NEWSLETTER #90 SEPTEMBER 2020
USS ALBACORE (AGSS 569)
NEWSLETTER #90
September 2020
Shipmate,
Ever since Albacore opened for visitation, hot summer weather has been a problem. Because the shore power arrangement is not sufficient to run the ship’s installed air conditioning system, it gets hot below decks. Though small fans have been strategically placed throughout the boat, the best they can do is move the warm air around. What was needed was a way to get that hot air out of the boat and draw in some outside air. Running a high voltage line into the Park would have been very costly as would the additional work inside the boat to accept the power. There had to be another way of ventilating the boat. Some days it was just too hot and visitors tended to zip through and not get the full Albacore experience.
Several years ago, the Park’s Maintenance Manager Jim Wakefield started giving serious thought to resolving the hot air issue. He came up with the idea of installing an exhaust fan that would sit atop the bridge access trunk. A local engineer volunteered to turn this idea into a practical device. Regrettably, the volunteer was called away before he was able to develop a working device. But the exhaust fan idea did not die as the below photos show.
The left photo shows the fan motor, fan, remote on/off switch receiver and hatch seal mounted on a set of louvers. The photo on the right is what the fan/louver assembly looks like on the bridge viewed looking down. Here, the fan is not running and the louvers are closed. The upper bridge access hatch is to the right.
The left photo is a side view of the assembly showing the suspension/hoisting system. The narrow confines of the bridge area created a challenge to get everything up there. The entire assembly was lifted up from the basin floor to the main deck, then up to the top of the sail and finally down through the open clam shell doors. In the photo on the right, the fan is running and the louvers are open.
Jim calculated that this arrangement moves air up the trunk at the rate of over 4,200 cubic feet per minute. He noted appreciable air flow from both forward and aft ends of the boat. So that there is no need to climb up and down the access trunk, the fan is turned on and off using a remote controller aimed upwards from the base of the bridge access trunk. When I recently went through the boat on a 90 degree day, it was cooler than I expected due to the increased airflow. What an ingenious solution to a vexing problem. Thanks for your persistence, Jim.
I’ve enjoyed several recent telephone calls with Captain Springer. In one, he mentioned that the ZULU flag in the last newsletter wasn’t the one he recalled. I had to admit that when I went on-line looking for naval flags, I inadvertently grabbed the ZERO flag instead of ZULU. Shortly after sending out the newsletter, I realized my error and corrected the version posted on our website. I thought I was relatively safe as not many submariners have any familiarity with flag hoists since flag hoists are confined to the surface Navy. I thought that I might be taken to task by another former surface ship experienced person and I was right. By the way, the captain celebrated his 93rd birthday late last month.
On Thursday, July 30th, Albacore Park officially reopened for visitors. Initially, the Park was open for just three days - Friday thru Sunday from 0930 to 1700. At the end of July, they added a fourth day - Thursday. August 19th saw the Park open for a fifth day. To man the safety check points to comply with the COVID-19 safety requirements, two additional employees have been hired. Several volunteers augment the paid staff to ensure all the positions are covered. If all went according to plan, the Park returned to full weekly operation the first of September.
The feedback has been almost all positive to my recent letter to the Friends of Albacore laying out why a name change for the group was in the offing. Thank you for your understanding and continuing support.
I regret to inform you that shipmate Edward “Buzz” Henifin departed on Eternal Patrol on July 25. Buzz was Albacore’s XO from ’62-’65 and later was C.O. of the USS Pomfret (SS 391). Also, Shipmate Richard Harkness recently departed on Eternal Patrol as reported by his daughter Patricia. Though not an Albacore shipmate, long time PSMA Board member Paul McEachern passed away on August 18th. Paul was a lawyer who provided many years of pro bono service to PSMA and Albacore Park.
I have lost contact with one of our shipmates, Ted Davis. Email brings no response and snail mail is marked “returned to sender - unable to forward”. Ted was living at the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community in Virginia Beach. If anyone knows of Ted’s whereabouts, please contact me.
Until next time, shipmate, stay safe and stay healthy.
Jack Hunter
11 Admiralty Drive, Apt 3
Middletown, RI 02842-6254
(401) 849-7282
“jhunter2007@cox.net