Cobia Comes To Town

It is not every day a submarine comes to Sturgeon Bay.

Towed the USS Cobia (SS-245), a World War II-era submarine and National Historic Landmark 55 nautical miles from Manitowoc to Sturgeon Bay.  Three decades have passed since her last check-up; she was towed by tugs Nickelena and Erika Kobasic of Basic Marine.   Basic Marine Incorporated is a sister company of North Shore Marine Terminal and Logistics Incorporated of Escanaba, Michigan. 

 

The Cobia will be in dry dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for a routine inspection and 4 to 6 week restoration process.

 

Stay-tuned for updates and more on the history of the Cobia... 

Kaboom!

Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.  A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal.  Including this:  The USS Alabama.

USS Alabama (BB-60) is the fourth and final member of the South Dakota class of fast battleships built for the United States Navy in the 1940s.  Her keel was laid February 1, 1940 and was launched February 16, 1942.  She was decommissioned January 9, 1947.  No crew member was lost in combat operations; consequently she is known as Lucky A.

 

Interior of Number two Turret

Her main armament is the 16-inch/45-caliber Mark 6 naval artillery gun.

 

Combat Information Center - Fire Control

The Alabama has three turrets with three 60 foot guns for a total of 9.  Each turret weighs ~1,700 tons and the guns are individually sleeved and can be elevated independently.  This gun was developed in the late 1930s and while it fired the same 2,700 lb shell, the velocity and range was slightly less than the Mark 7 gun used on Iowa-class battleships.  

 

Silk Powder Bags

  

Known for their durability and accuracy these guns had a rate of fire of two rounds per minute and could hurl a shell ~36,900 yards (21 miles) at 45° elevation.  This is one of the longest ranges for naval gunfire ever deployed - the equivalent of hurling a shell from my house, across the bay to land in Oconto.    

 

Powder Hoist

  

  

Spent half a day clambering thru companionways while exploring this piece of history.  If you're ever in Mobile this is a must-see. 

 

Drum

Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.  A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal.  Including this:  The USS Drum. 

Forward Torpedo Tubes

USS Drum (SS-228) is a historic Gato-class submarine of the United States Navy that served during World War II.  She was laid down September 11, 1940 and commissioned November 1, 1941.  Her builder was Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine and the boat's nickname became "Mighty Drum"

The Helm

Drum conducted 13 total (April 1942 – April 1945) war patrols resulting in 15 confirmed enemy ships sunk, totaling ~80,580 tons. Drum was the first U.S. submarine to conduct a war patrol from Pearl Harbor after the attack by Japan on December 7, 1941; earning 12 Battle Stars and a Navy Unit Commendation.

Electric Motors

She was decommissioned February 16, 1946 and subsequently permanently berthed on display at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama.  Drum is the oldest WWII submarine on public display in the U.S.

 

 

Engine Room

 Fast Facts:

• The Drum survived depth charge attacks and serious damage multiple times.

• Her crew performed numerous daring attacks in Japanese-controlled waters.

• Despite being battle-hardened, no crew member was lost to enemy action during war patrols.  She is a Lucky Boat.

  

  Galley

Max Miller is an American YouTuber and cook known for being the creator and host of Tasting History, a culinary and history fusion web-show that recreates ancient or historical recipes and explains the history around them.

Being a crew member aboard a submarine during World War II was one of the most dangerous jobs in the US military with a fatality rate of over 20%. This, and the extremely cramped and uncomfortable quarters, were why the food aboard a US sub was really good. If nothing else, at least you had delicious food to keep you going.

In this episode Max takes a couple pages out of the Official WWII Navy Cookbook to prepare Swiss Steak with Mashed Potatoes.  These steaks cook up to be fall-apart tender and delicious, and the mashed potatoes have wonderful flavor, even if the texture is a little different from regular mashed potatoes. According to Max the spuds kind of remind him of the mashed potatoes he'd get as a kid in school, which were also probably made from dehydrated potatoes.

Destination Still Unknown

Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.  A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal.  Including this:

The SS United States is one of the most iconic ocean liners in American history.  Designed during World War II and launched in the early 1950s, the ship represented American technological prowess and style. 

The genesis for this ship began in the 1930s with naval architect William Francis Gibbs.  He envisioned a fast, fireproof, and militarily convertible ocean liner that would showcase American maritime innovation. During World War II, seventy percent of all naval vessels were built to Gibbs and Cox designs. This included everything from Liberty ships, to destroyers, escort carriers and amphibious assault vessels. This contribution to the war effort strengthened his reputation and bolstered support for his ambitious passenger liner.

In 1950, the U.S. government—through the Maritime Commission—partnered with United States Lines to co-finance the construction of the ship with the understanding that it could be used as a troop carrier in wartime.  The government contributed $50 million and the United States Lines contributed $28 million; adjusted for inflation - $928 million in today's dollars.  Construction began at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia. The ship featured extensive use of aluminum and fireproof materials making her both lightweight and safe. She was designed to carry almost 2,000 passengers in luxury and over 15,000 troops in an emergency.

The SS United States was launched on June 23, 1951, and entered service on July 3, 1952.  Her maiden voyage was a stunning success; shattering the transatlantic speed record crossing the Atlantic in 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes—earning the coveted Blue Riband.  Her return voyage was even faster.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she was considered the epitome of American luxury and efficiency at sea. She hosted presidents, celebrities, business magnates, and immigrants.  Notable passengers included Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Salvador Dalí, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlon Brando.  Her speed, safety, and understated elegance set her apart from rivals.

Original Place Setting

With the arrival of commercial jet travel in the late 1950s and early 1960s demand for transatlantic sea travel declined.  By the late 1960s, operating costs became unsustainable and the the SS United States was withdrawn from service in November 1969 after just 17 years in operation.

Following decommissioning the ship was laid up in Virginia and later moved to Norfolk.  Over time her furnishings and fittings were sold off.  Multiple attempts to repurpose or redevelop the vessel occurred over the next few decades, including proposals for use as a hotel, museum, or cruise ship.  None succeeded.

In 1996 she was towed to Pier 82 in Philadelphia where she would remain for nearly three decades. Although neglected her hull and superstructure remained intact thanks to her robust construction.

In 2011, the SS United States Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, purchased the ship to prevent her from being scrapped.  With the help of a $5.8 million donation from philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, the group maintained the ship while seeking a permanent home and redevelopment plan.

Over the next decade several high-profile plans came and went including a luxury hotel conversion and a floating museum complex. Despite public support and creative proposals no financially viable solution materialized.  By 2024, with mounting maintenance costs and no berth in Philadelphia, the Conservancy was forced to vacate. 

Earlier this year the SS United States was towed to Mobile, Alabama, for additional environmental remediation.  Okaloosa County, Florida, had purchased the ship with the intent of sinking her offshore as the world's largest artificial reef.  This plan envisioned a new life for the ship as a haven for marine life and divers.

Nevertheless, preservationists launched a legal and public relations campaign to stop the plan. The New York Coalition, including investors and historic preservationists, sought to bring the ship to New York Harbor as a floating museum, hotel, and event space.  Lawsuits were filed under the National Historic Preservation Act and appeals were made to political figures to intervene.

As of the publication of this post the ship's fate remains uncertain.  Environmental cleanup is ongoing with a scuttling date projected for late 2025 unless legal efforts succeed in halting the plan.

Whatever the outcome SS United States leaves a legacy of accomplishment. She is a symbol of American postwar confidence, innovation, and elegance.  She still holds the transatlantic speed record and remains a touchstone of maritime history through her design innovations, cultural impact and the passionate efforts of those determined to preserve her memory.

 

 

Fast Facts: 

• Length: 990 feet (301.8 m) - necessary to transit the Panama Canal 
• Beam (width): 101 feet (30.8 m)  
• Tonnage: ~53,330 gross tons  
• Top speed: Over 38 knots (44 mph / 70 km/h) – still the fastest ocean liner ever built  
• Passenger capacity: ~1,928 passengers  
• Crew: ~900  
• Propulsion: Steam turbines, 240,000 shaft horsepower  
• Material: Extensive use of aluminum to reduce weight  
• Nickname: "The Big U"

Warrior Ethos

Recent travel to visit with family found us in Mobile Alabama for a week with an opportunity to become temporary Mobilians and soak-up the history, food and ambiance of this coastal city.  A boat ride of the delta estuary provided an opportunity to take-in the waterfront, port facilities and Austal Shipyard up-close and personal; including these vessels in the shipyard for routine scheduled maintenance.

The USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE-13) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship of the United States Navy.

USNS Medgar Evers

USNS ships, also known as United States Naval Ships, are owned by the U.S. Navy.  However, they are operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) with civilian crews. While these ships are civilian-manned, some may also have a small military complement for specific functions

Several US Navy vessels have been named after civil rights activists, and some of these names are currently under review for potential renaming. Ships like the USNS Harvey Milk, USNS John Lewis, USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Medgar Evers and USNS Harriet Tubman are among those being considered for name changes. 

The John Lewis-class of oilers are designed to refuel and resupply other Navy ships at sea and are specifically named after prominent civil rights leaders.  The proposed name changes are part of efforts by the Trump Administration to expunge what they believe are prior diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military.  

USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206) is the second of the John Lewis-class of underway replenishment oilers, operated by the Military Sealift Command.

USNS Harvey Milk

The potential renaming of these ships has sparked controversy; some of these assets have been deployed for five to fifteen years with sailors and members of the public viewing this as a symbolic erasure of the contributions of these individuals to American history and civil rights. 

Moreover, renaming a ship can be fraught. In naval tradition this practice is widely considered bad luck.  This stems from the belief that a ship has an identity and spirit, which renaming can anger or confuse. This superstition is rooted in ancient Greek mythology, where Poseidon, the god of the sea, was thought to keep a record of all ship names in his "Ledger of the Deep". Changing a ship's name was seen as disrespecting the sea gods and risking their wrath and incurring possible misfortune at sea. 

In further back-and-forth developments Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted just this past Wednesday that military veterans and active-duty troops urged the Trump administration to rename American military bases after Confederate traitors who took up arms against the government to defend the enslavement of Black people — a move the secretary claims is “important for morale.”

In his testimony to the Senate Armed Services committee, Hegseth defended the president’s decision to restore the names of several military bases in the South that were first named in honor of Confederate generals, despite Congress mandating their removal five years ago. 

Time will tell where this all ends-up.  Seems the MAGA movement itself has embraced its own version of Political Correctness and Woke.  

Drama, reality television theatrics and a waste of resources.  Jeesus; anybody else been to this rodeo before?

Still waiting for measurable improvement in your and my prosperity and general lot in life.  And maybe make the world a safer place.  Good thing I am a patient sort.....

Martime Trivia

Photo Credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society

I have blogged about this tid-bit before.

On this day in history; April 16, 1944, Kewaunee Shipbuilding and Engineering Corporation launched a small coastal freighter at its yard in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. 

Built for the Army Transportation Corps, she was originally designated FP-344, but that was later changed to FS-344. In 1966 FS-344 was transferred to the Navy and renamed USS PUEBLO. 

At the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard she was crammed with sophisticated electronic gear and converted to an Auxiliary General Environmental Research (AGER) vessel – a class recognized by few naval officers. PUEBLO (AGER-2) was a signals intelligence collector – a spy ship. Jointly operated by the National Security Agency and Naval Intelligence, she carried a crew of 83, 30 of which were communication technicians.

At The Movies

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton embarked on a voyage to cross the Antarctic.  In 2022, the wreck of the Endurance was finally discovered.

Combining masterfully-restored archival footage from that voyage juxtaposing it with the modern-day quest for the remains, Endurance brings one of history's amazing stories of survival to life like never before.

Its from the people over at The National Geographic Society; so what's not to like.

If you have streaming service you'll find it on Hulu and Disney....

Local Maritime History

A couple of months ago we were attending the soft opening of the historic granary on the west side (old town of Sawyer) of Sturgeon Bay.  Looking to stretch our legs I suggested to my bother-in-law that we walk over to where the tugs are moored between the Michigan and Oregon Street bridges.  I pointed-out a harbor tug, the Jimmy L, tied-up in its berth and shared some maritime history that he was previously unaware-of.   

This large tug was built in 1939 by Defoe Shipbuilding as the WYTM-92 Naugatuck for the U.S. Coast Guard.

USCGC Naugatuck (WYT-92)

The Naugatuck spent 40 years with the Coast Guard as an ice-breaking harbor tug and was decommissioned in 1979. The following year, she was acquired by the Calumet Marine Towing Company and renamed Timmy B. 

In 1994, the Timmy B. was purchased by Selvick Marine Towing and renamed Jimmy L. Selvick Marine Towing became Sarter Marine Towing in 2019.  She is currently chartered to Great Lakes Towing.

On this day we recognize the 49th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  This boat was the first USCG Cutter on the scene the day following the wreck of the Mighty Fitz. 

 

Who knew?

 

Eighty-five years of continuous service is an impressive accomplishment.

 

Sure is a wealth of maritime history here in Sturgeon Bay and northeast Wisconsin 

2024 Door County Maritime Museum Classic and Wooden Boat Festival - Part I

This last weekend brought the return of the Door County Maritime Museum Classic and Wooden Boat Show.  Thirty-Three Years Running!

We had out-of town guests and made a weekend of it.  While the weather was hot and sunny there was a cooling lake breeze and refreshing food and adult beverages to be found both at the show and at Kitty O'Reilly's and Water Front Mary's .  There was even some single malt whiskey to sip in the evenings before bedtime.

Here are some pics of the classics.

Be sure to return this afternoon for pics of the Sikaflex Challenge Cup Boat Race....

Small Maritime World

Today marks the 48th anniversary of the most famous shipwreck to occur on Lake Superior.

 

Of the 29 sailors lost to the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald two were natives of Sturgeon Bay. And the connection to Great Lakes maritime shipping history goes a bit deeper yet.

 

The USCG tug Naugatuck was the first Coast Guard vessel to respond on the scene of the missing freighter. The crew recovered life rings, jackets, life boat oars and other debris over three days on the scene.

 

 

The Naugatuck is still working on the Great Lakes now as the Jimmy L of Sarter Marine Towing in Sturgeon Bay.

 

 

When she is not at work you can find her berthed along the west waterfront adjacent to the Oregon Street bridge.

 

Small maritime world.

 

Steel Beach

One has to wonder who remembers to bring a classic Weber charcoal grill and charcoal on deployment? 

 

On a submarine? 

 

If you were in the navy this is known as Steel Beach.  

 

I have to wonder if they have beach chairs and an annoying loud boom box as well. 

 

And what if you have to crash dive.....

 

LCVP

The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins Boat was a landing craft that saw considerable and meritorious service during the Second World War.  Some have said that it singularly changed amphibious operations inasmuch as the capture of a port facility was no longer required to necessitate the transportation of troops and material from ship to shore.

36 feet in length, this shallow-draft, barge-like craft was largely constructed of plywood (saving wartime steel and cost) and could ferry a platoon-sized complement of combat-equipped infantrymen or eight tons of cargo to a beachhead at 9-12 knots.  Disembarkation was facilitated by means of dropping the steel bow ramp.

My pop clambered down a cargo net hung over-side a troopship to board a Higgins craft for a ride to Utah Beach in June of 1944. 

US Army

The craft did not offer much in the way of protection from enemy fire and performance in choppy seas resulted in sea sickness.  Nevertheless, this boat could disgorge its contents on a beach, reverse backwards into the surf and return to a ship to reload for a return trip. 

It was a New Orleans businessman and designer, Andrew Higgins, who designed similar flat bottom boats for use in the Mississippi bayous.  The Navy had struggled over the design and construction of a landing craft until Higgins pitched his design to the Navy and Marine Corps in 1938.  Higgins' original design was adopted yet was bedeviled by the loading and unloading process.  Troops and cargo had to disembark or be off-loaded over the sides of the boat needlessly adding time, aggravation and potentially longer exposure to enemy fire.  Borrowing from a Japanese design; beginning in 1941 a drop ramp in the bow solved this dilemma.  

US Army

Over the course of the war more than 23,000 boats were built by Higgins Industries and its licensees.  Only a few have survived to modern times.  The boat pictured (top) is on display at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.  It is a replica constructed faithfully from the original Higgins design specifications.

Notably, Andrew Higgins sold boats to the US Coast Guard to interdict gulf coast liquor smuggling during prohibition.  Local legend suggests that he sold faster boats to the rum runners.

Fact or fiction?  

If only the dead could talk....

The Jones Act

For more than 100 years, a federal law known as the Jones Act of 1920, has restricted water transportation of cargo between domestic ports to ships that are built, owned, crewed and registered in the United States.

Also known as the Merchant Marine act of 1920 this federal statute was intended to support the development and maintenance of a merchant marine in order to support commercial activity and serve as a naval auxiliary during times of national emergency or war (see 46 USC § 50101).

Alas, the Law of Unintended Consequences has replaced the best of intentions with the result of significant costs to the US economy while providing few of the promised benefits.

Concise explanation here: 

The Wreck Of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Today is the 47th anniversary of the wreck of the Mighty Fitz.

Of the 29 sailors lost to the sinking were two natives of Sturgeon Bay.  The connection to Great Lakes maritime shipping history goes a bit deeper yet.

The USCG tug Naugatuck was the first Coast Guard vessel to respond on the scene of the missing freighter.  The crew recovered life rings, jackets, life boat oars and other debris over their three days on the scene.

The Naugatuck is still working on the Great Lakes now as the Jimmy L of Sarter Marine Towing in Sturgeon Bay.

When she is not at work you can find her berthed along the west waterfront adjacent to the Oregon Street bridge.

Small maritime world.

Book Club

A couple of weeks ago I finished Captain Metz’s first book - Sea Stories. 

This week I completed this compilation of short stories.  

Written in a rambling  conversational style; in no particular chronological fashion Metz shares tales about his time on the Great Lakes from the routine to the tragic.  He began his career as a deckhand and rose through the ranks to Shipmaster. 

Born in Milwaukee he sailed more than a half million miles in his Great Lakes career at a breakneck speed of 10 to 12 knots. 

The book from the library was a signed copy. 

Bonus. 

 

 

 

Chug Chug Goes the Tug

From the Kahlenberg web site:

Established in 1895 as Kahlenberg Brothers Company, Kahlenberg Industries, Inc. has been continuously family owned and managed since its founding over a century ago.

The original three Kahlenberg brothers, Otto, William, and John, began by constructing small steam engines for marine and stationary work. From this early beginning the company expanded, eventually manufacturing and selling gasoline and diesel marine engines across the globe. During World War II, Kahlenberg was the recipient of the Army-Navy “E” (Excellence) Award as the company worked around the clock for the war effort. Engine manufacturing was discontinued in 1960.

William and Otto Kahlenberg opened a machine shop in Two Rivers, Wisconsin in 1895. The brothers installed their first gasoline motor in a fishing boat in 1897 with great success. The Kahlenberg gasoline engines were two-stoke make-and-break designs and quickly established a reputation of dependability and economy. Manufacturing was done using jigs and standardization to create easily interchangeable parts, a practice that was relatively new at the time.

In 1914 William began development of a hot-bulb or semi-diesel engine, the first of which was put to work in 1916.  A new line of semi-diesel engines was introduced in 1922.  It was this product family, referred to as the Kahlenberg Oil Engine, which led the company to tremendous success.  These two-stroke engines came in two, three or four cylinders with horsepower ranging from 20 to 200.  The Kahlenberg oil engine is largely responsible for eliminating sail and steam power in the Great Lakes commercial fishing industry due to outstanding reliability, speed and efficiency.  For many years there were more Kahlenberg-powered fishing vessels than all other types put together.  They remained the dominate engine power until the 1970’s when more modern high-speed diesels became widely adopted.

Kahlenberg remains in business today in other commercial marine segments including air horns, commercial propellers and low volume custom manufacturing.