1957 WestPac - Florikan's Diving Bell on the Diodon

Since 08-03-02

Excerpt from 56-57 Westpac cruise by Don Messner

On one of our last operations out of Yokosuka, we did another search and rescue drill with the USS Florikan. We sailed out of Yokosuka to the Sagami Wan operating area and settled to the bottom in about 120 feet of water. We released our forward messenger buoy which was painted a bright orange for easy visibility. As I recall, Florikan had some dignitaries aboard plus a reporter from the Stars and Stripes who was going to do a story about the search and rescue techniques.

Well, Florikan saw our buoy, positioned herself over us by spotting four anchors in a square around us, plucked the messenger buoy out of the water, --- grabbed the attached cable, attached it to the winch of the rescue bell, and winched the bell down the cable to our forward hatch. Once secured, the forward hatch was opened and the reporter from the Stars and Stripes dropped down into the Forward Torpedo Room to effect a transfer of personnel.

I recall the dignitaries rode the bell down but opted not to stay aboard Diodon for a ride back to the surface and Yokosuka. Rather they chose to ascend with the bell back to the Florikan.

Apparently they thought it was too dangerous to be in a sensagon.

Well, preparations for the ascent were in progress when we got word on the UQC, under water telephone, that the moorings of the Florikan had shifted due to rough seas, and the tether cables connecting Florikan to its rescue bell had parted.                                  

This was not good news as we were now out of contact with the bell, and their oxygen supply had been severed. We went to General Quarters and Captain Hannifin took charge in the I Control Room. All we knew was that the bell was still on our I deck with seven passengers and crew and without power or oxygen. We had no idea how many, if any, of the turnbuckles securing the bell to our deck were in tact.

We couldn't open the escape hatch for fear of flooding. Without panic, but with an urgent tone in his voice, Hannifin communicated with the Florikan using the UQC and requested she clear the area lest we surface beneath her. Shortly our sonar reported she was moving and clear of the area when he then ordered Diodon to surface with a zero degree angle.

Now we were on the bottom in 120 feet of water and had no idea if we were stuck in sand, mud or just sitting on a rocky base. The worst case scenario was that we were in the mud and had to literally "pop" up out of it and keep an even keel to minimize the risk of the bell capsizing on the forward deck. Hannifin issued the order to blow all main ballast tanks but NOT bow buoyancy tank which was the norm but which would have given us a positive up angle. He needed a fast blow to give the initial momentum to get the sub off the floor in case we were in mud or sand.

Luck was on our side and we gently rose right off the bottom, and with the best men we had on the bow and stem planes, Hannifin guided Diodon to the surface with a zero bubble. This was accomplished with just positive buoyancy in the main ballast tanks and no propulsion momentum from the screws.

It was judged too risky for the normal forward momentum as the movement might cause the bell to overturn due to the friction of the water on the bell.

When we surfaced, there was the bell in its full upright position centered on our Forward Torpedo Room hatch. Its tether cables still attached and hanging overboard in the sea. The hatch connecting the sub with the bell was opened and seven grateful men climbed down into the subs forward room. The crew of the Diodon indeed had responded to this emergency.                 

Shortly thereafter, Diodon left Yokosuka, Japan and headed home via Hong Kong, Subic Bay (Philippine Islands) and Brisbane, Australia.

 PS: Jay Everitt (Sweetpea) was the helmsman during this episode.