Dolphin Prepares for Shallow Water Research

Since 12-28-05

Excerpted from NSL UPDATE 12-21-2005

Release Date: 12/20/2005 11:45:00 AM
By Journalist Seaman Joseph Caballero, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific

USS DOLPHIN (NNS) -- The crew of the auxiliary research submarine USS Dolphin (AGSS 555) returned to San Diego Dec. 15, wrapping up a three-day underway in preparation for shallow-water acoustic torpedo testing scheduled to take place in early 2006. The torpedo testing will involve the submergence of Dolphin in shallow waters to near-bottom depths, at which point Dolphin will become the target of unarmed torpedoes.

“We’re ideal for this test because we are small enough and have certain equipment like underwater cameras that let us get very close to the bottom,” said Lt. Cmdr. John Vlattas, executive officer and navigator. In shallow water, targets are harder for submarines to hit because noise and reverberation off the sea floor limit the ability of torpedoes to pick out their target. The Navy’s goal in the experiment is to help develop a more capable torpedo armed with a more advanced sonar system.

During its underway period, the crew conducted numerous drills involving various systems aboard in connection with the tests. “As a crew, we need to prepare ourselves,” said Vlattas. “That involves understanding fine ship controls and systems that will be necessary for near-bottom operations. We also need to be perfect when it comes to damage control and firefighting.”

Though Dolphin, commissioned in the late 1960s, is one of the oldest submarines and the only diesel-electric boat in service with the U.S. Navy, it has been at the forefront of submarine technology research. With a crew of less than 50 Sailors, Dolphin is also smaller than its nuclear-powered counterparts.

“Though we are not a warfighting vessel, our mission is just as valuable,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SS) Jeff Riffle, medical department representative aboard Dolphin. "We research and test the equipment the warfighting subs will use."

Dolphin can maintain more extensive on-board laboratory facilities than other deep-diving submarines. It can carry scientific payloads of more than 12 tons and take them to an unmatched recorded depth of more than 3,000 feet.

Dolphin was conducting similar acoustic torpedo experiments in May 2002 when its sail's side door failed to maintain a watertight seal, resulting in the flooding of the ship, which damaged electrical devices aboard. After the incident, Dolphin’s crew and the Navy repaired and upgraded the boat.

“We changed a lot of the physical construction of the boat to ensure that situation can’t happen again,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SS) Michael A. Shaw, who has been on Dolphin since the accident. “We paid a lot of attention to fixing old problems and rewriting procedures to prevent new problems from arising.”

According to Cmdr. Andrew C. Wilde, commanding officer of Dolphin, the crew must adapt to new changes because they operate a unique submarine. “Every other submarine in the fleet gains from hundreds of years of experience. We have to write our own procedures and can’t depend on others,” said Wilde, referring to the new equipment Dolphin tests. "We have to be diligent and make sure they work and the ship is safe."

Wilde took command of the ship in November and said that as a new commanding officer, he must rely on his crew. “When a new crew member steps on this boat, everything is new,” said Wilde. “After a month, I already have a tremendous amount of confidence in these Sailors. They do their job with initiative and enthusiasm. The Navy would have a hard time operating without them.”