Key West Last Ships party 1956, L to R, Dolores Hoppel, Don Hoppel, Joe Cote and Nancy Jo Cote. Nancy Jo "got her Dolphins" on the 320 in '57... I was engaged to Nancy at the time and we had one of those Wife/Celeb cruises in LI sound...3 dives and some snorkel....Dr Joyce Brothers was on that one also, I believe.
Valletta, Malta, 1957
A quickie on the Valletta..... We were anchored directly opposite, I believe, the WREN (British Navy Ladies) Barracks in Valletta. Their rooms with open windows were on the upper floors at the same height as our periscopes. It wasn't too long before periscope time had to be scheduled. A most enjoyable stay....
Entering Key West, 1958
Here's a blow up the "Key West" shot and you can see the SUBRON 12 seal on the Fwd port sail....
Note that the ECM antenna (small one just aft of the #1 scope) is perfectly vertical in the 1957 Valletta photo...
Now look closely at the Key West Photo, note it has a rakesh angle aft....
The story: We were late coming into Groton from operations one evening. Not sure how long we had been out but the Captain was in a hurry to get in. We ran on 4 engines a little longer than "legal" coming up the river, dropped to 2 engines and the skipper signaled for the Railroad bridge to open for our passage. The bridge signaled "5 blasts" meaning I have a train coming you'll have to wait...The Capt was not about to wait for a train and ordered the Con to lower all masts and "flood down" we were going under the bridge.. The ECM antenna being a fixed item stayed up. Do to a minor miscalculation somewhere along the line, we were a inch or so too high for the ECM antenna to clear. There was no other damage and the antenna was still working fine when we turned her over in 58....It also made her easy to find in Groton...Just look up river from the Lower Base gate for the boat with the rakesh antenna...
And my qual card! The Qualification Officer was Lt. Kildufft), other officers signing off on the back were: Hukill, Hargrove, and Ens. Maddox. Note that Kiehl signed as Lt CDR... a very recent promotion and for his celebration he was tossed overboard into the Harbor at Gibraltar, YUCK, also where I received my Dolphins....
I still have the letter of "accomplishments" from the XO...
And the decommissioning paperwork (1 of 3)
And the decommissioning paperwork (2 of 3)
And the decommissioning paperwork (3 of 3)
And our PATCH!
Crew only at the final party.
Don't quote me on any of the following... This might be a good blowup for the next reunion to id the folks.
I think... either side of Capt Kiehl officers, over left shoulder of officer (the Exec ????) to Capt's left -Ensign Maddox, To the left of the pole 3 officers, (maybe Hargrove on the pole ???) the one to the left of the 3 may also be an officer ???? Last row directly behind the Capt with head turned to right Chief ...
In preparation for the turnover to Turkey, many of the "habitability items" were removed from the boat. She was a pretty lady... I know that a lot of coffee, distilled torpedo juice, heavy jackets, etc. were "distributed" in the yard for such things as the Sonar Room and Galley which were finished with Monel Steel. And yes, we had a microwave, I was sent to a 2 day school on it, but it never had a failure....
I believe the jukebox was pulled as well. It was slightly dangerous (experience talking) with a lot of "open" 110 volt contacts and was in constant need of repair, it also took up space and often developed "salt water corrosion". It was a nickel a shot and I think the wardroom was also a nickel.
Joe Cote, ETS3 extrordinaire To return to memories of the SS 320,
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