Page 18. MAINE COASTAL NEWS April 2010
N a u t i c a l B o o k R e v i e ws
RED STAR ROGUE over the years stories have surfaced in could not return in time for the sailing. There
The Untold Story of a Soviet Submarine’s rumours, newspapers and books about the was some who raised questions as to who
Nuclear Strike Attempt on the U.S. attempted launch of a nuclear missile at Pearl these men were and why they kept to
By Kenneth Sewell and Clint Richmond Harbor, the sinking of this submarine and the themselves. However, the commanding
305 pages; 2005; $25.00 attempt of the United States to salvage it. officer had no choice but to take them on
Simon & Schuster It is well known that submarines, both board as his orders stated.
New York, NY ballistic and fast attack, from the Soviet The K-129 headed south and when
Union and the United States prowled the safely at sea the orders for the mission were
For those that had an interest in naval waters of all oceans playing a very serious retrieved from the safe. The Russians know
history and especially involving submarines cat and mouse game. that the Americans had many ways to know
The submarine in question was the K- what they were doing, but they did not know
129, a Golf II type, which left her North Pacific that the United States had microphones on
base in February 1868 and headed south to the bottom of the ocean (SOSUS) and could
the Hawaiian Islands. follow each submarine by its noise
The book gives the background signature.
information about submarines on both The book states that after day 14 what
sides, their uses at this time in the Cold War happened on board the K-129 was unknown.
and what the political climate was. The The U. S. Navy knew when she left port and
authors then discuss the crew and what followed her down to her station off Hawaii.
transpired before the K-129 left on her last The authors state that at this time the K-129
at the Owls Head Transportation Museum,
voyage. What was interesting is that the K- moved into position and prepared to fire a
home to an operating collection of antique
129 was being rushed back to sea after a brief nuclear missile at Pearl Harbor. When they
aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles and
more. Our special events include vintage car
vacation ashore and that 11 unknown sailors fired a fail safe system prevented the missile
propellant started to burn in the firing tube,
rallies, antique airplane shows, free Model T
were joining the crew replacing the men that from leaving the tube and the rocket
which ultimately caused the vessel to sink,
rides and children’s activities!
and the loss of everyone on board.
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The Russians knew there was a problem
and sent vessels to the scene of where they
Owls Head
thought that K-129 went down. However,
Transportation Museum
the Americans knew where she actually went
down and began their own search. Once
Open Every Day • Year Round located the Americans devised a plan to
117 MuseumSt.
salvage the submarine from a depth of more
Owls Head,
than 15,000 feet. This meant a very
two miles south specialized salvage vessel was needed and
of Rockland,
• Boothbay Harbor’s Premier • Discounted Bulk FuelBoothbay Region Boatyard stands on a long tradition of
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Mega Yacht Marina • Wireless Internetservice and superior craftsmanship in a thoroughly modern
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There were a lot of rumours as to
WOTTON’S WHARF
whether they got the whole submarine or just
Southport, Maine Boothbay Harbor, Maine
a portion. It is known that due to what was
207.633.2970 •
brby.com • VHF Channel 9 207.633.7440 •
wottonswharf.com • VHF Channel 9
salvaged, the U. S. could prove that the
Russians did not control the K-129. The
Russians firmly believed that the U. S. had
sunk the K-129, and this added to the already
high tensions between the two super
powers.
The authors give a great account of this
incident and it makes excellent reading for
those interested in submarines and the
happenings of the Cold War.
SCORPION DOWN
Sunk by the Soviets, Buried by the
Pentagon: The Untold Story of the USS
SCORPION
By Ed Offley
482 pages; 2007; $27.50
Basic Books
New York, NY
3 P C J O I P P E
In the history of the American navy
there have only been two nuclear
submarines lost, THRESHER and
SCORPION. Both causes were said to be the
..A6<2 $2<D2A
result of a mechanical failure. However,
rumours have been circulating that the loss
( F P S H F U P X O
. B J O F of the SCORPION was more sinister. In this
r . P O J U P S J O H 7 ) ' $ I B O O F M
book, Offley offered the opinion that it was
X X X S P C J O I P P E N B S J O F D F O U F S D P N
the Russians who sank her in retaliation of
the loss of the K-129 in the Pacific. This
+
P J O V T B U 3 P C J O I P P E . B S J O F $ F O U F S T N J E D P B T U . B J O F M P D B U J P O B O E
opinion was backed up by years and years of
! F O E N P S F U J N F C P B U J O H 8 F B S F U I S F F N J M F T G S P N P Q F O P D F B O X J U I
F B T Z B D D F T T U I S P V H I U I F 4 I F F Q T D P U 3 J W F S 8 F I B W F U S B O T J F O U T M J Q T B O E
research.
N P P S J O H T B O E P F S T F S W J D F T G P S T B J M B O E Q P X F S Z B D I U T V Q U P G F F U
The SCORPION was on patrol in the
Mediterranean Sea and was transiting the
r 1 S P U F D U F E ) B S C P S r 8 P P E ' J C F S H M B T T 3 F Q B J S
Atlantic Ocean when all communication was
F 0 T Q S F Z 3 F" B V S B O U
r ' V � M 4 F S W J D F . B S J O B r % J F T F M ( B T & O H J O F 3 F Q B J S
lost with her. Concerns were not raised
r ' V � M 5 J N F % P D L 4 U B r 8 B T U F 1 V N Q P V U
immediately, but there was evidence that
F 5 B W F S O B U 3 J � H T $ P W F r : B D I U 3 J � H J O H 4 F S W J D F T r ( B T % J F T F M ' V F M T
certain high-ranking people within the
r ' V � M . B D I J O F 4 I P Q r $ P V S U F T Z $ B S
submarine community knew that there was a
serious problem. A search was conducted,
but turned up nothing. Families were not told
and waited for her arrival, but were then
informed that she had not arrived and was
sent home.
" S D I F E # S J E H F X J U I
% J O H I Z # B T J O
0 O F P G P V S N B O Z H B S E F O T - J W F + B [ [ ' S J E B Z / J H I U T 4 I P S F T J E F - J C S B S Z
) J T U P S Z " S U ( B � M F S J F T Continued on Page 23.
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