Around the World Submerged: The Voyage of the Triton

255 Pages·2012·2.86 MB·English

by  Edward L. Beach

AROUND THE WORLD
Submerged

This book has been brought to publication by the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest.
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
© 1962 by Edward L. Beach
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
First Bluejacket Books printing, 2001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Beach, Edward Latimer, 1918–
Around the world submerged : the voyage of the Triton / Edward L. Beach,
p. cm.
Originally published: New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1962.
ISBN 978-1-61251-198-6
1. Triton (Submarine) 2. Voyages around the world. 3. Beach, Edward Latimer, 1918– I. Title.
VA65.T7B38 2001
910.4’5—dc2100-052445
CONTENTS
IN GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
PROLOGUE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
EPILOGUE
USS TRITON (SSR(N)586)
ADMINISTRATIVE REMARKS
About the Author
The man whose inspiration, genius, and
perseverance created the power plant without which
Triton’s voyage could not have been conceived has
never been categorized as easy to deal with, nor is
his high resolve entirely without problems for
himself and others. But his single-minded
determination, his idealism, his relentless insistence
upon the right, and his love for the United States of
America distinguish him as one of the great men of
our time.
To Vice-Admiral H. G. Rickover, United States
Navy, who made Triton possible, and without whom
the fantastic power of the nuclear reaction would
still, in my opinion, be harnessed only for atomic
explosives, this book, without his permission, is very
respectfully dedicated.
IN GRATEFUL
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Ship’s Company During Submerged Circumnavigation
OFFICERS
LCDR Will Mont Adams, Jr. Executive Officer
CDR James Ellis Stark, MC Medical Officer
LCDR Robert Dean Fisher, SC Supply Officer
LCDR Robert William Bulmer Operations Officer
LT Donald Gene Fears Engineer Officer
LT Robert Brodie III Communications Officer
LT Robert Patrick McDonald Reactor Control Officer
LT Tom Brobeck Thamm Auxiliary Division Officer
LT George John Troffer Electrical Officer
LT Curtis Barnett Shellman, Jr. Machinery Division Officer
LT George Albert Sawyer, Jr. Gunnery Officer
LT Richard Adams Harris CIC/ECM Officer
LT Milton Robert Rubb Electronics Officer
LT James Cahill Hay Assistant A Division
MACH Phillip Brown Kinnie, Jr.Assistant M Division
CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS
Chester Raymond Fitzjarrald, Harry W. Hampson, ETCA
TMC Chief of the ShipHerbert F. Hardman, EMCS
Alfred E. Abel, ENCA Clarence M. Hathaway, Jr., ENCA
Hugh M. Bennett, Jr., ICC Robert L. Jordan, ICC
Joseph H. Blair, Jr., EMCA Jack R. Judd, ETCS
James J. DeGange, EMCA Ralph A. Kennedy, ENCA
John F. Faerber, ENCA James T. Lightner, ENCA
Loyd [sic] L. Garlock, FTC Lynn S. Loveland, MMCA
William L. Green, SDCA William J. Marshall, QMC
William R. Hadley, CTC George W. McDaniel, SOCA
Walter H. O’Dell, EMCA Fred Rotgers, ENC
Mack Parker, EMCA Frank W. Snyder, ENC
Richard N. Peterson, ICCA Joseph W. Walker, YNC
Bernard E. Pile, RDCS Joseph E. Walsh, RMC
“L” “E” [sic] Poe, EMC Hosie Washington, ENCA
* John R. Poole, RDCA Roy J. Williams, Jr., HMC
Edwin C. Rauch, ENCS Marion A. Windell, RMCA
Joseph Rosenblum, EMCS
ENLISTED
Walter J. Allen, ET1 Bertram Cutillo, DK3
Ronald Everett Almeida, RM2 Raymond R. Davis, EN1
Erland N. Alto, EN1 James Obie Dixon, Jr., YN2
Edward G. Arsenault, RM2 Martin F. Docker, ET1
Ramon D. Baney, CS2 Gary L. Dowrey, SOSSN
Robert F. Barrila, EN3 Ralph F. Droster, EN2
Horace H. Bates, EN2 Alan T. Ferdinandsen, IC3
Curtis K. Beacham, QM1 Richard R. Fickel, HM1
Lawrence W. Beckhaus, SO1 James A. Flaherty, RM1
James C. Bennett, RM2 Joseph R. Flasco, EN1
Nathan L. Blaede, ET1 Fred J. Foerster, FN
George M. Bloomingdale, EM1René C. Freeze, RD1
David E. Boe, SN Gerald W. Gallagher, IC1
John S. Boreczky, Jr., EN3 Bruce F. Gaudet, IC3
Robert U. Boylan, ETNSN Adrian D. Gladd, HM1
Richard L. Brown, EM1 Edward R. Hadley, EN3
Earl E. Bruch, Jr., CS2 Carl C. Hall, QM3
Franklin D. Caldwell, EMFN Lawrence C. Hankins, Jr., EN1
Edward C. Carbullido, SD2 Carlus G. Harris, EN2
Robert M. Carolus, EN1 Ralph W. Harris, EN2
Robert C. Carter, MM1 David L. Hartman, EN2
Leslie R. Chamberlin, Jr., CS3 Gene R. Hoke, IC1
Gerald J. Clark, RD3 William C. Holly, RD2
Charles E. Cleveland, EM1 Floyd W. Honeysette, QM2
Colvin R. Cochrane, MM1 Berten J. Huselton, IC1
Raymond J. Comeau, Jr., EM2 Wilmot A. Jones, TM2
William E. Constantine, FT1 Edward K. Kammer, EM1
William J. Crow, CS1 Fred Kenst, SN
Ronald D. Kettlehake, EMFN Donald R. Quick, EN1
Richard R. Knorr, ENFN Kenneth J. Remillard, SO1
Peter P. J. Kollar, GM1 Max L. Rose, SN
John F. Kuester, CS3 Richard M. Rowlands, TM1
Raymond R. Kuhn, Jr., FN Jerry D. Saunders, RD2
Leonard F. Lehman, EM1 Russell K. Savage, QM2
Larry N. Mace, EM1 Paul K. Schulze, EN1
Ross S. MacGregor, FT2 Thomas J. Schwartz, TM3
Edward J. Madden, EN2 Stanley L. Sieveking, TM1
Anton F. Madsen, QM3 Donald P. Singleton, EN3
Robert M. Maerkel, FN Gordon E. Simpson, ET1
Harry A. Marenbach, MM1 James H. Smith, Jr., SN
Harold J. Marley, Jr., RM1 Peter F. Springer, EN1
Arlan F. Martin, EN3 Allen W. Steele, TM3
George W. Mather, ET1 Richard W. Steeley, EN3
Boyd L. McCombs, EN1 James A. Steinbauer, EN3
Douglas G. McIntyre, EN1 Gerald Royden Stott, ET1
William A. McKamey, SN Leonard H. Strang, EN3
“J” “C” [sic] Meaders, HM1 Robert R. Tambling, TM1
Charles F. Medrow II, ETN3 Joseph W. Tilenda, SN
Roger A. Miller, QM3 Jessie L. Vail, EM1
Philip P. Mortimer, Jr., EN2 James O. Ward, SD3
John Moulton, FA William R. Welch, MM1
Larry E. Musselman, MM1 Henry H. Weygant, EN1
Bruce H. Nelson, FN Robert W. Whitehouse, EN1
Ronald D. Nelson, EN1 Lamar “C” Williams, EN2
Rudolf P. Neustadter, IC3 William Williams, EN1
Raymond J. O’Brien, SK1 Audley R. Wilson, RD1
Harry Olsen, EN2 Donald R. Wilson, SD3
Charles S. Pawlowicz, ETRSN John W. Wouldridge, RM1
Charles P. Peace, ET2 Gordon W. Yetter, EN1
Robert C. Perkins, Jr., RM2 Raymond F. Young, YNSN
Richard H. Phenicie, IC3 Robert C. Zane, YN2
Russell F. Pion, ET1 Herbert J. Zeller, EM1
George V. Putnam, TM2 Ernest O. Zimmerman, RD2
TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL
CDR Joseph B. Roberts, USNR, Office of Information, Navy Department
Earnest R. Meadows, PH1
Dr. Benjamin B. Weybrew, Psychologist, Naval Medical Research Laboratory, Submarine Base, New
London
Mr. Michael Smalet, Geophysicist, USN Hydrographic Office
Mr. Gordon E. Wilkes, Civil Engineer, USN Hydrographic Office
Mr. Nicholas R. Mabry, Oceanographer, USN Hydrographic Office
Mr. Frank E. McConnell, Engineer, General Dynamics
Mr. Eldon E. Good, Inertial Guidance Division, Sperry
In the account of Triton’s voyage which follows, I have drawn freely upon the narrative section of the
official report of our trip. When assembled, this report formed a tome about three inches thick. It contained
many detailed tabulations and much succinctly presented raw information, and all the officers of the ship
participated in its preparation. My contribution was the narrative section, which was made public when we
arrived back in the United States.
Here, interspersed between the sections of the “Log” and forming the major portion of this book, are my
own personal thoughts and observations as later reconstituted at my typewriter at home after all the
excitement had died down.
All portions of this manuscript have been submitted to the Navy Department for clearance, and each
chapter bears the stamp “no objection to publication on grounds of military security.” Over and above this,
the entire responsibility for everything which appears in these pages obviously must be my own.
—Edward L. Beach
Captain, United States Navy
Mystic, Connecticut
* Did not complete voyage.