October 2025
USS
SENNET (SS-408)
All Hands Newsletter
Sennet's 2025 Reunion: John McMichael reported that nine crew members and seven wives came to the reunion: Carl & Lucy Albury, Ron & Connie Bycroft, John & Leona Goodman, Dave & Grace Hardy, Will & Rhonda Lamneck, Keith & Kathie Malone, John McMichael and Philip Sgamma. He added that eleven more initially said they were coming, but later opted out. There was no Sennet Memorial service or banquet, but nine people did go out for dinner on the last evening. All had a good time. The possibility of another reunion or an informal get together was discussed, but no one volunteered to take the lead. To Summarize:
What’s Next? There are two possible options:
Suggestions from Ralph Luther: At this stage in life I would suggest a yearly "get together". Two years seems like too long. I think a Charleston location would be good. Most all of the surviving crew members served out of Charleston. I would assist anyone that would organize this. My mental and physical condition prevents my from taking the helm at this time. Cheers, Ralph Fresh Water Submarines In the August newsletter, I had a collection of submarine notes and facts. One of these mentioned submarines built by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Founded in 1902, the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company was a well-established yard with a long history of building excellent ships for Great Lakes service. By 1940 it had built 306 vessels of various types, but never a warship. As the Navy began to develop its Fleet in the late 1930s, the yard hoped to find work building small warships up to destroyer size. But they were turned down, as contracts went to larger shipyards on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts. Nevertheless, top Navy officials were well aware of Manitowoc's reputation for quality work. In early 1940 Manitowoc Shipbuilding was asked to build the most complex of ships: the submarine. This was a radical, almost unimaginable, proposal for a company of shipbuilders, many of whom had never set eyes on a submarine. Initially, the yard's management did not want the job, but the Navy insisted. In September 1940, the Navy awarded a contract for the initial run of ten Gato class subs. Teams of experts from the Electric Boat Company came to Manitowoc under contract to the yard to help with the early stages of this program. Manitowoc personnel, in turn, visited Electric Boat and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to observe submarine construction that was under way at those sites. Manitowoc’s employees quickly adapted, with over 7,000 workers clocking in around the clock for the war effort. The first Manitowoc boat, the USS Peto (SS-265), was laid down in June 1941. Due to the narrow Manitowoc River, the company developed an innovative "sideways" launching method. USS Peto (SS-265) was the first submarine to ever be launched this way in April 1942. After testing was conducted in Lake Michigan, these “fresh water” submarines were sailed down Lake Michigan to Chicago where periscopes and antennas were temporarily removed so they could pass under bridges. In Chicago they were put on floating dry docks and transported down the Chicago River, thru canals to the Illinois River, and finally down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Once in New Orleans, they were taken off the floating dry docks, reassembled, and sailed into the Gulf of Mexico. USS Peto was completed 228 days ahead of schedule and went off to war just one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Early delivery of subs was to be a way of life for this fine shipyard. And as they got out into the Fleet, their crews even began to send back thank-you letters for the quality and strength of those boats. These satisfied "customers" offered the best kind of praise for the Manitowoc employers, who earned Navy Department production "E" awards every year during the war. The first ten boats built by Manitowoc were “thin skinned” Gato class boats with a test depth of 300 feet. Then the shipyard began building Balao class boats. The shipyard built a total of 28 submarines during WW II. 25 saw extensive action in the Pacific, sinking 132 enemy ships. Four of these boats: the USS Robalo, USS Golet, USS Kete, and USS Lagarto, were lost at sea with their crews. The USS Rasher (SS-269) was the fifth sub built by the yard. Commissioned in 1943, she became the second highest scoring U.S. submarine in World War II. She missed the top spot, earned by the USS Flasher (SS-249), by only 750 tons of Japanese shipping. Unfortunately no Manitowoc boats remain. The USS Cobia (SS-245), a Gato class sub built by Electric Boat is the centerpiece of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. She is beautifully preserved and almost identical to the boats built at Manitowoc. USS Cobia is temporarily unavailable for tours, because she is in dry dock at Fincantieri’s Shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, WI to undergo inspection and essential preventative maintenance to ensure her longevity. From The Quartermaster's Notebook Donations . . . Contributions from our generous supporters help make our newsletters, website and reunions possible. Simply said, they reunite friends. Make your check payable to: USS Sennet SS-408 Reunion Fund and mail to Ralph Luther. His address is below in the Ship's Store information. Ship's Store . . . Ralph Luther stocks a limited supply of Sennet unique submarine items like: T-Shirts – Size XXL only - Navy blue shirts with the Sennet logo embroidered above the pocket and a submarine veteran screen print on the back - $22 Prices do not include postage. Contact Ralph Luther by email for availability and total cost. All revenue goes 100% into the Reunion Fund. Make checks payable to: USS Sennet SS-408 Reunion Fund and mail to: USS Sennet SS-408 Eternal Patrol . . . Recently we learned of the passing of: EN1(SS) Paul W. Carney (1968 decom) departed August 21, 2010. Special thanks to Ron & Connie Bycroft (1966-68) who send condolence cards to the families of deceased crew members. Binnacle List . . . These shipmates are facing some serious challenges and would like to hear from you. A simple email, card or phone call means so much to them. Find out more info about your friends on the Sennet web site page “Binnacle List.” RM2(SS) Robert J. “Bob” Mullin (1958-1960) has Alzheimer's and lives in a memory care facility in Rutland, VT. Cards or letters may be sent to his son, and he will share them with Bob. Green Board, Stan Pollard
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