The Navy celebrated the 63rd birthday of its oldest vessel -- the Guppy-class SS-791 Sea Lion submarine -- last Thursday.
The SS-791 was not only celebrating its 63rd birthday, but also its 34th year of service in the Navy. Along with the SS-792 Seal, the SS-791 is one of two existing "miracles" in the navy, as it is the oldest submarine still in service.
As part of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Republic of China (台美協防條約), in 1970 the US gave the SS-791 and SS-792 to the Taiwanese Navy -- after serving 28 years in the US Navy.
PHOTO: CNA
In 1973, Captain Kuan Chen-ching (
During the ceremony last Thursday, Rear Admiral Wang Hsi-ling (汪希苓), Taiwan's military attache to the US who oversaw the arrangement in the 1970s, officially accepted the two vessels on behalf of Taiwan.
With old piping, big knobs and rudders, old panels, limited space and the pervasive oil smell, the interior of the submarine is strikingly reminiscent of scenes from World War II movies. Sonars and torpedo systems complete the experience.
Among the 75 sailors on board, only the captain enjoys a private room -- and it is smaller than one ping. Everybody else, including the first officer, shares a public room for sleep. Regular meals are provided by a kitchen approximately two pings in size. It takes more than an hour for everybody on board to finish their meal as only 20 people can fit in the dining room at any given time.
With its 5,200 horsepower diesel engine, the SS-791 was initially capable of completing a non-stop 8,350km trip in approximately 45 days. Top speed under water was 12 knots and 16 knots on the surface.
A rumor that could have proven harmful to the navy's image and affect sailors' morale haunted the vessel since its acquisition, however. Some believed there was a real chance that after diving, the two Guppy-class subs would never resurface.
But SS-791 Warrant Officer Liu Tsai-hsin (劉財心) explained why the rumor never turned into reality.
"There is an air tank inside the vessel. When the submarine is on the surface, its entire weight is approximately 1,800 tonnes. When we need to dive, however, the air tank will take in 3,000 pounds [1,360kg] of air, turning the vessel into a 2,400-tonne rock. The system may be old, but it is reliable," Liu said.
Between 1944 and 1946, the US built 45 Tench-class submarines. Fourteen of those were upgraded to Guppy-class in 1950, including the SS-791.
Prior to joining the Taiwanese fleet, the SS-791 was known as the USS-478 Cutlass. It was built in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Main, and completed on Nov. 5, 1944.
The vessel was initially equipped with 10 torpedo launch tubes and sonar systems, with 11 officers and 70 petty officers and sailors.
But the US government's plan to help Taiwan's destroyer fleet conduct anti-submarine warfare resulted in the removal of all torpedo systems from the sub before it was handed over.
After it came into service, the Navy tried to restore its torpedo capability, but its indigenous system never reached optimal operability and the SS-791 was eventually allocated for training purposes.
The Navy's Fleet 256 chief of staff Rear Admiral Yang Yi (楊木益) believes the SS-791 can still make a contribution to the training of the Navy's next generation of officers.
"It is a tough environment for future naval officers to grow in. It is small, old and slow," Yang said. "But, the vessel itself is truly a legend."
Although it is the oldest submarine in service, many contemporary high-ranking naval officers have served on board the SS-791, including Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (李傑), Deputy General-Chief-of-Staff Admiral Wang Li-shen (王立申) and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Lieutenant General Shen Po-chi (申伯之).
Lee was a lieutenant commander when the SS-791 was given to Taiwan and was also the first weapons chief on board the Sea Lion. He later became the third captain of the SS-791.
After new submarines are acquired by the Navy, the Ministry of National Defense will retire the SS-791 and the SS-792. Navy enthusiasts expect the two vessels will be restored after they retire and hope one will be used for training purposes at the Naval Academy while the other will be ported and turned into a museum.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
RSS