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TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER Report 71
January 28, 2002 Dear Friends: In August, 1975, thirty-four nations signed the "Confidence and Security-building Measures" in Helsinki. These accords were designed to address specific security concerns that government/military steps might relieve. Such arrangements across international borders had the potential to reduce the danger of armed conflict, thus making the world safer. In time, any activity that was small, specific, and dealt with a multinational concern could be considered a Confidence Building Measure (CBM), and individuals began to undertake small CBM projects, free of time-consuming government/military bureaucracy. As a private citizen, opening Soviet skies by flying my single-engine Beech-36, TEN ROMEO, into Sheremetyevo, Moscow, was probably the most celebrated CBM I personally have created, but during 50 trips to the USSR many were accomplished. This report is about a submarine safety CBM in process. The three items included represent only the "tip of the iceberg" of effort involved. For example, communication with the principals was carefully arranged and the Izvestia op ed article was sent to several London and U.S. newspapers. Also, Peter Maas's book "The Terrible Hours", which recounts the rescue of crew members from the U.S. Submarine Squalus in 1939, was a gift that went to each submarine force commander. -------------- Op Ed Page - prepared for IZVESTIA NEWS Open Letter to Vice Admiral Mikhail Motsak, Russian Naval Forces November 1, 2001 Dear Vice Admiral Motsak: CONGRATULATIONS on a difficult task well done! Bringing the KURSK and her crew members home was a monumental job. Those of us with many Russian friends and who have traveled extensively in your country understand the Russian psyche better than most. We knew the KLRSK and its crew would make that final and important journey to home base, regardless of difficulties or costs involved. Russian national resources would meet the primary obligation of returning your shipmates to their loved ones for the peace of internment. A second obligation is the moral requirement of retrieving the KURSK's two nuclear reactors and twenty-two cruise missiles to the security and safety of homeport. The whole world grieved with you and your colleagues with the loss of the KURSK. It is known in the military of all nations that submariners are the elite of the elite. They carry that special mixture of intelligence required to handle "state-of-the-art" technical equipment, and a personality that is comfortable in the "risk" environment under the surface of an ocean for many months. Facing the daily challenge of an unrelenting enemy, the ocean, requires the bravest and the smartest in military forces of all nations. Such men carry their assignments with an élan that is typical of healthy egos. When they are lost, a deep pain is felt by all civilized societies. With the first news of the KURSK being "down", the whole world focused prayers on that valiant crew with the hope that a rescue might save those surviving the explosion and fire that placed that mighty vessel on the floor of the ocean. As time passed, that intense world attention turned to mourning for the valiant Russian crew that was lost. At age thirteen I first became aware of the risks of being a submariner when the U.S. submarine SQUALUS, went down off the New England coast on Tuesday, May 23, 1939 with a crew of 56 while undergoing early sea trials. The SQUALUS was the U.S. Navy's newest fleet-type submarine, 310 feet long and 27 feet wide, and displaced 1,450 tons. This event captured headlines throughout the United States, and since the rescue operations were within sight of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, beaches my father and I joined thousands of fellow Americans as we watched rescue efforts. Lieutenant Commander Charles Bowers Momsen was 43 years old when the SQUALUS went down. But "Swede" as he was called, was a visionary and some believed him to be the greatest submariner the U.S. Navy had. His unique commitment was to prepare ways to rescue submariners from downed subs. Smoke bombs, telephone marker buoys, a diving bell, and the artificial lung that carries his name, were immediately dispatched to the Portsmouth Navy Base to take part in rescue efforts. Due to Momsen's anticipatory efforts, 33 of the SQUALUS's crew were rescued, the first such rescue from a downed U.S. Navy submarine. There was great rejoicing in the U.S. Some submariners around the world may be familiar with the SQUALUS story because of its historical significance. However, since the loss of the KURSK, I have located a recent update of the SQUALUS story. The book's title is "THE TERRIBLE HOURS, by Peter Maas. (1999 - Harper Torch) A copy of this book is being sent to you through Editor Kozhokin, who will know how to pass it to you. I hope you will enjoy it, and please share it with Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, and others of your Russian Navy leadership team. In closing, let me remind you that I am one of thousands, perhaps millions, who are hoping and praying that you and Admiral Kuroyedov will meet soon with your British and American counterpart submariners to take immediate steps to plan for comprehensive rescue plans for the next submarine disaster. Standardizing rescue hatches and reviewing plans for moving a submersible rescue craft anywhere in the world within 24 hours would guarantee rescuing those surviving the initial problem that puts a submarine on the bottom. A partnership among the submariners of the world is a humanitarian step befitting the new cooperative world we live in -- a warmer, closer community of nations now that the Cold War is over.
Respectfully, Millard Harmon Note: Dr. Millard Harmon did a doctoral field study in the Soviet Union in 1958, opened Soviet skies to light Western aircraft in 1985 by flying his single-engine Beech-36 into Sheremetyevo, Moscow, and made 50 trips to Moscow in the late 1980s. He has many Russian friends. ----------- Harmon Associates MEMORANDUM December 31, 2001 To: Vice Admiral Mikhail Motsak Rear
Admiral N S R Kilgour
Vice Admiral John J. Grossenbacher Gentlemen: A copy of my op ed article on the Kursk crew members' return home which was prepared for IZVESTIA NEWS was sent to each of you along with a copy of the book "THE TERRIBLE HOURS" by Peter Maas. This book tells the story of the rescue of 33 crew members from the submarine Squalus, which went down during sea trials off the coast of New Hampshire in 1939. Any submariner can relate to that fascinating story. My friends at IZVESTIA will see that Vice Admiral Motsak receives the Maas book in a timely fashion, but the U.S. Navy delivery will undoubtedly be delayed with careful postal checking. The British delivery in Northwood has probably been made by now. Harmon Associates is a small independent "think tank" specializing in CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) designed to promote international understanding. The IZVESTIA op ed item represents a small CBM and was shared with several British and U.S. newspapers. I will contact President Putin asking that when his restructuring of Russian Submarine Forces is complete, Russia consider joining the consortium to focus upon submarine rescue in the hostile environment of the ocean. This brings warmest regards for a Happy New Year, and the hope that 2002 will bring the world closer to increased understanding on many fronts. Respectfully Millard Harmon HARMON ASSOCIATES is an independent THINK TANK committed to increasing understanding in domestic and international arenas. HARMON ASSOCIATES, INC. is the non-profit arm of HARMON ASSOCIATES. ----------- Harmon Associates January 28, 2002 The Honorable Vladimir V. Putin Dear Mr. President: The world grieved with all Russians at the loss of the submarine Kursk. Many of us with extensive contact with your society and its leadership knew the "moral imperative" of returning those valiant sailors to home port, along with the missiles and two nuclear reactors, would be met. When the Kursk reached home port I prepared an op ed article for IZVESTIA NEWS. A copy is enclosed. Many of us believe that the Kursk tragedy might serve as the inspiration for establishing a consortium of submarine specialists to focus upon safety. Such an international group would represent a significant CBM appreciated by many. In the operation of such a consortium, new rescue techniques might emerge that would benefit all submariners. I understand you are restructuring the leadership of the Russian Navy. When that process is complete, I would like to recommend that Vice Admiral Mikhail Motsak, or whoever will be responsible for the Russian Submarine Forces, contact Rear Admiral N S R Kilgour of the British Royal Navy. Rear Admiral Kilgour has interesting ideas about improving submarine safety. The Russian Submarine Force commander would be an appropriate addition to the Kilgour group. Respectfully Millard Harmon Enclosures HARMON ASSOCIATES is an independent THINK TANK committed to increasing understanding in domestic and international arenas. HARMON ASSOCIATES, INC. is the non-profit arm of HARMON ASSOCIATES.
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