192 salvage
Rescue Operations
Photo NH 57508 courtesy of the NHHC.
The McCann chamber alongside the Falcon as it prepares for a dive on the sunken Squalus, May 24, 1939. A total of five trips were made to the sub, under very difficult conditions. At one point, frayed cables trapped the chamber underwater and a rescue of the rescuers was needed. All 33 men in the forward compartments were returned to the surface.
Photo NH 97292 courtesy of the NHHC.
Rescued crew on the deck of the USCGC Harriet Lane. The Squalus' Commanding Officer, LT Oliver F. Naquin, is standing hatless in the center, between the lifeline and the sailor behind him. He was the last man out of the boat. His calm and decisive demeanor provided courage and hope to his crew while they awaited rescue. His leadership was outstanding.
National Archive photo.
Salvage Operations and the Return to Portsmouth
The three and a half month process of salvaging the Squalus was particularly arduous due to the operating depth of 240 feet. This forced the team to use the newly developed mixed-gas diving system, using a the highly modified Mk 5 deep water diving dress. 628 dives were made to rig lifting chains under the hull and attach pontoons. This photo shows a lifting attempt on July 13, 1939. Unfortunately, the boat rose uncontrollably with the bow breaking the water before the boat slipped the chains and sank back to the bottom. 20 more days were needed to re-rig the chains and pontoons. The boat was brought to the surface in a series of controlled lifts and she was towed back to Portsmouth, hanging from the pontoons. Four enlisted divers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the rescue and salvage phase, and 17 enlisted and one officer were awarded the Navy Cross. A truly great effort indeed.
National Archive photo.
The last phase of the salvage had Squalus nearly at the surface and under tow to Portsmouth. She is shown here with part of her superstructure and fairwater above the surface, just outside of the Piscataqua River enroute to Portsmouth, late August 1939. She is heeled far over to starboard.
U.S. Navy photo 326-39 via Navsource.org.
Squalus and her pontoons alongside berth #6 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, September 15, 1939. Back at Portsmouth at last, several days were spent stabilizing the boat so that she could be transferred to the drydock. Only her forward half is above water. She will have to be on an even keel before entering the dock.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Squalus at berth 6 for pumping out at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, September 15, 1939. The front of the conning tower fairwater shows damage caused by lifting pontoons hitting it during the lifting process. This photo was taken a little later than the one above. The pontoon in front of the sub is missing. This snapshot, greatly enlarged, was taken looking across the deck of another submarine, quite possibly the Sculpin. The after torpedo loading hatch and aft rescue buoy are seen on the Sculpin.
Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman.
This view of the front of the conning tower fairwater shows how the pilothouse sustained damaged during the salvage operation. It would be cut away and replaced during the repair phase.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
In Drydock
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Now down on the keel blocks, yard crews begin the ghastly task of entering the aft part of the boat to retrieve the bodies of the deceased.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
In this view of the aft deck of Squalus in the drydock at Portsmouth, workers are preparing to remove bolted on soft patches in the pressure hull above the engine rooms. This will make removal of the bodies easier, and to expedite the refurbishment of equipment. The aft rescue/messenger buoy, (seen in the left foreground), which sadly was not released because nobody had time to release it before they drowned.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Here men are standing on top of the engines while work proceeds to remove the dead. The large pipe was used to ventilate the interior of the boat. A lot of hazardous gasses had built up over the months.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Squalus in the now empty drydock, September 15, 1939. Eight months of intensive work laid ahead to get her reconditioned for service.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
A view from the bow looking aft in the drydock. Her two starboard torpedo tubes are visible, along with the rigged out bow planes and one of her anchors.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
A view from the drydock caisson wall, looking forward along Squalus, September 16, 1939. Note lifting chain draped over port propeller shaft just forward of the screw. Two of the salvage pontoons are sitting in the dock alongside the boat, they would be later lifted out by cranes.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Damage to the hull near the rudder skeg caused by the pontoon lifting chains. Deep water salvage is tricky work. Even with highly skilled men working very carefully, some additional damage from the salvage work is inevitable.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
This shows the lower part of the hull near the keel. It highlights further minor damage caused by the lifting process.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
This is the port side bilge keel, showing deformities cause by lifting chains.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Interior views post-Salvage
The following photos have been colorized using modern AI colorizing technology. We did this to better see the condition of the sub after being submerged so long.
Interesting fact, this photo and the one below show that Squalus was not carrying torpedoes but wooden 'shapes' used to check the function of the tubes and firing mechanisms. The individual boards that went into making the 'shapes' can be seen on them where an actual tprpedo would have a smooth surface being made of metal. These 'shapes' would be launched out of the tubes and pop to the surface. They had no motors or anything mechanical.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
The forward torpedo room looking aft. The ladder leading up to the forward escape trunk can be seen just behind the torpedo rack brace. It was up this ladder that the men moved to get into the McCann chamber.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
The wardroom in the forward battery compartment where the officers ate their meals. The view is looking aft and to port. The long submergence has loosened the cork insulation applied to the pressure hull and it has begun to peel off.
The wardroom had two entrances. This is the forward one this photo was taken through. The chair on top of the table normally would be placed at the other end of the table like the one see on the right.
Typically the Captain sat in the after chair and the lest senior officer (who was normally the Supply Officer) sat in the one at the forward end. The Executive Officer sat at the Captains right and Engineering Officer sat at the Captains left.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Condition of the Squalus control room after the boat was salvaged. View is looking forward and to port. The helm wheel is on the right. The two large wheels, left, are the stern and bow plane controllers. The levers in the middle are for the main ballast tank vents and Kingston valves. The duct work at the top is temporary and providing air via topsside fans for drying the boat out. It may also be used for venting gases from the battery wells since sulfuric acid and salt water form poisonous chlorine gas.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Squalus control room looking aft at air manifolds and electronics. This is a better view of temporary ductwork for drying and ventilating the boat.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
The Squalus control room looking aft along the port side. The stern planes control wheel is seen on the right, with the gyrocompass and chart table on the left. The control room stayed dry after the sinking, but had to be abandoned due to chlorine gas build up from the forward and after batteries.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
The caption written on the photo says that this is the forward battery compartment looking aft, but that is in error. This is actually crew's berthing above the after battery looking aft towards the crew's mess. The plank shown just left of center in the photo is spanning a hole cut in the deck to remove a body of a crewman that was trapped below decks. Photo taken September 15, 1939.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
This view is in the crew's mess looking forward into the berthing compartment. Through the doorway just right of center can be seen the bunks of the crew's berthing space above the after battery.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
Once again, the photographer misidentified the picture as the after battery compartment. Though it is "technically" correct as it seems the photographer was standing in the After Battery and taking the picture through the water tight door seen on the left. This is the forward engine room of the Squalus looking aft. Two of her GM 16-248 engines can be seen on either side of the walkway. This compartment was completely flooded during the incident.
Milne Special Collections, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, N.H.
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