Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] USS X-1 Facts

["D. Blake" <dblake@bright.net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Kem <dustyut@lasal.net>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Date: Saturday, March 03, 2001 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] USS X-1 Facts


>Thanks Dave!  I find it quite interesting that both the US and the brits
>couldn't get H2O2 to work, yet the Nazis had no problem during WW2.

They no doubt had their problems too.  The successes--I suspect though--were
more likely talked about rather than the failures.  The experience the
British and the U.S had with H2O2 was for the most part during peacetime
when the sacrifice of safety and lives was much more costly.  And I think
H2O2 was finally shelved after nuclear energy was found to be the fuel of
choice for wealthy nations.

>While I am not a nazi sympathizer, I think this is a very important
>issue to look at.

I don't think you have to be "a nazi sympathizer" to admire the technical
acheivements made while the nazis where in control of Germany.  I've said it
before.  If you look at the weapons of the world today, most if not all are
in someway based on technology developed by the Germans just prior to, and
during WW2.

>Why was the program such a success while in their
>hands?  Is it the technology used?  Is it the techniques used?  Or is it
>the interpersonal workplace relations?
>Carl

Drastic times call for drastic measures that include all three areas you
suggest.
With the nazis gaining control of Germany, the entire populace was mobilized
for one purpose only.  To gain worldwide domination at all costs.  It was a
struggle that brought out the best and--unfortunatly--the worst in
everybody.  The best obviously came from the design engineers.  The worst
from the political types.
So I think it is important to separate science and politics.

TTYL,
BigDave
>
>
>"D. Blake" wrote:
>
>>  Hi All:A few days ago I did a search and found one of the sailors
>> that spent time serving on the X-1 (1963-1965).  I asked if he could
>> provide me with some info about "the only minisub ever employed by the
>> U.S. Navy".  He replied just a few minutes ago.  Here's what he had to
>> say: From: Pete Akerson <peteakerson@hotmail.com>
>> To: dblake@bright.net <dblake@bright.net>
>> Subject: Re: USS X-1
>> Date: Saturday, March 03, 2001 5:45 PM Hi Dave, In response to your
>> inquiry about the X-1, it's been more than thirty years,
>> but I'll try to give you some information and answer your
>> questions. X-1 had diesel/electric propulsion during most of its
>> lifetime. Originally,
>> she had an engine that ran on hydrogen peroxide.  This system required
>> no
>> external air supply and was similar to the engines developed for the
>> German
>> U-Boats just before the end of WWII. Apparently the hydrogen peroxide
>> was
>> pretty unstable and the propulsion was converted to diesel/electric
>> after an
>> explosion literally blew the bow (where the fuel was carried) off in
>> 1957. We had the capability of locking out swimmers through a small
>> compartment in
>> the forward part of the boat. That compartment was also intended to be
>> used
>> by the crew for escape in the event it became necessary. Scuba gear
>> would
>> have been used for an escape rather than the Steinke Hood used at that
>> time
>> on other US submarines. Although we had an assigned complement of 8 (2
>> Officer, 6 Enlisted),
>> virtually all underway operations were done with 4 people. Except for
>> a
>> fairly short deployment to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands where we
>> worked
>> with Seals and UDT, all of our operations were conducted in Chesapeake
>> Bay,
>> working with the Naval Research Lab. At the present time, X-1 is on
>> display at the U. S. Naval Academy,
>> Annapolis, MD and there's a short history and a couple of pictures of
>> her
>> at: http://www.maritime.org/hnsa-x1.htm Hope this has been of some
>> assistance and please don't hesitate to let me
>> know if there's any other information you'd like. Best Regards, Pete
>
>--
>"In times like these, it helps to recall there have always been times
>like these."-Paul Harvey
>
>
>