1

     Gary Carr reports to the bridge, "Control, Bridge, 3000 pounds in the banks on service, Safety and negative are flooded, Ready to submerge below."

     The Bridge responds by asking, "Control, Bridge, aye, what was the latest sounding?"

2

     Recorded while the Cusk was on patrol just off the coast of North Vietnam in 1969.  You can hear the X.O., LCDR Tommy Sawyer gives the bridge the order to submerge saying, "Bridge, Conn, I have the deck and the Conn.  Submerge when ready."  Shortly afterward he asks Control for a sounding. 

     At the same time, the lookouts can be heard crashing down the ladder on their way to the Control Room.  Lee Krabill can be heard calling out as the lookouts come down from the bridge, "One man down, two men down!"

     Air can be heard rushing from the ballast tanks and finally the noise abruptly stops as John Troutman pulls the hatch shut and reports to the conning officer, "Last man down, Sir."

3

     The Cusk has just submerged and the conning officer, looking through the scope, notices that the main radio (retractable) antenna is still up, and later that the running (navigation) lights are still on.  He calls radio on the 7MC saying, "Conn, Radio, Lower your masts."

4

     After acknowledging the order to lower all masts, Chris Quijada reports back to the Conning Tower, "Conn, Radio, All masts and antennas are lowered."

5

The Cusk has just submerged and the diving officer reports up to the Conn that the Christmas Tree shows that all major hull openings are closed.

6

Shortly after submerging, the diving officer gives the order to the helmsman to change the Cusk's speed to "Ahead Two-Thirds".

7

     The Cusk has just submerged and is at periscope depth.  From the Diving officer in the Control room comes the report, "Main induction shut and locked, sir."

     The Conning officer responds, "Very well, one-five-zero feet." which instructs the diving officer to take the Cusk to 150' depth.

     Responding to the command, the Diving officer answers, "One-five-zero feet, aye."

8

     On a different watch with a different Conning officer and quartermaster, the Cusk again submerges in the Gulf of Tonkin.  The unidentified Conning officer steps to the ladder to the bridge and calls out, "On the bridge, sounding is 48 fathoms, I have the deck and the Conn, submerge!"

     The quartermaster, Brian Trainor is standing by the hatch to the bridge and the lookouts can be heard crashing down the ladder as Brian calls out, "First man down and clear of the sail, second man down and clear of the sail..."

1

     The Cusk has just moved from 150 feet to 100 feet.  In preparation for moving to periscope depth, the conning officer (Lt. John Troutman) gives the order to the helmsman to set Condition Baker.  Condition Baker is a standard precaution wherein all of the compartments in the boat are sealed to protect against a possible collision when the boat is moving to from 100 feet to periscope depth (64').

3

     One of the most dangerous times for any submarine, the Cusk moves from 100 feet depth to periscope depth.  The diving officer has just reported that Condition Baker has been set below.  The conning officer gives the order,  "Six-four feet smartly, Shut the lower hatch." 

     Shortly afterward, the lower hatch can be heard closing and at about the same time, Richard "Bing" Bingman can be heard reporting from Sonar that he can hear gunfire in the distance.  Bing continues to give out the bearing and direction of "Sea Power", the Australian Frigate.  Also in the background, the diving officer can be heard calling out the depths over the 7MC as the Cusk rises to periscope depth.

5

     At periscope depth, Condition Baker is secured, and a look through the periscope shows that the way is clear to surface.  The conning officer (Lt. John Troutman) orders the helmsman to pass the word to prepare to surface with one engine.   

     Maneuvering responds, "Prepare to surface, one engine, Maneuvering, aye."

7

     The Cusk has just surfaced and  the Conning Officer orders the upper hatch to be cracked.  Brian Trainor reports, "Hatch is cracked".  Troutman then gives the order to, "Open it!" 

     Brian reports, "Hatch is open." 

     Troutman ascends to the bridge and can be heard giving the order over the 7MC, "Control, Bridge, Open the main induction.  Officer of the deck and lookouts up.  Give the ship a normal blow.

     Control responds, "Open the main induction, Officer of the deck and lookouts up, give the ship a  normal blow, Control aye." 

("Normal blow" means to run the low pressure blower until the ballast tanks are empty.)

2

     At 100 feet with Condition Baker set below, and with a yellow warning smoke having been fired to the surface, John Troutman contacts "Sea Power", an Australian frigate and asks, "...Do you hold my yellow smoke, over."

     Sea Power answers saying, "...this is Sea Power, roger yellow, all clear to surface, over." 

     In response,  Lt. Troutman says, "...this is Standish, roger, coming to periscope depth this time."

     Finally, Sea Power responds, "This is Sea Power, roger, out."

4

     The Cusk has just moved from 100 feet to periscope depth.  John Troutman can now see through the periscope and after a look around to be sure the Cusk is safe from any collision, gives the order to, "Secure from Condition Baker."

6

     John Troutman gives the order to shut the lower hatch to the Control Room.  Brian Trainor reports that, "Hatch is shut and secured." 

     Then Troutman orders, "Pass the word, surface, surface, surface. 

     Brian Trainor grabs the 1MC mike and says, "Surface, surface, surface!"

     Shortly after the word is passed, the jolt of the high pressure air valves being opened can be heard, followed by the roar of the air going into the ballast tanks.  Then the noise can be heard over the the UQC (underwater telephone) and someone in the Conn turns the volume down.  In the background, the diving officer can be heard calling out the depth as the Cusk rises to the surface, "Passing five-five feet, five-zero, four-five, four-zero, three-five, three-zero...". 

     Just after the 30' mark, John Troutman, looking through the #1 scope says, "Okay, the stern is out." and in the background, the roar of the low pressure blower can be heard as it begins to blow the remaining water out of the ballast tanks. 

     Finally, the diving officer reports, "Two-six feet and holding."  The Cusk is, "on the roof".

8

     A most familiar announcement to Cusk crewman, the last call to the evening meal can be heard in the background.