 | A small personal remembrance| SitRep Discuss A small personal remembrance in the Military Matters forums; I'm not out to make a big deal of anything here guys, but I just wanted to let this ... |
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10-05-2005, 06:03 PM
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#1 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country:  | A small personal remembrance
I'm not out to make a big deal of anything here guys, but I just wanted to let this out and felt that this was as good a place as any.
One year ago today a major fire broke out aboard the submarine HMCS Chicoutimi (formerly HMS Upholder) just days into it's maiden voyage as a Canadian vessel, en route from the Royal Navy base at Faslane, Scotland to Halifax, Nova Scotia. As you likely already know, fire on a submarine means disaster. The smoke fills the space very quickly and will overcome personnel in seconds if reaction isn't immediate. There was only one fatality in the fire, and that was Lieutenant Chris Saunders. I knew him personally. I worked for him for a time, and as perhaps can only happen in the sub community where officers and non-commissioned types like myself can do it, I became somewhat familiar with him on a slightly more personal level. I considered him a buddy, like a lot of guys did.
He didn't die a hero. He just tragically didn't get a breather mask on quickly enough and was overcome by the thick smoke. He seemed to be recovering after the incident, but as is often the case with cases of smoke inhalation, he worsened very suddenly. He died on the Royal Navy helo that was rushing him to hospital in Silo, Ireland.
Anyhoo, this is just my own tiny little remembrance of an incredibly decent guy. He didn't fight in a war or go out in some blaze of glory, but his absence is felt by the guys who knew him and worked with him. We miss him. Here's to ya Chris.  | 
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10-05-2005, 06:07 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 8,143
| Submarine duty is the most hazardous duty around. Only the best get to serve!
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10-05-2005, 08:21 PM
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#3 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 8,998
Country:  | Salute ! | |
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10-05-2005, 09:21 PM
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#4 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,544
Country: | Condolences, NS. It sucks to lose a friend, especially someone you have served with and respected.
__________________  http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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10-05-2005, 11:16 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The city on the edge of forever.
Posts: 217
Country: | I remember that fire. I didn't remember the date it happened, though. Fire is something you really don't want on a ship. I feel badly for all who were injured.
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I want to be the kind of person my cat thinks I am. | |
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10-05-2005, 11:30 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country:  | A sad loss. Losing a good man is just as bad as losing a good soldier.
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club. | |
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10-06-2005, 02:37 AM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Posts: 11,249
Country: |
__________________  "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
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10-06-2005, 07:31 AM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 3,505
Country:  | Really shity luck Skim. A mate is a mate, the loss is just as hard and in peace time and perhaps even worse you expect the concequences during a punch up but not just going about your duties.
Have you heard anything from the enquiry as to the problem with the electrics?
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Unknown French woman interviewed June 1944 | |
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10-06-2005, 11:25 AM
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#9 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country:  | A Sad Loss A salute to him.
__________________  US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | |
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10-06-2005, 11:50 AM
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#10 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country: | Thanks boys. Quote: |
Originally Posted by trackend Have you heard anything from the enquiry as to the problem with the electrics? | We've all been fully briefed on it. It was a combination of things that led up to the fire, but the main hardware issue turned out to be unique to that boat. The other boats were thoroughly inspected again to be sure of course, and a few other changes were made. I can't really get into details, but they're as safe now as they're ever going to be. | |
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10-06-2005, 11:55 AM
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#11 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country: | Well that is a good hting.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | |
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10-11-2005, 06:57 AM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 145
| I have lost more friends to training accidents than actual combat, and a loss is a loss....my condolences.... | |
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10-11-2005, 07:09 AM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 3,505
Country: | Skim wrote Quote: |
I can't really get into details,
| Understood Skim I'm at least pleased they found the causes.
Intermittent ones as you know can be real bastards and may only appear occasionally
Ive spent months waiting for the right conditions to find them so although sadly it won't bring your mate back, as you say it can at least be attributed to a definite cause and be prevented from reoccurring
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"Only thoses who lose freedom know it's true worth"
Unknown French woman interviewed June 1944 | |
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10-11-2005, 03:36 PM
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#14 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
Posts: 12,963
Country: | Truly a shame NS.... Just remember, wherever he is, its alot better than being in a steel tube 300 feet below the surface of the sea...
__________________  "Boyington was a Drunk, but He was a Drunk We'd Follow Straight Into Hell..."
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10-11-2005, 04:50 PM
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#15 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country: | Yeah, you may have a point about that. I'll bet the air is a lot fresher wherever he is. | |
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