Tom Lehrer on the "Brighter Side" of Infectious Disease

Here is a cheering poem by Tom Lehrer  who had an extraordinary poetical career, from being a mathematical genius, who worked at the Los Alamos nuclear weapons center and the NSA, before becoming a comic, singer-songwriter.

Tom's still kicking at 91. Here's his poem:

"I Got It From Agnes" (in various versions since 1953).

Here’s the Video of Tom singing it http://youtu.be/6WHSVOVLmNY

"I love my friends and they love me
We're just as close as we can be

And just because we really care
Whatever we get, we share!
I got it from Agnes
She got it from Jim
We all agree it must have been
Louise who gave it to him

Now she got it from Harry
Who got it from Marie
And ev'rybody knows that Marie
Got it from me

Giles got it from Daphne
She got it from Joan
Who picked it up in County Cork
A-kissin' the Blarney stone

Pierre gave it to Shiela
Who must have brought it there
He got it from Francois and Jacques
Aha, lucky Pierre!

Max got it from Edith
Who gets it ev'ry spring
She got it from her daddy
Who just gives her ev'rything

She then gave it to Daniel
Whose spaniel has it now
Our dentist even got it
And we're still wondering how

But I got it from Agnes
Or maybe it was Sue
Or Millie or Billie or Gillie or Willie
It doesn't matter who

It might have been at the pub
Or at the club, or in the loo
And if you will be my friend, then I might
(Mind you, I said "might")
Give it to you!"

Submariners on missions do Not practice Social Distancing

Steering area of a US nuclear submarine control room.

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All these ex-submariners - like Darryl Manzer here - dispensing advice about how they lived with "social distancing."

Fact is they were the least socially distanced of any profession.

60 to 150 submariners (who volunteered) to be crammed into a narrow metal tube - slept, worked,  ate, watched movies, next to each other, chatting (or formal voice interacting) face-to-face about 18 hours a day. Also physically dodging/squeezing around each other in the narrow spaces for months.

A sailor speaking with News4Jax (near US east coast Kings Bay SSBN base) on condition of anonymity, said “close quarters on a submarine means there is no way to maintain a social distance of six feet between each person.”

Submariner "Social Distancing" bears little resemblance to enforced COVID-19 social distancing. With COVID meaning being involuntarily stuck in your home/flat alone (or with only 1 or 2 others) sharply curtailing the face-to-face interaction you're used to.

Spacially - Submariners being crammed with others night and day is totally unlike COVID 1.5 meter separation social distancing (a COVID "treat" being off to the supermarket for a half hour 2 times a week).

Submariners had/have it tough but COVIDteering (though less so) also has its pressures - in very different ways.

Bunks in 1940s-60s Gato-Balao-Tench (still, 2 Hai Shih) class submarines. Similar lack of social distancing in Oberon class bunks and those in later SSKs.

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Pete

Sweden's Naval Museum: Starring Hajen I (the "Shark")

/Kjell had kindly provided the video above (and here) about Sweden's Naval Museum at Karlskrona.

50 seconds into the video is Sweden's first submarine the Hajen I ("Shark" in Swedish) launched in 1904. It was intended for (but it didn't fight in) such Baltic confrontations as the "union conflict" between Sweden and Norway. I've never heard of this conflict. Nothing to do with trade unions, but a complex 1905 dissolution of the union of Sweden and Norway involving royalty, nationalism, democracy (for men only!) and constitutions.  

The Museum explains https://www.marinmuseum.se/en/exhibitions/submarine-exhibition/the-hajen The Hajen I has only three torpedoes, top speed of nine knots, and no heating equipment whatsoever. However, in 1904, when launched, the Hajen was a terrifying state-of-the-art naval war weapon.

(Photo courtesy Sweden's Naval Museum)

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Carl Richson (above) born 1857 was a civilian marine engineer and designer, not a naval officer, despite his uniform). Richson was Hajen I’s main creator. Richson, a crofter's son and "social climber" from the Swedish province of Södermanland, lived in the US for ten years. There, he took various jobs before eventually becoming head of the design office of the naval dockyard in New York, and became a very well-known ship designer.

In 1897 Richson moved back to Sweden, where he started working at the Maritime Administration and was soon placed in a position that would prove highly important as the Swedish fleet prepared to enter the new century.

Alongside the work on the fleet surface vessels, Richson began early on to lay the technical foundation for the upcoming Swedish submarine weapon. In the fall of 1900, Richson was ordered to return to the US to obtain knowledge of the construction of submarines there. One reason for this was probably that the US Navy the year before purchased a submarine designed by (main inventor of the modern submarine) the Irish American J P Holland. Richson, brought home a 26-page design from the "Electric Boat" company building Holland's submarines.

Hajen I in dry dock. (Photo courtesy Sweden's Naval Museum)

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(Hajen I surfaced. Not designed for high seas! (Photo courtesy Sweden's Naval Museum)

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After returning to Sweden, Richson, in 1901–1903 prepared the drawings for Hajen I. It was built at the Naval Shipyard in Stockholm and launched in July 1904. The difficulties in the construction of Hajen I were many and complicated, but all were quickly solved by Richson in a satisfactory manner. More detailed specifications are that Hajen I had only a length of 21.6m, diameter 3.6m, displacement 111 tons, with a crew of eight. It had a surface speed of 7–8 knots, and 6 knots submerged. It had three 450mm torpedoes and maximum diving depth of 30m. The propeller was directly connected to an electric motor, which when surfaced received power from a kerosene-powered engine and from a battery when submerged. Hajen I was rebuilt in 1915–16, with a more reliable and less fire prone diesel engine replacing the kerosene engine. It re-entered service in the last year of the First World War and was decommissioned in 1922.

Neptun (Neptune) when in service. Its resemblance to the much larger Collins is obvious.

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1 minute 43 seconds into the video In June, 2014, a new section of the museum opened where visitors can visit a more modern submarine His/Her Swedish Majesty's Ship (HSwMS) Neptun, a Swedish Näcken-class submarine about 980 tonnes (surfaced) and 19 officers/crew,

6 x 533mm torpedo tubes and 2 x 400mm (Baltic corvette "friendly") torpedo tubes. Neptun was in service 1980 to 1998. 

Pete

UK's Trident Nuke Submarine Base: 20 Staff in COVID-19 Isolation

JAKE WALLIS SIMONS. ASSOCIATE GLOBAL EDITOR, for The UK’s Daily Mail Online, March 20, 2020 reports, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8131755/Coronavirus-crisis-UKs-nuclear-submarine-base.html:

“...Coronavirus crisis at UK's nuclear submarine base as twenty staff show COVID-19 symptoms and are forced into isolation”

• A makeshift quarantine unit has been created on a floor of the nuclear base

• Staff have complained at being 'left in the dark' about the virus risk at the facility

• An MoD source insisted that Britain's nuclear deterrent remains fully operational...

Britain's [Vanguard-class SSBN] Trident nuclear submarine base is in the grip of a Coronavirus scare, MailOnline can reveal.

A regular long-range Russian "Bear" aircraft's eye view of Britain's "Trident submarine" SSBN base, at Faslane, just north of Glasgow, during a typical dark, rainy, Scottish day. (Photo courtesy "Ivan").

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[Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde] the home of the UK nuclear deterrent in [Faslane] Scotland, has nearly 20 possible cases of infection so far. [HMNB Clyde is served by the nearby base for nuclear weapons storage at RNAD Coulport].

Servicemen and women reporting Covid-19 symptoms have been isolated in sealed rooms with 'no entry' signs taped to the doors.

The number of possible victims is currently [as at March 20, 2020] in the 'low teens', a source said, and preparations are underway for a major outbreak.

The top floor of the Linton Block, one of 17 accommodation buildings at the facility, has been converted into a makeshift quarantine unit and sealed off.

A medical team equipped with masks and yellow biohazard bags was seen at work on the base last week.

A Ministry of Defence source insisted that Britain's nuclear deterrent remains fully operational and that there is no possibility of a national security emergency.

So far nobody has tested positive on the base, he added, though he acknowledged that testing has not been carried out in every case, in line with Government guidelines.

Staff have complained at being 'left in the dark', saying they have not been informed about the virus risk at the facility.

'Nobody knows what is going on and it's making people frightened,' one told MailOnline on condition of anonymity.

'We have not had a single communication to tell us what is happening, and every day more rooms are sealed off.

'Everyone here is expected to put our lives on the line for the Navy. We just want the Navy to level with us and tell us what the risk is.'

A Ministry of Defence source said that the jigsaw of different private firms and Navy units that operate the base has made it difficult to communicate news about the virus effectively to all staff.

The source said: 'The base is endeavouring to ensure all personnel are aware of the situation and the measures being taken to safeguard personnel.'

HMNB Clyde, commonly known throughout the Navy as 'Faslane', is home to 3,000 service personnel, 800 of their families and 4,000 civilian workers, mainly from the engineering firm Babcock International.

The Linton Block, where the quarantine facility is being set up, is opposite the 'Supermess', one of the base's major leisure hubs.

In addition to separate bars for officers and sailors, there are restaurants, cafes and shops, with a bowling alley, ski slope, swimming pool and gym nearby.

All of these are now seen as a 'petri dish for the virus', according to personnel serving at the site, and most are being closed down as the top brass prepares for the worst.

The sports schedules, which include circuit training and team events such as football, rugby and boxing, have been cancelled, and the swimming pool has been shut in an effort to combat the spread of the disease.

The quarantine area consists of about 24 single rooms – known as 'cabins' in Navy jargon – each containing a double bed, wardrobe, desk and chair, chest of drawers, bedside cabinet and television table.

Each also has a walk-in shower, en-suite lavatory and sink.

Cleaning staff normally service the cabins once a week and there are communal kitchens with washing machines and tumble dryers.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The Ministry of Defence has put in place robust plans to ensure the delivery of key operations in the UK and overseas and we are confident that essential defence tasks will be maintained during this time.

'Any serving personnel who are showing symptoms will follow the advice and guidance issued by Public Health England. Whilst sensible precautions are being taken, all required outputs are being maintained at HM Naval Base Clyde.'

The base in Faslane, about 40miles northwest of Glasgow, is the home of the Submarine Service, and is the Royal Navy's main presence in Scotland.

In addition to Trident, Britain's nuclear deterrent, it houses the new generation of hunter-killer submarines.

The site is run in partnership with Babcock International, a civilian firm that provides specialist engineering services and manages the base's critical infrastructure and nuclear facilities.

The Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport, eight miles from Faslane, is responsible for the storage and maintenance of Trident and all submarine weaponry...”

See the WHOLE DAILY MAIL ARTICLE which has more photos of Faslane and links.

US WWII Era Submarine Achievements

Something to brighten up the Corona Captivity (no pubs, clubs, cafes or cinemas) of submarine enthusiasts:

See "Silent Service Boats Of World War II Documentary" 44 minutes, starring the world's best long range submarines of the time, the US Gato and Balao classes in the Pacific against Japan,  at https://youtu.be/udn9Od5kjCY .


Pete

Shooter Negotiations Russian Style

Thought for the day.

Western security forces attempt to negotiate with cornered "shooters" into surrendering, if possible.

But not in Russia. The Barents Observer, March 24, 2020 reports:

In 1998 the Akula SSN Vepr “became known for an emergency situation with a 19-year serviceman that shot eight of his fellow sailors and barricaded himself in the ship’s torpedo compartment.

He was ultimately killed by a small bomb planted by the [Russian Federal Security Bureaus] FSB inside the telephone used for negotiations...”

Russians just have to put up with the FSB, or else.

The 5 Collins Submarine Commanders' Career Details

Following Official Australian Submarine Availability – List of Commanders, March 18, 2020 I’ve reordered the official Royal Australian Navy (RAN) submarine list (table here) from submarine name alphabetical order to the more conventional order of date Commissioned, which coincides with Pennant number. See Table A. 

Also drawing from the RAN website are the official career details and photos of Australia’s five Commanding Officers of submarines. See List B.

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Table A. (as at March 20, 2020)

Name	Pennant [number]	Commissioned	Commanding Officer	Status
HMAS Collins	S73	27 July 1996	Commander Darren White
HMAS Farncomb	S74	31 January 1998	Commander Michael Power
HMAS Waller	S75	10 July 1999	Commander Christopher Ellis	Full-cycle docking
HMAS Dechaineux	S76	23 February 2001	Commander Bradley Francis
HMAS Sheean	S77	23 February 2001	[none?]	Intermediate Docking
HMAS Rankin	S78	29 March 2003	Commander Robin Dainty	Mid-cycle docking

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List B.

Commander Darren White (above)

Commander Darren White, RAN was born in Cape Town, South Africa He attended a local boarding school and graduated in 1992. Commander White enlisted into the South African Navy in 1994 and was drafted to SA Naval College in Gordon’s Bay, where he received his commission after successfully completing Officer training.

Commander White rotated through the various Squadrons and attained his Bridge Warfare Certificate in 1998. After selection for the MCM Squadron, he qualified as a MCM Officer in 1999. Commander White went on to complete two consecutive Executive Officer appointments on Minesweepers before volunteering for Submarine duty in 2002. 

He commenced submarine training and qualified as a Submarine Officer in November 2003. In 2004 Commander White was selected for Project WILLS (South African Type 209 submarine acquisition project). In 2005 he deployed to Germany and crewed two of the newly acquired submarines on their maiden voyages from Germany to South Africa, the first as the Sonar Officer and the second as the Executive Officer.

Commander White completed Perisher in 2008 and thereafter completed two consecutive Type 209 Submarine commands. This was followed by an Executive Officer appointment on a MEKO 200 Frigate, prior to immigrating to Australia.

Commander White joined the RAN in January 2015 and immediately commenced CCSM training, which included postings to HMAS Rankin, Waller and Farncomb before being appointed as the Executive Officer of HMAS Dechaineux in December 2016. This appointment included a successful North East Asia deployment. Commander White has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration.

Commander White assumed command of HMAS Collins in January 2020.

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Commander Michael Power (above)

Commander Michael Power was born in Hastings, Victoria. He entered the Royal Australian Naval College in January 2007 as a direct entry warfare officer, before proceeding through the Junior Warfare Officer Application Course.

While still under training Michael served in the Middle Eastern Area of Operations in 2009 whilst posted to HMAS Toowoomba, before attaining his Bridge Warfare Certificate on HMAS Anzac the following year. Shortly after this qualification, Michael joined the Submarine Service in 2011, commencing Submarine Officer Training Course.

Michael’s first significant submarine posting was to HMAS Farncomb in September 2011. During this posting he was awarded his ‘Dolphins’ in March 2012, before achieving his Officer of the Watch Dived proficiency later that same year.

While completing the Junior Officer Leadership Course in 2013 he was awarded both the Hue Paffard Award and Dux of the course. Following a brief posting as Navigator of HMAS Farncomb in 2014, Michael completed the Submarine Warfare Officers Course, where he was awarded the Submarine Sword of Excellence as Dux of the course.

Michael served onboard HMAS Rankin as the Sonar officer and Operations Officer in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In December 2017 he was appointed as the Executive Officer of HMAS Sheean, however only served in that role until September the following year as he had been selected to attend the Netherlands Submarine Command Course (NLSMCC) in January 2019.

Upon successful completion of NLSMCC and the Australian Commanding Officer Designate Course, Commander Power assumed Command of HMAS Farncomb in November 2019.

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Commander Christopher Ellis (above)

Commander Christopher Ellis, born in England, spent his schooling years in Canada before joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1987. He attended Royal Roads Military College, and Collège Militaire de Royale; graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration.

In 1992, after completing initial Naval training on HMCS Saskatchewan, Commander Ellis volunteered for submarine service. He conducted his submarine training on HMC Submarines Ojibwa and Okanagan, with his dolphins being awarded in August 1994. He then re-joined Okanagan in 1996 as the navigating officer having recently completed the Destroyer Navigation Officer course in 1995.

In July 1997, Commander Ellis commenced a two year exchange with the RAN where he was employed as HMAS Onslow’s Sonar Officer, executed the duties as the Manager of Tactical Training at the submarine school, and attended the Submarine Warfare Officer Course. Returning to Canada in 1999, he was then posted to the United Kingdom to conduct Upholder conversion training as the Operations Officer on HMS Ursula (HMCS Corner Brook).

After returning to Canada with Corner Brook in 2003, he attended the RAN Submarine Executive Officer course, and returned to Australia early 2004 to sail with HMAS Rankin to Hawaii.

In July 2004, Commander Ellis was appointed the Executive Officer of HMCS Victoria. This appointment concluded with him joining Rankin later in 2005 so as to prepare for an upcoming Submarine Command Course (SMCC).

In July 2006, Commander Ellis became the second Canadian to successfully complete the Royal Netherlands Navy SMCC. On his return to Canada, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and appointed Victoria’s Commanding Officer. He subsequently commanded HMCS Windsor for her last operational cycle prior to attending the USN SMCC Class 12 in Groton, Connecticut in January 2007. He then passed the 2008/09 academic year in Toronto on the Joint Command and Staff Programme where he completed his Professional Masters in Defence Studies.

In 2009, Commander Ellis was again appointed Victoria’s Commanding Officer, and promoted to Commander. Victoria was the first of Class to complete a Canadian full cycle docking, and then to become weapon certified; a capability that culminated in the sinking of ex-USS Concord while participating in the exercise Rim of the Pacific 2012. On completion of his command in 2013, Commander Ellis was posted as the Deputy Commander of Submarine Operations.

Commander Ellis assumed Command of HMAS Waller in December 2019.

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Commander Bradley Francis (above)

Commander Bradley Francis, RAN was born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in 2000 as a Seaman Officer. After completing his studies at the Australian Defence Force Academy he served in Fremantle Class Patrol Boats before gaining his Bridge Warfare Certificate in the Adelaide Class Frigate HMAS Canberra in 2005.

Joining the Submarine Service in 2006, Brad was awarded his ‘Dolphins’ in HMAS Sheean that year. He then served in HMAS Waller (2007-2008) and Royal Canadian Navy Submarines (2009-2010). After Submarine Warfare Officers Course in 2011, Brad served as a Warfare Officer in HMAS Dechaineux, Waller and Sheean over the course of 2012-14.

In November 2015, Brad was appointed as the Executive Officer of HMAS Rankin. Subsequent to this posting, he graduated from the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2017 and was then appointed as Deputy Director Submarines – Warfare within Navy Headquarters.

Brad is a graduate of the 2015 Netherlands Submarine Command Course (‘Perisher’) and the 2016 United States Submarine Command Course. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Arts from the University of New South Wales, and a Masters of Military and Defence Studies from Australian National University.

Commander Francis assumed Command of HMAS Dechaineux in December 2018.

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Commander Robin Dainty (above)

Robin Dainty was born in Grimsby, England in 1967. His father had previously served in the Royal Navy on Minesweepers and Submarines from 1953-1963 and it had always been Dainty’s intention to follow his father's lead. Towards the end of his schooling, Dainty applied to join the RN as an Able Seaman.

He joined HMS RALEIGH, the recruit training school in June 1983 and whilst there applied for submarine training as a direct entry submariner. Having completed his submarine training the following year, his first posting was to HMS Hermes (Aircraft Carrier) which came as a shock to both he and his family.

Shortly afterwards he joined his first submarine, HMS Revenge (SSBN) and was awarded his Dolphins in November 1984. Promoted to Leading Seaman in 1987 and then Petty Officer in 1990, Dainty served in HMS Ocelot (SSK), HMS Torbay (SSN) and HMS Talent (SSN). Having been promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1998 he was then selected for Commissioned Rank and joined Britannia Naval College in 1999.

Dainty returned to the submarine service after a short period in HMS Leeds Castle (FPV), enjoying periods in HMS Triumph (SSGN) and two tours in HMS Turbulent (SSGN), the first as the Navigating Officer and the second as the Operations Officer. These postings allowed him to witness the full range of submarine operations, including service during both Gulf War One and Gulf War Two.

He successfully completed Submarine Command Course (Perisher) in 2007 and then joined HMS Vengeance (SSBN) as the Executive Officer. He had the honour to Command Vengeance for a short period and Vengeance was to be his last appointment in the Royal Navy, joining the Royal Australian Navy in May 2011.

Initial service was in HMAS Dechaineux, followed by two years as the Executive Officer of HMAS Waller. He returned to HMAS Dechaineux in November 2014 as the Commanding Officer, departing her in January 2017 for an overseas posting at COMSUBPAC, Hawaii. Having returned to WA in February 2019, Dainty was selected to Command HMAS Collins.

Commander Dainty assumed command of HMAS Rankin in January 2020.

Pete