• USS Barb (SS-220)
    The last two war patrols conducted by Barb (SS-220) are deserving of special mention. Under Commander E. B. Fluckey she commenced her 11th patrol 19 December 1944. The patrol was conducted in the Formosa Straits and East China Sea off the east coast of China, from Shanghai to Kam Kit. During this patrol, which lasted until 15 February 1945, Barb sank four Japanese merchant ships and numerous enemy small craft. On 22-23 January Barb, displaying the ultimate in skill and daring, penetrated Namkwan Harbor on the China coast and wrought havoc upon a convoy of some 30 enemy ships at anchor. Riding dangerously in shallow waters, Barb launched her torpedoes into the enemy group and then retired at high speed on the surface in a full hour's run through uncharted, heavily mined, and rock-obstructed waters. In recognition of this outstanding patrol, Commander Fluckey was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and Barb received the Presidential Unit Citation.
    Commander E. B. Fluckey
  • Hunley
    H.L. Hunley a small, hand-powered submarine, was privately built at Mobile, Alabama, in 1863, based on plans furnished by Horace Lawson Hunley, James R. McClintock and Baxter Watson. She began a series of attempts to attack United States Navy ships on blockade duty off Charleston. On 17 February 1864, these efforts were successful. H.L. Hunley approached the steam sloop of war USS Housatonic and detonated a spar torpedo against her side. The Federal ship sank rapidly, becoming the first warship to be lost to a submarine's attack.
    Hunley
  • Intelligent Whale
    Intelligent Whale was one of a number of submarines built during the Civil War. She was hand-propelled, and steered by horizontal and vertical rudders. Wooden doors on the bottom allowed a diver to exit with a mine. She was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 1869, and brought to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for testing. In September 1872, in her only official Navy test, Intelligent Whale flooded. The crew escaped, but the Navy's interest in her ceased. Intelligent Whale was an early experiment in a field now of great importance.
    Intelligent Whale
  • Plunger
    Submarine Plunger on a slipway circa the late 1890s, possibly while under construction at the Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, Maryland. Plunger was built under an 1895 Navy contract with the Holland Torpedo Boat Company but was not accepted for Naval service. Note her triple propeller shafts. This halftone reproduction was published in the "Journal of the American Society of Naval Engineers", May 1938.
    Plunger
  • The Fenian Ram
    The Fenian Ram is the second experimental submarine built by Irish-born inventor and educator John P. Holland. It was financed by the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish revolutionary movement in the United States that sought Ireland's independence from British rule. It carried a crew of three, and made frequent dives in New York Harbor. It led Holland to perfect four other experimental craft that eventually resulted in his Holland submarine of 1898, which was adopted by the U.S. Navy and commissioned as SS-1. Fenian Ram was placed in Paterson's West Side Park in 1928 as a monument to the inventor. In 1980, it was moved inside the Paterson Museum where today it serves as a reminder of the ingenuity of the "father of the modern submarine."
    The Fenian Ram
by Dr. Radut

October Meeting

Dave CreekmoreColumbusbase held it's Monthly meeting on 7 October 2023. Members were reminded that Officer elections are coming up in November and all positions are open - New Blood is Needed - Please consider running for a base office.    
The next meeting will be held on Saturday, 4 November, at the Worthington American Legion Hall, 700 Morning Street, Worthington. Minutes are posted  thanks to John Wegman Photos are posted on Flickr.

2023-09 Base Meeting

Sept Meeting

Columbusbase held it's Monthly meeting on 9 September 2023, 19 members and guests atttended. Members were reminded that Officer elections are coming up in November and all positions are open - New Blood is Needed - Please consider running for an office.
Eric Dreiseidel has volunteered to coordinate the dinner portion of the Christmas Dinner/Awards Celebration/Toys for Tots Collection being held at the Hilliard VFW Post (see calendar for detais). The next meeting will be held on Saturday, 7 October, at the Worthington American Legion Hall, 700 Morning Street, Worthington. Minutes and Photos of this meeting are posted.

August Picnic

August Meeting Columbus Base held a Picnic at the American Legion Leasure-Blackston Post #239 on Saturday 5 August, 2023. Seventeen (17) members along with five (5) guests attended. Thanks and kudos were to picnic organizers (and BBQ masters) Eric and Marcia Dreiseidel. Minutes and Photos are posted.

July 4'th Parade

FloatColumbus base participated in the Upper Arlington July 4'th Parade. The following members marched with the float: Dick Moore, Dave Hamel, Dave Creekmore, Tim Barker, Gary Justice, Walt Fleak, John Wegman, Richard Demboski, Charles Sabino, Bill McCorkle and Jim Koogler. Photos are posted on the Base's Flickr page.

June Meeting

2023-06-03Memorial DayThe Worthington Memorial Day Parade on 29 May 2023 had 12 shipmates and 3 guests participating:: Dave Hamel, Dave Creekmore, John Wegman, Walt Fleak, Garry Justice, Bill McCorkle, Scott Steele (and granddaughters Josie and Lucy Steele), Tim Barker, Brian Farnsworth (and wife Alma), Charles Sabino, Dave O’Carroll and Jim Koogler. Columbusbase held it's Monthly meeting on 3 June 2023. Minutes and Photos are posted on this site.

Navy SEALs’ New Mini-Submarine To Be Operational Within Weeks

DCS
DCS Pierside

The first examples of a new special operations mini-submarine should be ready for real-world operations before the end of the month, according to U.S. Special Operations Command. The Dry Combat Submersible, or DCS, offers significant benefits over existing designs in U.S. Navy service, known as SEAL Delivery Vehicles, or SDVs, in which individuals have to ride underwater fully exposed to the elements.

Officials from U.S. Special Operations Command offered updates on the status of DCS this week at an annual special operations-focused conference now known as SOF Week. The DCS is derived from the S351 Nemesis, designed by built by MSubs in the United Kingdom. MSubs is part of a team led by Lockheed Martin that has been developing the miniature submersible since 2016.

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Annual Holland Club Induction and Dinner

2022-02-04Columbusbase held it's anual Holland club induction on 8 April, 2023. Captain James Prouty, USN gave a short opening presentation of the Holland Club and an update of current activities. Four members were then inducted into the Holland Club: Mark Honeck qualified aboard USS George Washington (SSBN 598) 1972, Garry Dean Justice qualified aboard USS Nathanael Green (SSBN 636) 1973, Michael Petsch qualified aboard USS Von Steuben (SSBN 632) 1973 and James Tisdale qualified aboard USS John Adams (SSBN 620) 1973. Photos and Minutes from this event are posted on this website.