Johnson-Sea-Link research

[Ray Keefer <Ray.Keefer@eng.Sun.COM>]

Hi,

I did a little research in the library on the Johnson-Sea-Link disaster.
Some details are contradictory but generally consistant.

Regards,
Ray

New York Times Index 1973, pages 2125:3-2126:1

Johnson-Sea-Link (Research Submarine): Navy spokesman Lt Comdr W Smith repts
on June 18 that 1st attempts to rescue 4 men trapped in 21-ft research
submarine Johnson-Sea-Link, 360-ft under Atlantic off Key West, Fla, failed
when divers from rescue ship Tringa discovered submarine wedged into wreckage
of scuttled destroyer; Lt Comdr R H Brisbing repts from radio conversations
with trapped 4 that carbon dioxide levels are rising and temperatures have
dropped to 40 degrees; vessel's designer E A Link, whose son is among crew,
estimates life support resources aboard submarine show oxygen only sufficient
through noon, June 19; Johnson-Sea-Link submarine, owned by Smithsonian Inst
and Harbor Branch Foundation Lab at Fort Pierce, was participating in
oceanographic research with Smithsonian and Seadiver Corp on fish surrounding
sunken destroyer F T Berry and was accompanied by support ship Seadiver:
vessel's 2-part construction consists of forward glass bubble containing
submarine's controls and housing 2 crewmen, and aft section with tube through
which scuba divers pass; Dr G M Griffin, who was scheduled to take command on
June 18, say crew may be instructed to break free of craft and try to surface
if all other rescue attempts fail, although method is highly dangerous: crew
consists of Pilot A Menzies, ichthyologist Dr R Meek and divers E C Link and A
Stover: issus of vessel. Je 18.1:1: research vessel A B Wood secures grappling
hook to Johnson-Sea-Link submarine, imprisoned for over 30 hrs in sunken
destroyer Berry's innards of tangled cables and debris, lifting at least 2
members of oceanographic crew to safety; remote-control TV cameras assist in
operations supervised by E A Link, who maintained radio contact with submarine
throughout operation: winch hoists vessel to surface where rescue workers open
forward acrylic bubble which enhanced survival chances for A Menzies and R
Meek by not conducting frigid ocean temperatures: Navy Comdr J Neville
expresses uncertainty about fate of divers E C Link and A Stover, unconscious
in aluminum aft compartment for nearly 12 hrs before craft is brought to
surface, noting no vital signs are evident: divers raised pressure as
temperature dropped because Baralyme, used in absorbing carbon dioxide, does
not function in cool temperatures: cycle eventually failed. stifling area with
carbon dioxide and causing occupants to lose consciousness: submarine is
lifted aboard mother ship SeaDiver with rear compartment still sealed;
attempts are made to lower inside temperature and fix air pressure at sea
level: cheers from crews of rescue vessels accompany oceanographers' emergence
from submarine: illus of submarine aboard mother ship; project was reptdly
designed to enable oceanographers to observe how subtropical fish had
converted wreck of 2,425-ton destroyer into 390-ft artificial reef. Je 19.1:1;
bodies of oceanographers E C Link and A Stover are removed from research
submarine Johnson-Sea-Link on June 19, 29 hrs after vessel is untangled from
debris on submerged destroyer F T Berry, and following gradual
depressurization of aft compartment; spokesman for Smithonsian Inst, owner of
vessel, says intensive inquiry is planned into tragedy; physician on mother
ship Dr D Youngblood attributes divers' deaths to exposure, noting chilling
40-degree temperature in their compartment was coupled with rising carbon
monoxide level, rendering 2 men unconscious: pressure I forward chamber was
maintained at surface level allowing survivors A Menzies and R Meek to be
released from submarine immediately and spend only 90 mins in decompression
chamber as precaution: says initial rescue efforts were balked by swiftness of
Gulf Stream current: support ship Sea Diver is tied up at Key West Naval Base
on June 19; rev of events of submarine's entanglement in scuttled destroyer;
issus, Je 20.1:4; destroyer F T Berry, in which Sea-Link submarine became
entangled, resulting in death of 2 oceanographic researchers, was one of 2
Naval vessels that were sunk off Key West, Fla. To create artificial reef; 2d
ship was USS Wilkes-Barre, Je 20,26:6; med examiner Dr A Fernandez says on
June 20 that results of autopsy of bodies of E C Link and A Stover, who died
within research submarine Johnson-Sea-Link, died of carbon monoxide poisoning,
not exposure as was originally assumed: episode is slated to be subject of
internal investigation by Smithsonian Inst bd headed by inst sec S D Ripley;
major debate will focus on means of expanding rescue capabilities in
ocenographic field; issue is complicated by fact that private oceanographic
vessels, more prone to mishaps than larger, standardized submarines, share no
uniformity of design with Navy craft; Key West Submarine Squadron comdr
Commodore J Cuddy explains that Navy was unable to employ its diving bell in
assisting Sea-Link as submarine lacked necessary hatch for locking 2 vessels
together, noting 5-ton bell would have squashed fragile craft, Je 21,82:6; A
Menzies and R Meek, survivors of Johnson-Sea-Link submarine tragedy, reveal E
C Link and A Stover rejected option of escaping submarine by swimming 351 ft
to surface, preferring to await Navy rescuers who were expected to arrive
within 5 hrs, June 22 news conf following divers' funeral; say decision was
based of fact that record ascent ever made by diver is 306 ft; Menzies adds
Link and Stover repeatedly asked about carbon dioxide level and made final
contact with forward campartment 15 hrs after submarine became trapped in
cables dangling from scuttled destroyer F T Berry. Je 23,29:4; article revs
events leading to entrapment of Sea-Link research submarine in wreck of
destroyer F T Berry and traces series of rescue plans evolved in attempt to
free vessel; submarine illus; diagram showing Sea-Link's position on destroyer
on ocean floor. Je 24,IV,7:1; 3 USCG officials will open hearings on June 28
into accident in which E C Link and A Stover died of carbon monoxide poisoning
in trapped Johnson-Sea-Link submarine, Je 28,53:3; Oceans and Atmosphere
subcom chmn Sen E F Hollings introduces bill on July 11 requiring
establishment of safety standard for undersea research vessels such as
Johnson-Sea-Link submarine that became entangled in wreckage of scuttled
destroyer F T Berry  on June 18, resulting in deaths of 2 divers, including
son of vessel's designer E A Link, Jl 12,31:1; article revs successful rescue
operations that freed R Mallinson and R Chapman from Brit minisubmarine Pisces
III, lauding crewmen for extraordinary courage and presence of mind displayed
during 3-day ordeal; compares struggle with June 18 tragedy in
Johnson-Sea-Link submarine in which oceanographers A Stover and E C Link, son
of vessel's designer, died, S 2,IV,5:5