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NEWS-01: The Largest Submarine Class in The U.S. Navy
Submitted by: Office on 2/18/2014
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USS Pennsylvania is a United States Navy Ohio-class ballistic
missile submarine which has been in commission since 1989. The Ohio class is a
class of nuclear powered submarines used by the United States Navy. The Navy
has 18 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and guided missile submarines.
Click on the link for the video.
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NEWS-02: Diesel Boats Forever
Submitted by: Office on 3/1/2014
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Ever wonder about the origins of the DBF insignia?
The Diesel Boats Forever Insignia was an unofficial
uniform breast pin worn in violation of uniform regulations by some officers
and men of the United States Navy's Submarine Service in the 1970s.
The United States Navy authorizes the Submarine Combat
Patrol Insignia for war patrols in any submarine, and the SSBN Deterrent Patrol
Insignia for any patrols in a nuclear ballistic missile submarine. However,
there was no way for a diesel boat submariner to earn a recognition pin in
peacetime, a situation that exacerbated the natural rivalry between the two
groups of submariners. (Regulus missile patrols did not earn the SSBN patrol
pin at that time.)
During the 1950s and 1960s, the early classes of nuclear
submarines suffered reliability problems, and on occasion were unable to
complete their various missions. In 1969, USS Barbel (SS-580) was ordered to
Japan to relieve a nuclear attack submarine that suffered such a casualty. As
the crew celebrated the nuclear boat's misfortune, they held a contest to
design a pin recognizing when a diesel boat needed to take a "broke-down
nuke boat's" mission.
The winning design, submitted by former commercial artist
ETR3 (SS) Leon Figuredo, showed a guppy submarine embraced by two mermaids (sea
hags), along with the letters "DBF." Holes in the scroll allowed for
stars to be added for subsequent awards.
Upon arrival at Yokosuka, the design was taken to
"the Thieves' Alley" where a local craftsman made up one thousand
pins, some gilt for the officers and some in natural (gray) color for the men.
When the Barbels picked up their pins, they made the mistake of leaving the die
with the craftsman.
The original intent of the Barbels was that the pin (and
subsequent stars) would be awarded to the crews of diesel boats that relieved
nuke boats. The Yokosuka craftsman, however, began producing and selling the
pins to anyone who wanted one.
In 1970 a drawing was sent to the Navy Department for
official approval, which was never given. Without official support, the
"proper" display of the pin was impossible to enforce, even with the
cooperation of lenient commanders. The original intent of "times a diesel
relieved a nuke" was lost, and the most common meaning of the stars became
"number of diesel boats served on."
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NEWS-03: 2014 NATIONAL OFFICER & REGION DIRECTOR
CANDIDATES
Submitted by: Tom Conlon - Natl Secretary &
Nominations Chairman on 3/4/2014
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NATIONAL COMMANDER
Al Singleman, Albany-Saratoga Base
Wayne Standerfer, Dallas Base
NATIONAL SENIOR VICE-COMMANDER
John Markiewicz, Cyberspace Base, First Coast Base
NATIONAL JUNIOR VICE-COMMANDER
Bill Andrea, South Florida Base
NATIONAL SECRETARY
Ken Recoy, Batfish Base
Ray Wewers, Razorback Base
NATIONAL TREASURER
Paul Hiser, Tarheel Base
Byron Stratton, USS Oklahoma City Base
NORTHEAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Mike Naughton, Capitol Base
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Dick Kanning, Tarheel Base
Brian Steffen, Palmetto Base
CENTRAL REGION DIRECTOR
Dave Farran, Iowa Base
Jim Fox, Cowtown Base
WESTERN REGION DIRECTOR
Bob Bissonette, San Diego Base
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