I was among a group of aerial fighter pilots, privileged to tour a nuclear attack sub, in 1978. It banks, and "pulls Gs" very similarly to their airborne counterparts.
When onboard a Naval vessel, at top speed, it’s laughable at how a sudden full rudder to with port or starboard, will have you kissing the closest bulkhead (even if your sitting in a chair with wheels on it.)
There are usually no warnings, unless you, have the privilege of being combat/central or next to the helmsman. The deck officer seldom announces to the crew, “Hold on to your butts!”
It’s nice that the tables, throughout the ship have edges to catch your coffee cups, during operational turns!
I haven’t thought about G-forces on the ship. I slept 4 bunks up, and never got tossed out of bed. It wouldn’t have been a happy landing.
What a high costs of lives, but Richard O’Kane did what he needed to do to destroy the enemy. The destruction of the enemy ships most likely saved the lives of many fighting on land because the enemy’s supplies never reached them. Without supplies it’s impossible to wage war. As the saying goes: War is hell. We need to avoid it as much as possible. Too often our government sends our young men and women into dangerous situations without a purpose or end plan. We engage in wars that last way too long, cost way too many lives and gain nothing in the process. Always thankful for our heroes who do what they can often under very difficult almost impossible circumstances.
Our country has fallen under the spell of appeasement rather than total victory which actually prolongs conflicts rather than provides solutions. The current administration is infecting other country with the same mentality and now those countries are questioning their alliances with the U.S. The strong ones are not buying it and will forge ahead without us.
Wow. Admiral Richard O'Kane was certainly deserving of the MOH. To sink so many enemy ships, survive a torpedo attack from his own torpedo and, internment in a Japanese POW camp for the duration of WW2 was amazing. God bless men like Mr. O'Kane and all who serve or have served in defense of this great nation. Thank you Tara.
Submariners are some the “unsung heroes” of the military forces.
They pray a lot while in their [windowless] tube.
The Captains and crews have saved many flotillas while in hostile waters, simply because the (enemy) feared the possibility that a sub was within torpedos range!
The "Silent Service" finally speaks. What an amazing story of the Tang and her skipper. Only nine crewmembers survived and they became POWs of the Japanese. So little is known of the submariners and there actions, even during Vietnam. Many cannot get ship location information to claim disability.
What a great account, Tara ! It was a “you are there” story ! I’ve always had a fascination with submarines and had the opportunity to take a group of Boy Scouts to tour the USS Maryland ballistic missile sub years ago . . . it’s an amazing deterrent to war. Brave men and tough, split second decisions. Patty is correct; no supplies, nothing to fight with. The men of the Tang did more than their part to shorten the war.
NOTE: Tara, would love to see more sub stories - the Thresher and Scorpion would be great, along with the Nautilus crossing under the polar ice pack and the secret ship of Howard Hughes clandestinely raising a Russian sub.
Remarkable leadership, determination and courage in putting , what had to be , “ a world of hurt” on the Japanese trying get supplies and reinforcements to their troops on islands engaged in fierce struggles with Allied forces wresting control of those islands from them .
After having inflicted so much damage to the critical Japanese supply chain it’s incredible that he survived being held as a pow after his submarine was sunk . The Japanese were not noted for their humane treatment of pows.
Remarkable on every level of any scale imaginable ! 👏🏻
I was among a group of aerial fighter pilots, privileged to tour a nuclear attack sub, in 1978. It banks, and "pulls Gs" very similarly to their airborne counterparts.
When onboard a Naval vessel, at top speed, it’s laughable at how a sudden full rudder to with port or starboard, will have you kissing the closest bulkhead (even if your sitting in a chair with wheels on it.)
There are usually no warnings, unless you, have the privilege of being combat/central or next to the helmsman. The deck officer seldom announces to the crew, “Hold on to your butts!”
It’s nice that the tables, throughout the ship have edges to catch your coffee cups, during operational turns!
I haven’t thought about G-forces on the ship. I slept 4 bunks up, and never got tossed out of bed. It wouldn’t have been a happy landing.
Thank you for your service!
What a high costs of lives, but Richard O’Kane did what he needed to do to destroy the enemy. The destruction of the enemy ships most likely saved the lives of many fighting on land because the enemy’s supplies never reached them. Without supplies it’s impossible to wage war. As the saying goes: War is hell. We need to avoid it as much as possible. Too often our government sends our young men and women into dangerous situations without a purpose or end plan. We engage in wars that last way too long, cost way too many lives and gain nothing in the process. Always thankful for our heroes who do what they can often under very difficult almost impossible circumstances.
Our country has fallen under the spell of appeasement rather than total victory which actually prolongs conflicts rather than provides solutions. The current administration is infecting other country with the same mentality and now those countries are questioning their alliances with the U.S. The strong ones are not buying it and will forge ahead without us.
Very true and very sad.
My sentiments exactly Charlie 💯 Correct!
Great story of another MOH recipient. We rarely hear about the heroes that serve in our submarines. They were truly the sharks of the seas in WWII.
❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Wow. Admiral Richard O'Kane was certainly deserving of the MOH. To sink so many enemy ships, survive a torpedo attack from his own torpedo and, internment in a Japanese POW camp for the duration of WW2 was amazing. God bless men like Mr. O'Kane and all who serve or have served in defense of this great nation. Thank you Tara.
Submariners are some the “unsung heroes” of the military forces.
They pray a lot while in their [windowless] tube.
The Captains and crews have saved many flotillas while in hostile waters, simply because the (enemy) feared the possibility that a sub was within torpedos range!
“The Silent Service Heroes”!
John,
Right on. I suppose surface ships might be easy to track, but submarines should be called “the secret, silent, deadly service”.
The "Silent Service" finally speaks. What an amazing story of the Tang and her skipper. Only nine crewmembers survived and they became POWs of the Japanese. So little is known of the submariners and there actions, even during Vietnam. Many cannot get ship location information to claim disability.
🇺🇲 An amazing, and very costly tale of bravery and sacrifice.
Thanks for sharing their story, TR! 🇺🇸
What a great account, Tara ! It was a “you are there” story ! I’ve always had a fascination with submarines and had the opportunity to take a group of Boy Scouts to tour the USS Maryland ballistic missile sub years ago . . . it’s an amazing deterrent to war. Brave men and tough, split second decisions. Patty is correct; no supplies, nothing to fight with. The men of the Tang did more than their part to shorten the war.
NOTE: Tara, would love to see more sub stories - the Thresher and Scorpion would be great, along with the Nautilus crossing under the polar ice pack and the secret ship of Howard Hughes clandestinely raising a Russian sub.
Remarkable leadership, determination and courage in putting , what had to be , “ a world of hurt” on the Japanese trying get supplies and reinforcements to their troops on islands engaged in fierce struggles with Allied forces wresting control of those islands from them .
After having inflicted so much damage to the critical Japanese supply chain it’s incredible that he survived being held as a pow after his submarine was sunk . The Japanese were not noted for their humane treatment of pows.
Remarkable on every level of any scale imaginable ! 👏🏻
🇺🇸🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻🇺🇸 🫡
Thank you, Tara.
Thank you Tara. Wish there were more MOH involving the Navy and Air Force.
Truly the undersea Corps were an awesome force during the war. Thank you Tara for remembering our submarine Hero's 🙂
Only the bravest of the brave would serve in the submarines!! Iron coffins were what some called them!! Thanks again Tara!!
The torpedo malfunction was an unexpected twist! Wow!
Thank You, Tara