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The Skate surfaced through the ice nine times in early August of
1958. It sounds like they were conducting experiments in
identifying/locating and exploiting penetration points, and determining the subs
capabilities. Apparently the Nautilus didn't have the capability to
penetrate ice as thick as could the Skate class subs.
Although I was very young, I remember what a big deal it was when
the Nautilus was launched and when it traversed the ice cap a few
years later. I don't recall hearing anything about the Skate at the
time. Later (can't remember when) we were astounded that a sub could poke
up through the arctic ice. I would guess that is only possible for
several weeks in the summer.
Jim
In a message dated 9/23/2010 12:28:56 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
greg@precisionplastics.com writes:
According to information contained on this website, The Skate was
at the
North Pole on August 12, 1958 (which was 9 days after the
Nautilus).
http://www.south-pole.com/aspp05.htm
It is also
interesting that The Skate officially received a Navy "unit
Commendation
Award" in 1958 but no one seems to know what for.
Greg
Cottrell
Project
Manager
greg@precisionplastics.com
http://www.precisionplastics.com
P
please consider the environment before printing this email
-----Original
Message-----
From:
owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org
[mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org]
On Behalf Of Marc de Piolenc
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 12:10
PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST]
Nautilus vs Skate
On 9/23/2010 11:11 PM, JimToddPsub@aol.com
wrote:
> The Nautilus was the first to traverse the polar ice cap.
It's been
> given credit for being the first to reach the /geographic/
North Pole
> August 3, 1958. The Skate was the first sub to surface at
the North Pole
> (geographic? magnetic?) on August 2,
1958.
Definitely the geographic pole; the magnetic pole is on dry land!
The
Nautilus reached the pole under the ice, but did not surface. The
Skate,
which did not exist yet when Nautilus did its polar run, later
surfaced
at the pole. There is no question about priority. Skate has a
slightly
stronger claim to have been EXACTLY at the pole because it was
able to
fix its position by sun sights; Nautilus had to rely on two
(possibly
more) electronic navigation systems, including a special
inertial rig
that had been installed just for that trip.
"The
Seadragon surfaced on the
> same date and exchanged greetings with the
Skate. I don't know why the
> Nautilus is given credit instead of the
Skate.
The Seadragon/Skate meeting was later - not the day that Skate
first
surfaced at the pole. Skate seems to have spent a great deal of her
life
in Arctic
waters.
Marc
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