Evening star., 1940-02-03
The SquoIus Findings

The report of the court Of in
quiry on the sinking OF the subma-
rine Squalus last May with a death
toll of twenty-six has confirmed
earlier opinions that the primary
cause of the disaster was a mechan-
ical failure involving what is tech
nically known as the main engine
air induction valve. The court
found that mo serious blame" at
tached to any member Of the crew.
But the official report of the inves-
tigators and some significant COM
ments by Secretary of the Navy
Charles Edison would seem to indi-
cate the need for a more thorough
schooling of submarine personnel in
certain safety precautions designed
to checkmate or minimize the effects
of just such a mechanical failure as
that which caused the Squalus
tragedy.
While the court and the Secretary
of Navy agreed that the morale and
discipline of the officers and crew
were "of the highest standard and
in accordance with the best tradi-
tions of the service" there was con-
flict between the two authorities as
to whether every feasible routine"
precaution was taken in preparing
for the high-speed dive which sent
the Squalus, flooded and helpless,
into the mud Of the Atlantic, off
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The
court contended that the loss of the
Squalus was due to a mechanical
failure in the operating gear of the
engine induction valve" and declared
that the vessel was properly Or
ganized" and properly rigged" in
preparation for the dive. Mr.. Edison
pointed out, however, that although
routine procedure" required the
closing of a secondary set of four
safety valves inside the hull, "the
facts remain that these four hull
stop valves were open when the ship
made her last dive and that evidence
was adduced that it was not practice
always to close these valves" He
said that while special circumstances
may have prevented the closing of
two of the secondary valves, there
is mo adequate explanation" of the
failure to close the two others. This
prompted him to suggest that the
training, supervision and indoctri-
nation necessary to insure the time
ly closure of these important hull
stop valves while diving was lacking
in emphasis"
The findings in the case of the
Squalus naturally will give rise to
speculation as to whether there has
been general tendency toward lax
ity In the submarine service with
respect to routine" precautions
which are Of Importance only in the
rare event of a mechanical failure.
The statement of Secretary Edison
undoubtedly will correct any such
condition. It was only proper that
he should make special mention of
this situation-surprisingly mini
mized in the courts report. Other
lessons have been learned from the
fatal dive of the Squalus-such as
the need for additional matches
adapted to receive the highly sue
cessful rescue chamber, advisable
ity of rearranging signal lights
which warn of open or shut valves
and the desirability of making GER
tain improvements to valves and
controls. These problems, Secretary
Edison said, will be studied carefully
with view to bringing greater
safety to the men who go down to
the sea in submarines. It would be
peculiarly fitting if the Squalus her
self-now being reconditioned at
Observation-Disclosures be the first of
the Navys submarines to profit by
her grim experience of last spring.
Down at Lem nardtoun Md r. hos