SEGUNDO STORIES-

On patrol, somewhere in the Okinawa area, maneuvering reported a squeal coming from the starboard shaft. A check with the after torpedo room confirmed the squeal and reported it getting louder. The conning officer stopped the starboard shaft and the squeal stopped. The Captain analyzed the situation and concluded that we were in a suitable area, at mid day and on a very calm and sunny day. After a quick conference we surfaced and broke out the Jack Brown diving gear , a sturdy mask that was fed air from a long hose leading into the after engine room. XO was selected and put on fins and weights and went over the side to look at the shaft.
Almost immediately he found the source of the squeal- the wooden lignum vitae (sp?) strut bearing had disintegrated, allowing the propeller shaft to drop slightly and bear directly on the steel strut bearing housing.
The propeller shaft was constructed of a steel tube of about 20 inches in diameter and 3/4 inches thick, filled with sand. The strut housing was made of stronger steel than the shaft, and as the shaft turned, it had scored a groove nearly 1/2 inches deep in the propeller shaft!
We were about to have the propeller shaft break at the strut and lose the propeller!

We communicated with our operational commander in Yoko and proceeded back on the port shaft to go into a three-week dry docking and shaft and strut repair. This gave the crew an unexpected opportunity to visit the base library, carve more scrimshaw and engage in other social activities.
 (see next story).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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