yellow ribbon and flowers on their plaque at the National World War Two Submarine Memorial West
http://www.submarinehistory.com/WWIISubmarineMemorial.html
Thanks to all of you who fought for our freedom.
God Speed Grunion Crew,
The Jones Family
Henry DeStoop
Thank you Abele brothers for a job well done. I cannot explain the feelings I had when I saw the photos. I have been making a folder of everything on the web site for a family record. I am looking forward to viewing more photos.
Bless you all involved
Bravo Zulu!!!! Amazing discovery and excellent photos. Being retired Navy; I’ve watched with interest the development and discovery of the Grunion. During the twilight of my tour with the Navy, I was attached to the USS Heron (MHC-52) and an active member of the mine warfare community. Having spent countless hours searching for the preverbal needle-in-the-hay-stack I can appreciate the tediousness of finding a submarine in the vastness of our oceans. Again, congrats on the discovery and exciting photos, looking forward to more information.
Congratulations on your location of the U.S.S. Grunion’s final dockage.
I hope this helps the relatives of our Warriors to finally find peace in knowing what really happened to their loved one’s ship and in viewing the excellent images; know what the effect of water pressure can be upon those vessels which ply below the surface of distant seas protecting our Nation’s interests and are damaged/destroyed in the course of battle.
God Bless them all!
I have been following with keen interest for a year…great work! I suggest the following based upon the witness statements: I give less credence to Capt Aiura as he was busy conning his ship, dealing with damage, and directing his crew. He also had personal reasons to claim credit for his gun crews’ success. Sub Lt Nakagawa gives us the key testimony as a more unbiased observer. The circling bubble trail ending in explosion is the unmistakeable description of a circling torpedo hit to the sub. If a circling torpedo hit the submarine in the forward torpedo room the sub would have initially broached (see the picture of Cavalla hit by torpedo on Navsource) which may have been interpreted by Aiura as surfacing and the explosion-caused water column would have followed shortly. There may have been an 8 CM hit at the same time but it certainly would not have resulted in the catastrophy that is described by Nakagawa and apparent from missing forward Torpedo room on the wreck. Other evidence indicates the Grunnion had 10 Torpedos left. The six fired would have resulted in four remaining in FWD torpedo room (all torpedos expended aft in last message). These could have been freed to the sea when the torpdeo hit and could account for the aft sections witnessed by Mr. Hamada and popping to surface could have been SbLT Nakagawas’ black bar popping up. The torpedo bodies Hamada found forward of the ship could also have been the duds from the last two hits depending on post attack drift of ship versus torpedoes. If it really was a torpedo hit to forward torpedo room I don’t think you are going to find an intact forward section (again, refer to pictures of subs hit by torpedos). It this hypothisis is true it is ironic that, of all the duds and misses, the last shot worked, maybe even magnetic exploder if they were still activated on Grunnion. Later analysis of early torpedo failures pointed to exploder problems when torpedo hit close to perpendicular to hull and, until remedied, led to skippers attempting to achieve larger impact angles (not sure if CDR Abele would have known…don’t remember when this was revealed). First torpedo that hit and exploded seemed to be largest impact angle. Last two may have been less angle than indicated by Aiura (again, he was busy). You can test theory of shell hit to conning tower. If flooded it would not have imploded like the rest of hull. It may have imploded without altering shape of fairwater so it may not be apparent. Open hatch to crews’ mess is interesting…did someone try to get out or did implosion blow it open? Just the musings of a WWII history buff, especially sub war. In real life I am a fighter pilot so I appologize to the real submariners out there for joining the conversation.
Correction to my epistle: See Corvina and Guarina on NAVSOURCE for pics of torpedo hits to subs, not Cavalla. These are on surface but give idea of the results. Lots of other plausible answers to the how, but the missing bow seems to indicate a fate similar to Tang’s, not an 8cm shell hit. Also, Japanese sub is not likely. Despite Hollywood efforts to turn U-571 into Hunt for Red October, WWII subs attacking submerged subs on sound like Los Angeles SSNs is fantasy. I hope you are going to share the pics and videos in a national forum for all to see. We can pay our virtual respects to Logarto, Wahoo, and now Grunnion. Hopefully we have just begun to find and document these memorials to our fallen heros.
Congratulations. The Japanese took me out to Wahoo 15 years ago for a wreath laying where it lays in 200 ft of water. The Russians never OK’D for us to dive on her. THEY HAVE BEEN catchoing their fishing nets on it for years. My brother died on Wahoo.