15 Years Ago

In KTB #7 we reported a visit we had with ERNST SCHMIDT (10- +-1983). We were still searching for answers pertaining to the reports of a U-Boat carrying uranium to Japan. The famed Chicago TRIBUNE even said that it could not be -- that it must all be a hoax. (SHARKHUNTERS soon proved that it was NOT a hoax or a false story). We published more on a fellow named Heinz Houben who made all sorts of outlandish claims about his time as an officer and later as a Skipper on German U-Boats and we proved not only that he was never on any of the boats he claimed - but he was never in any branch of the Wehrmacht! KTB #7 was back to its normal (at that time) size of three pages, still done on an old typewriter.

10 Years Ago

In KTB #42, we talked about the two Type XXIII boats that were raised, modified and recommissioned into the Bundsmarine when Germany was allowed to have a navy again. U-2365 was reworked by the Howaldts Werke in Kiel and renamed HAI (it means Shark) and also called S-170 by NATO. She served as a training boat with the U-Boat training group in Neustadt. In 1964, she was cut open at Blohm & Voss and lengthened by 1.2 meters to provide space for new diesel engines. 14 September 1966, one of the welds in the engineroorn separated and the boat foundered, taking 19 of her 20 man crew to their graves. U-2367 was also rebuilt by Howaldts Werke and renumbered UW-2-1 but when commissioned on 1 October 1957, she was renamed HECHT (it means Pike or Pickerel) and also called S-171 by NATO. This issue also had more on SURCOUF, the famous French submarine whose demise is still questioned to this day. KTB #42 was the usual (for the time) length of 8 pages, still done on that old typewriter.

5 Years Ago

In KTB #90, we reviewed our Coffee Meeting in San Diego, set up by ART AYDELOTTE (787-1988) and A. J. TARANTINO (1496-1990). We toured aboard the fast-attack submarine USS HOUSTON and we thanked RAdm GEORGE EMERY (20591991) for the official welcome. For those who saw the movie 'Hunt for Red October', you should know that USS DALLAS was not the submarine you saw in the film - it was USS HOUSTON that took the part of USS DALLAS.

Why?

USS DALLAS is based on the Atlantic coast while USS HOUSTON is based there in California. We covered our SHARKHUNTERS history- making trip into the Land of the Forbidden Dragon - Red China! It was a fantastic time!

ANATOLIY SMAL (2073-1991), former Chief of Intelligence of the Soviet Navy, came here for a visit and we took him to NTC Orlando where he was Guest of Honor at graduation ceremonies and later, he was Guest of Honor at a ceremony at the US Navy SEAL Museum. KTB #90 was still only 28 pages in length, and still done on that old typewriter.