USS Diodon (SS-349) WestPac 1967
By: James R. Santos 
on Diodon - TMSN(SG) to TM3(SS)

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Forward to Topside Watch and Duty Chief, Buckner Bay, Okinawa

Return to Renato Duplon, just entering the Control Room

Here I am, again, clean shaven, in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, post 55 day patrol

Click on Thumbnail for larger Photo

This is photo shows the bow section of the Diodon. Note the teak decking.  Behind me, to the left is the in-port guard railing for the Escape Trunk access to the Forward Torpedo Room.  Behind me, the right, is the emergency buoy, used to mark the location of a sunken submarine.  

However, on WestPac tours, the forward buoy, and the after buoy, near the After Torpedo Room were welded in place.  This was to prevent them from floating to the surface and marking our position, if we were to be depth-charged.

Just to the left of my feet you can see the safety rail, used at sea for deck crew to tie them selves to when it was needed to go onto the deck.  This railing goes past the Sail and to the stern of the Diodon.  It was mandatory to be secured if on deck. 

An unhappy event occurred on another submarine in WestPac.  A cook and a mess cook were throwing weighted garbage bags over the side from the sail door.  They were NOT secured.  A large wave came along and washed them both overboard.  They were both lost at sea.

I was Qualified in Submarines now, August of 1967, as TMSN(SS).  During our 55 day submerged patrol, I took my verbal qualification test in the aft part of the Forward Torpedo Room.  I was asked to trace a drop of water, a drop of oil, a drop of ballast, a slug of air through the entire submarine and to tell where I could cross-connect what systems to do this and that.  

I did so in such a cool and knowing manner, that the interviewing officer, LT Cooper (Engineering Officer) exclaimed that no one before had passed the test so quickly and thoroughly!  And, I had qualified in about 5.5 months. vs. the regular 6 to 7 month qualification.  You can tell I was one highly motivated non-qual!

Enough of me.  I will take you from the bow to the stern of the Diodon in the next few pictures and then off the boat onto the shore nearby.