THE SUBMARINERS ASSOCIATION
15 June 2000
Rear Admiral A.J. Whetstone, CB (President)
17, Anglesey Road
Alverstoke, Gosport
Hampshire, P012 2EG
Dear Admiral Cooper,
Centennial of the United States Navy Submarine Force.
On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the United States Navy’s Submarine Service, I have been requested by the Submariners Association, representing those who have served in Royal Navy submarines, to send to you and all members of the U.S. Naval Submarine League, our congratulations on the great achievements of the Submarine Service of the United States Navy in peace and war.
As the first submarines of the Royal Navy’s fledgling Submarine Branch were of the USN Holland design and our two services have worked closely together in two World Wars and, more recently, in the Cold War successfully to contain Soviet maritime expansion, we are delighted by this important occasion in our big brother’s history.
We would also wish you all some most successful and enjoyable celebrations of this momentous anniversary and look forward to your continuing success and our lasting friendship.
Yours sincerely,
iS! Tony Whetstone
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
10 July 2000
I am writing to THE SUBMARINE REVIEW at the suggestion of the Director of the Royal Navy Museum regarding a submarine matter.
During the Korean War, I was the ASW staff officer to COM-DESRON 8 (as you would call it!), in HMS COSSACK. You may remember that U.S. Naval Forces operated from Sasebo, in Japan, where CTF 95 flew his Flag and the British and Commonwealth forces from Kure. Once or twice, however, my ship visited Sasebo for R&R, and it was on one such occasion that I heard the story of a submarine-presumable American, though we did have one or two British submarines in the Far East-entering Sasebo Harbour submerged and surfacing inside, much to the surprise/consternation-/annoyance of CTF 95! Have any of your members any knowledge of such an event?
I am asking this only because I am writing my memoirs, including 35 years in the Royal Navy (I am nearly 80) and it seems a good tale to include-if true! I cannot believe I dreamt it, but maybe some American officer was pulling my leg!
Yours sincerely,
Captain Charles Fetherston-Dilke, RN(Ret.)
Keeper’s Cottage
Maxstoke
Coleshill, Warwickshire B46 2QA
LOSS OF 0-9 SUB IN JUNE 1941
August 27, 2000
To Whom It May Concern:
The recent loss of the Russian submarine brought memories of the loss of one of our subs in June 1941. My father was aboard the sub and I would like to gather information on anyone that might have been in the service and knew him prior to the sinking of the submarine.
His name was Sam Sonnenburg and was a Chief Electricians Mate on 0-9 and had previously served on USS LA WREN CE.
Thank you for any help you could supply me with.
Sandra S. Sonnenburg
sonnenburgss@hotmail.com
