Blog Archives

2024 Memorial Day Commemoration

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Bowfin | May 27, 2024

On Memorial Day Monday May 27, 2024 at 1100 hours, dozens of Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans, submarine veteran wives and widows, active and retired military members, and friends of the Submarine Force participated in the annual Memorial Day commemoration at USS Parche and Submarine Memorial Park on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (formerly known as Submarine Base Pearl Harbor.)

The U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II assigned a submarine lost during the war to each state of our great nation as their state submarine.  The USS Growler (SS-215) was designated as the State Submarine of Hawaii. After Growler’s fourth war patrol during which Medal of Honor winner Commander Howard W. Gilmore issued his final order to “Take her down!”, sacrificing all for his country and his severely damaged submarine, the Growler made her way back to Brisbane for repairs. USS Growler was dubbed the “Kangaroo Express” by the Australians when, after the extensive and miraculous repairs to the ship’s bow, the Australian shipyards welded a kangaroo coin to each side of her repaired bow. For the Royal Australian Navy, Commander Tim Markusson, CMDCM(SS) (Retired) Gary Johnson presented a lei.

Among the over 3,500 submariners who lost their lives, we have the names of seventeen Filipino U.S. Army Rangers who were lost with USS Seawolf (SS-197). The U.S. Army’s 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, represented today by Mrs. Anita Loando-Acohido, once again honors our ceremony as they do every year to place a lei on the special plaque engraved with the names of those seventeen heroic Filipinos who went down with Seawolf.

Honoring our ceremony were several organizations presenting flower wreaths. Representing Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans – MMC(SS) (Retired) Pat Suenaga; representing the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association – Captain (Retired) Chuck Merkel; representing the Aloha Chapter of the Naval Submarine League – Captain (Retired) Pete Miller; and representing the Pearl Harbor Submarine Officers’ Spouses’ Association – President President Kristen Newman Vice President Monike Hunter, and Secretary Melissa Ludwig.

In honor of our submarine widows, a single rose was presented to Dolores Brown and Nancy Kreis.

Our keynote address was given by Captain Aaron C. Peterson, Commander, Submarine Squadron 1.

The ceremony ended with a 3-gun volley by Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Navy Honor Guard Detachment followed by Taps by Bugler MU3 Andrew Gushiken of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Ceremonial Band.

On behalf of the Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base Submarine Veterans, mahalo to all for joining us in commemorating our submarine hero’s.
 
God Bless our Submarine Force, God Bless our Navy, and God Bless the United States of America.  ALOHA!

Following our commemoration, Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base members, families and friends gathered for a Memorial Day barbecue at Lockwood Lanai.

For more pictures of the days events click HERE.

Inside the Navy’s slick effort to find workers to build submarines

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Defense One | June 5, 2024

The BuildSubmarines ad blitz is part of an innovative campaign to shore up one particular aspect of the industrial base.

The U.S. Navy, along with its shipbuilders and their thousands of specialty suppliers, need more than 100,000 workers to help build attack and ballistic missile submarines over the coming decade. That’s according to BuildSubmarines.com, whose ubiquitous ads you may have seen during reality TV shows, on NASCAR hoods, at WNBA games, and amid Major League Baseball broadcasts. But what is that website and who runs it?

BuildSubmarines.com is the public face of an innovative, multi-organization effort to woo American workers to join a crucial part of the defense industrial workforce. The hub is BlueForge Alliance, a not-for-profit organization founded in November 2022 with a Navy contract and a mandate to gin up a new generation of shipbuilders.

Read Full Story HERE.

Hurricane Season

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Bowfin | June 1, 2024

Hurricane season in Hawaiʻi lasts from June 1 until the end of November. August and September are historically active months.

The National Weather Service predicts a slower hurricane season in Hawaiʻi with two to four tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific region.

The best time to prepare for hurricanes is BEFORE hurricane season begins. Avoid having to rush through potentially life-saving preparations by waiting until it’s too late. Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Here is more:

At the Start of the Season

  • Enter the season prepared.
  • Know all evacuation routes if you live close to the coast.
  • Make sure your home meets building codes for withstanding hurricanes, and they have storm shutters.
  • Walk through your home with a camera or video camera and take inventory images of your home and your possessions. Walk the perimeter too and take photos or video of the outside.
  • If you Download the Allstate Mobile App – you can also utilize the Digital Locker feature to accomplish this.
  • Have proper tools, supplies, and a first aid kit.
  • Have plenty of batteries and flashlights
  • Always have plenty of non-perishable foods on hand.

Once the Watch is Issued

  • Leave low lying areas.
  • Protect windows with plywood boards, or storm shutters.
  • Secure outside objects.
  • Make sure you have plenty of fuel and water.
  • Have several days supply of food and water for each family member.
  • If called to evacuate, do so immediately.

Before the Storm

  • Be ready to put your plan and preparation into action.
  • Pay attention to local weather reports on radio, television, or the internet.
  • Have house boarded up, or have storm shutters in place.
  • Have plenty of food and water.
  • Make sure all your tools, supplies, and first aid kit available for use.
  • Have a secure room available.

During the Storm

  • Stay in Secure Room.
  • Stay away from windows.
  • Do not use the phone, or candles.
  • Monitor Weather and Civil Service Bulletins on either regular or NOAA radio.
  • Have supplies on hand.
  • Remain indoors when the eye moves over your area because the storm will resume shortly.

Hawaiian Electric also distributes a Disaster Preparedness Handbook. It can be accessed and downloaded here Handbook for Emergency Preparedness.

Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum Monthly E-Newsletter May

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May 29, 2024

In this month…

>> Letters From Home: Memorial Day and Military Spouse Appreciation Month
>> Celebrating the 81st Anniversary of the Bowfin Commissioning
>> Recent Field Trips to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
>> Memorial Day Ceremony at Pearl Harbor Submarine Base

Read Full Story HERE.

This summer’s RIMPAC exercise in Hawaii drawing 30 nations and 40 ships

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Stars & Stripes | May 22, 2024

Forty ships from nearly 30 nations are slated to participate in this summer’s Rim of the Pacific exercise in and around the Hawaiian islands, the Navy said in a news release Tuesday.

The biennial RIMPAC, which the U.S. Navy touts as the largest international maritime exercise in the world, has been held 29 times since it began in 1971.

The training starts June 26 and runs through Aug. 2 and will include three submarines, 14 land-based forces, more than 150 aircraft and about 25,000 personnel, according to the Navy.

Read Full Story HERE.

Fifth Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine added to lineup at Naval Base Point Loma

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The San Diego Union-Tribune | May 21, 2024

The USS Greeneville on Monday was added to the stable of Los Angeles-class, fast-attack submarines that are homeported in San Diego Bay as part of Submarine Squadron 11.

Naval Base Point Loma now has five of the nuclear-powered submarines, which are regularly sent on deployment to the Indo-Pacific, sometimes to help protect carrier strike groups based in San Diego.

Read Full Story HERE.

House Armed Services Committee adds second Virginia submarine in FY25

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Defense News | May 13, 2024

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.

Read Full Story HERE.

US Navy’s submarine fleet is too small. Here’s how selling some may help.

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Defense News | May 8, 2024

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.

Read Full Story HERE.

Submarine Veteran Attends Information Fair

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Bowfin News | May 1, 2024

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.

Find out more HERE.

The New Jersey, first Virginia-class submarine designed with female sailors in mind, delivered to Navy

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Stars & Stripes | April 25, 2024

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.

Read Full Story HERE.