Welcome to the latest installment of “Soundings”, a column that reports on a broad spectrum of news items from the mainstream media as they relate to Ocean Engineering technologies. The purpose of this column is to inform the ocean engineering community of our industry’s visibility in the media and how the general public perceives our efforts.

U.S.S. Razorback Completes Dual-nation Duty
If you mention “Little Rock, Arkansas” to anyone, chances are they will think of former US President Bill Clinton. Little Rock made newspaper headlines again recently but for reasons related to naval history, not Presidential politics, as the submarine U.S.S. Razorback arrived at its final duty station, being a key attraction of the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.
Initially deployed during World War II, the Razorback was decommissioned by the US Navy in 1971 and sold to Turkey where she entered into service as the TCG Murat Reis. After serving more than 30 years in the Turkish Navy, she was retired and offered for sale for a price of 1 million dollars. However, the Turkish government slashed the asking price with the understanding that a Turkish-US relations center would be established as part of the deal with the Arkansas Museum.

Sub Suit Succeeds in Hollywood
Litigation and lawsuits are nothing unusual in the maritime industry. Nor are they unusual in Hollywood. However it is unusual when both worlds collide. Such was the case when a former Soviet Union submarine captain sued a Hollywood studio for making a movie deemed “disparaging” about the sinking of his vessel.
Various mainstream media outlets covered the conclusion of the case of Captain Igor Britanov vs. Warner Brothers Studio. Captain Britanov was the captain of the Soviet nuclear submarine K-219 when, while on patrol 680 miles off the coast of Bermuda, an explosion shook the submarine, causing a fire to break out near the ship’s reactor and also causing a missile hatch seal to leak, allowing seawater to react with residue of the missile’s liquid fuel. Parts of the boat began to fill with poisonous gas and ultimately 4 crewmen were lost. The submarine sank before being towed from the scene.
Warner Brothers Studio produced a film, “Hostile Waters”, based on the event and Captain Britanov later sued the studio for not seeking permission to use his character or his story. He also charged that they did not accurately portray events, which resulted in making him appear incompetent.
After three years of hearings, the US court found in favor of Captain Britanov. Russian media reported a settlement on the order of several tens of thousands of dollars (USD).
The Former Soviet Union claimed the damage to the K-219 was caused by a collision with the American submarine USS Augusta (SSN 710). Officially, the US Government continues to deny that this was the case.

Navy Commissions Destroyer in Honor of Momsen - First Destroyer to Use Remote Minehunting System
Vice Admiral Charles “Swede” Momsen made headlines across the world in May 1939 when he directed the successful rescue and recovery operation for the USS Squalus which had sank in 243 feet of water off the coast of New Hampshire. Using the McCann Diving Bell, which Momsen and Rear Admiral Allan R. McCann developed, 33 crewmen who survived the sinking of the Squalus were successfully brought to the surface. Momsen then led the 113 day salvage operation, and brought the Squalus back to dry dock at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The Squalus was later refurbished and recommissioned the USS Sailfish and she performed with distinction in the Pacific.
Recently, the US Navy commissioned it’s newest destroyer the USS Momsen (DDG 92). The Momsen is the first of five DDG’s that has state of the art electronics and weapons systems, including the Remote Mine Hunting (RMS) system. The RMS, developed by Lockheed Martin, is an air-breathing diesel powered semi-submersible that is equipped with its own Variable Depth Sonar (VDS). Using line of site and over the horizon data and control links, the RMS provides destroyers with an organic mine reconnaissance capability.

Remote Minehunting Vehicle is lowered to the water by a unique dual-arm davit.

Remote Minehunting Vehicle towing Variable Depth Sonar