Sinking of Squalus and recommissioning USS Sailfish (SS-192)

ss-192 in drydock after salvage.

the salvage of squalus commanded rear admiral cyrus w. cole, commander of portsmouth naval shipyard, supervised salvage officer lieutenant floyd a. tusler construction corps. tusler s plan lift submarine in 3 stages prevent rising quickly, out of control, 1 end up, in case there high likelihood of sinking again. 50 days, divers worked pass cables underneath submarine , attach pontoons buoyancy. on 13 july 1939, stern raised successfully, when men attempted free bow hard blue clay, vessel began rise far quickly, slipping cables. ascending vertically, submarine broke surface, , 30 feet (10 m) of bow reached air not more ten seconds before sank once again way bottom. momsen said of mishap, pontoons smashed, hoses cut , might add, hearts broken. after 20 more days of preparation, radically redesigned pontoon , cable arrangement, next lift successful, 2 further operations. squalus towed portsmouth on 13 september, , decommissioned on 15 november. total of 628 dives had been made in rescue , salvage operations.