The House Armed Services Committee will try to partially fund a second Virginia-class submarine in fiscal 2025 to mitigate harm to the industrial base it says will come from the Navy’s one-boat request.
The service has bought Virginia-class attack submarines at a rate of two per year since 2011. It has also pitched this continuous and predictable construction pace as key to getting back to on-time deliveries and increasing industrial base output to support the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.
To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives while voluntarily serving in submarine warfare in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. To further promote and keep alive the spirit and unity that existed among submarine crewmen during World War II. To promote sociability general welfare and good fellowship among our members. To pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and it’s constitution.
1. Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base
Bowfin Meeting – We conducted our May meeting at Clean Sweep Bar, Lockwood Hall. The following members attended – Dave Atkins, David Bilek, Rodney Boucher, Karl Dye, Nelson Greer, Gary Grisham, Gary Johnson, Paul Jurcsak, Brett Kulbis, Ace Parker, Crichton Roberts, Pat Suenaga, Carl Tatro, and Ken Voorhees.
Welcomed Guests – Doi Brown, Nancy Kreis, Mi-ye Bilek, and Sandra Parker.
Binnacle List – Please keep the all our members and their families in your good thoughts and prayers.
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau! Bowfin Birthdays for the month ofMay.
Save the Date
Saturday May 18 (7-9am): WWII, Korean & Vietnam Memorials clean-up event. Roy King’s WWII Memorial at the corner of South King Street and Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 in front of the Territorial Office Building, 465 S King Street, Honolulu HI 96813. Please bring gloves, water, trash bags, rakes, shovels, pick-up sticks (grabbers), dawn soapy solution to brush clean the WWII monument and water to rinse.
Friday May 31 (10am-12pm)
They are also looking for volunteers to help distribute the food and setup/take down. If you can volunteer, please send your name to Sign-Up! Volunteers, please show up at 8am to the Akaka Clinic Parking Lot!
Military Retirees to Join DoD Civilian Jobs Without Delay Pending legislation in both the House and the Senate (H.R. 939/S. 344) seeks to repeal the requirement that military retirees wait 180 days before entering civilian service in General Schedule (GS) positions within the Department of Defense (DoD) for GS-13 and below. The Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Authorization bill included a temporary 3-year pilot program for depots and industrial activities. The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) welcomed this improvement but noted that more needs to be done.
The 180-day waiting period has resulted in hiring delays for DoD officials, who are already dealing with outdated hiring processes. Members of the public can express their support or concerns about this issue by visiting the following link: https://www.votervoice.net/FRA/Campaigns/101086/Respond
SCOTUS Rules Veterans Can Use Both Post-9/11 GI Bill and MGIB Benefits The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of an Army veteran, James Rudisill, who sued the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) over his eligibility for education benefits under both the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In a 7-2 decision, the court sided with Rudisill, who argued that he was entitled to benefits under both programs, as he had enrolled in them during two separate stints in the Army.
Rudisill, who was wounded in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq in 2005, had exhausted his Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits but later wished to use his unused Montgomery GI Bill benefits to attend Yale Divinity School as part of his training to become an Army chaplain. When VA officials denied his claim, Rudisill sued, arguing that the VA was unfairly limiting his options. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, writing for the majority, called the VA’s denial “nonsensical” and reversed lower court rulings in favor of the VA.
The ruling could affect approximately 1.7 million veterans, leading to increased benefits payments by the VA, which currently pays more than $8 billion annually for education benefits. The ruling allows veterans greater flexibility in accessing education benefits under the two programs.
4.Still On Patrol
Tolling of the bells for boats lost in the month of May.
The fleet size has remained stagnant for at least a decade, even as demand for these stealthy forces increased. Attack submarines would be pivotal in a conflict against China. They’re also in high demand within the European theater in order to counter Russia’s sophisticated submarine fleet. And they’ve even made history in the Middle East, with the Virginia-class sub John Warner becoming the first in its class to fire Tomahawk missiles in combat during a 2018 strike on Syrian chemical weapons facilities.
The situation will worsen before it improves, according to the Navy’s long-range shipbuilding and fleet inventory plan, which shows the force dipping to 47 later this decade before hovering in the mid-50s for many years. The fleet isn’t projected to hit 66 until 2054, well beyond the “decade of concern” — when military officials say the threat of conflict with China will peak.
Submarine Veteran Rodney Boucher (R) and VA Chief of Center for Development & Civic Engagement Scheon U. Safotu pointing to the Bowfin Aloha Shirt ad in the American Submariner magazine.
On May 1st, at the newly opened Daniel Akaka VA Clinic in Kapolei, HI held a Veteran Service Organizations Information Fair. The event was sponsored by the VA.
Bowfin Base Subvet & Red Cross volunteer, Rodney Boucher talked to approximately 50 Veterans & dependents. Of which five were qualified Submariners.
Big mahalo to Rodney for representing Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans.
The Momsen lung was a early underwater rebreather used prior to and during World War II by American submariners as emergency escape gear.
While serving with the Submarine Safety Test Unit, Charles Momsen began working on a device to help sailors surface. It was officially called the Submarine Escape Lung, it consisted of an oblong rubber bag that recycled exhaled air. The press enthusiastically received the device and dubbed it the Momsen Lung, a name that stuck.
The Lung contained a canister of soda lime, which removed poisonous carbon dioxide from exhaled air and then replenished the air with oxygen. Two tubes led from the bag to a mouthpiece: one to inhale oxygen and the other to exhale carbon dioxide. The device hung around the neck and strapped around the waist. Besides providing oxygen for the ascent, it also allowed a submariner to rise slowly to the surface, thus avoiding decompression sickness (“the bends”).
Between June 1929 and September 1932, then-Lt. Momsen developed the lung with Chief Gunner’s Mate Clarence L. Tibbals and Frank M. Hobson, a civilian employee of the Bureau of Ships. In 1929, Momsen received the Distinguished Service Medal for personally testing the device at a depth of 200 feet (61 m). The Lung saved its first lives in October 1944, when eight submariners used it to reach the surface after Tang (SS-306) sank in 180 feet (55 m) of water in the East China Sea. The Lung was eventually supplemented by the Steinke hood and free-ascent techniques.
The Navy has received the USS New Jersey (SSN 796), its 23rd Virginia-class fast-attack submarine from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division on Thursday April 25th.
New Jersey is the 11th Virginia-class submarine delivered by NNS, and the 23rd built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.
A House panel has made clear it wants the Navy to buy two attack submarines in fiscal 2025 in order to keep the submarine-industrial base on a path of recovery, despite the service requesting just one.
In a fiscal year when the defense budget is capped at 1% growth above the previous one, the Navy elected to ask for six ships in its FY25 budget, including one Virginia-class attack submarine. That submarine program is supposed to be on a cadence of two per year or greater to support the needs of both the U.S. and Australian navies. The latter is acquiring submarines as part of the trilateral AUKUS agreement also involving the U.S. and the U.K.
On Friday April 12, 2024 at the Hilton Hawaii Village Coral Ballroom, over 1200 enlisted submariners active and retired, Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet RADM Richard Seif, Submarine Commanding Officers, their spouses, and guests celebrated the 124th Anniversary of U.S. Submarine Force.
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Master Chief, FLTCM(SS) John Perryman was this year’s keynote speaker.
Master Chief Perryman served as Chief of the Boat on USS Hawaii (SSN 776), Senior Enlisted Leader on CSP Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team, Command Master Chief for COMSUBGRU SEVEN, Force Master Chief for Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, and Senior Enlisted Leader for U.S. Strategic Command.
Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base submarine veterans MMC(SS) Ret. Pat Suenaga and YNCS(SS) Ret. Brett Kulbis assisted in the POW/MIA ceremony to honor our missing comrades in arms.
Master Chief Perryman’s remarks, following his wife’s advice of be good, be quick, and be gone, were not only inspirational but were a testament to the his deep appreciation for the enlisted submarine sailors.
Master Chief Perryman compared today’s submariners with the persistence and tenacity of the crew of the USS Archerfish (SS-311) going through four war patrols without a hit. Then on their 5th war patrol sinking the Shinano, the biggest aircraft carrier ever built at the time.
After closing his remarks, he led the 1200 attendees in the first verse of the submarine song.
Following dinner, four newly qualified submariners received their dolphins, this also identified not only the newest, but youngest qualified submariner.
Now it was time to identify the oldest qualified submariner active or retired so the birthday cake can be cut. In typical fashion all qualified submariners were asked to stand up by Master Chief Amato (CSS-1). Beginning with 2020 he asked “Anyone qualified after 2020 please sit down.” Working down every 10 years, by time he hit 1990 only two remained, submarine veterans Brett Kulbis and Pat Suenaga. Upon announcing 1980 only MMC(SS) Ret. Pat Suenaga remained.
The 124th Enlisted Submarine Birthday Ball closed in the time honored tradition of recognizing the senior enlisted leaders (COBs and CMDMCs).
USSVI Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Veterans conducted their annual re-dedication of the Submarine Veterans Memorial on the Memorial Walk-Way at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
“The Submarine Veteran plaque was dedicated and placed here on April 18, 2000 and we conduct a small re-dedication ceremony every year on the anniversary of the U.S. Submarine Force,” said Base Commander Paul Jurcsak.
That’s the question Secretary Carlos Del Toro asked in February, as it emerged that labor shortages were delaying construction on the lead frigate of the Navy’s new Constellation class. But that wasn’t the only program behind schedule, and so Del Toro ordered up a 45-day review of all of his service’s shipbuilding efforts. When the Navy revealed its findings in early April, the study showedevery major program was a year and a half to three years behind schedule.
What comes next isn’t yet clear. “We don’t have detailed plans of action, milestones, initiatives—we are identifying and deeply looking into where we are now in a ‘get real, get better’ approach,” Nickolas Guertin, the Navy’s chief buyer, told reporters at the Pentagon. “We found that we have issues that need to be resolved…But we don’t have all those things completely nailed down yet.”
Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base 