August 2025
USS Sennet (SS-408) Newsletter
Sennet's
Reunion will be Sept. 3, 4 & 5 in Orlando, FL. Although The USSVI Convention starts earlier and runs later, Sennet's Reunion is Sept 3, 4 and 5 in their convention facilities and at their host hotel. We already have a nice group of 23 Sennet sailors and guests, and you can still sign on board. Plus, if you served on more than one boat, there is a good chance that you will find other shipmates at the convention.
Starting on the third, the Sennet crew plans to meet each day at 1300 in the convention hospitality room. We do not have a place for a dinner yet. John will look for a place when he arrives on the third, or one of the crew can try to find a place if you arrive before the third. For questions contact John McMichael (64-68), our reunion host, at Cob662@gmail.com or phone (682) 309-7871. Some Submarine Notes . . . During World War II, the United States built a total of 205 submarines. These were part of three different classes: Gato (77), Balao (120), and Tench (8). In addition to these, the US had 111 submarines in service at the start of the war, bringing the total number of US submarines during WWII to 316. Submarines were built by Electric Boat in Groton, CT., Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME., Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California, and Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Wisconsin. By contrast Germany built 1,162 U-boats and Japan built 174 ocean-going submarines. Boats built in Manitowoc were transported to the ocean via a series of waterways, canals and barges. First they were launched into the Manitowoc River using a side-launch technique due to the narrow river and shallow depth. Then they sailed down Lake Michigan to Chicago where periscopes, antennas, and other sensitive components were temporarily removed so they could pass under bridges. In Chicago they were put on floating dry docks and transported down the Chicago River, thru canals to the Illinois River, and finally down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Once in New Orleans, they were taken off the floating dry docks, reassembled, and sailed into the Gulf of Mexico. 28 boats were built and transported to the sea this way. Unfortunately none remain. If you visit the Manitowoc Maritime Museum you can tour the USS Cobia (SS-245), a Gato class submarine built by Electric Boat in Groton, CT. She is almost identical to the boats built at Manitowoc. The first submarine force casualty in World War II was G. A. Myers, Seaman Second Class, who was shot through the right lung when the USS Cachalot (SS-170) was strafed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Myers survived and was hospitalized. USS Cachalot left on her first war patrol five days after the attack . . . without Seaman Myers. There were officially 1,682 U.S. submarine war patrols during World War II in the Pacific. A total of 465 different skippers commanded at least one of those patrols. Sixty of those who commanded a sub would eventually become rear admirals. Twelve advanced to the rank of vice admiral. Three others became full admirals. Two eventually served terms in the U.S. Congress. George W. Grider served on USS Wahoo (SS-238), USS Pollack (SS-180), and USS Hawkbill (SS-366), before taking command of the USS Flasher (SS-249) and USS Cubera (SS-347). Later, he served as a Democratic U.S. Representative from the Tennessee’s 9th congressional district from 1965 to 1967. William Robert Anderson served on USS Tarpon (SS-175), USS Narwhal (SS-167), USS Trutta (SS-421), and USS Sarda (SS-488). Then he commanded USS Wahoo(SS-565). Years later he became the second commanding officer of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and led the first transpolar voyage under the ice. Anderson was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Tennessee’s 6th congressional district from 1965 to 1973. One of those former WWII skippers, Tom Dykers (USS Jack SS-250), became a television producer and in 1957-58 developed the series The Silent Service, which told the true stories of many of the submarines that took part in World War II and The Korean War. Dykers also hosted and narrated the series. Three former WorldWar II submarine skippers committed suicide. Another, upon his natural death, had his final wishes honored when he was cremated and his ashes were launched from a submarine’s torpedo tube off Key West, Florida. Japan started WWII with 63 ocean-going submarines and built another 111 during the war bringing their total to 174. During the war Japan lost 128 submarines, making a loss rate that is comparable to Germany’s U-boat loss rate. The Japanese submarine I-176 was the only Japanese sub to sink an American submarine during the war. The USS Corvina (SS-226) was lost with eighty-two men on November 16, 1943. U.S. submarines sank 23 Japanese submarines during the war. The USS Gudgeon (SS-211) was the first U.S. to sink a Japanese submarine, the I-173 on January 27, 1942. The USS Batfish (SS-310) is famous for sinking three Japanese submarines (RO-55, RO-112, and RO-113) in a 76-hour period during February 1945. The last American submarine lost in World War II with casualties was the USS Bullhead (SS-332). It was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Java Sea on August 6, 1945, just days before the end of the war. Much of the above material came from the book Final Patrol by Don Keith. His historical work recounts interesting stories and background about the sixteen U.S. submarines and the one German U-boat that saw action in World War II that remain open for visitors today. Donations . . .
Ship's Store . .
. T-Shirts – Size XXL only - Navy blue shirts with the Sennet logo embroidered above the pocket and a submarine veteran screen print on the back - $22 Prices do not include postage. Contact Ralph Luther by email for availability and total cost. All revenue goes 100% into the Reunion Fund. Make checks payable to: USS Sennet SS-408 Reunion Fund and mail to: USS Sennet SS-408 Binnacle List . . . These shipmates are facing some serious challenges and would like to hear from you. A simple email, card or phone call means so much to them. Find out more info about your friends on the Sennet web site page “Binnacle List.” RM2(SS) Robert J. “Bob” Mullin (1958-1960) has Alzheimer's and lives in a memory care facility in Rutland, VT. Cards or letters may be sent to his son, and he will share them with Bob. Green Board, Stan Pollard
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