Dinner take-out, Speaker & Movie

The following article is excerpted from Mystic TIMES and can be read in full at THEDAY.com

Notes from the Old Noank Jail: No Anchor dives into sub warfare

Ed Johnson, Special to The Times

My wife and I joined

weeks ago at No Anchor Fine Foods and Provisions on Pearl Street in
Noank for an excellent take-out pasta dinner. It was followed by an
informative talk by retired U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Hewitt, then a feature film involving submarine warfare.

Mike served as a U.S. Navy submarine captain during the Cold War
period, commanding the USS Jacksonville, Buffalo and Bluefish. This was
followed by a term at the Pentagon before coming to Groton to command
the sub tender Fulton.

He gave us a short history
of submarines, starting with the Hunley, a manually
submersible vessel used in the Civil War against a Union Navy
blockade. The Hunley sunk the Housatonic, but the explosive nose charge
destroyed the submarine itself along with the crew.

The first U.S. powered submarine was designed by John Holland
circa 1900, and submarines were later designed and built by the company
that became known as Electric Boat in
Massachusetts before coming to Groton. However, in World War I, Germany
was the largest user of submarines and their sinking of the British
passenger liner Lusitania in 1915, with Americans on
board, was a major factor in the U.S. entering that war.

Early American submarines utilized gasoline engines on the surface to charge
batteries for electric propulsion when the subs were submerged.
Later subs were built using diesel engines. Once again,
the German Navy, this time supported by Hitler, had more U-boats
in Atlantic service during early World War II with devastating results against
Britain.

The tables were turned in the Pacific,
with U.S. submarines sinking 30 percent of Japan’s Navy
and 60% of Japanese merchant shipping. However, this did come at a
loss of 52 U.S. subs and 3,506 men.

Today’s modern nuclear/electric submarines are capable of operating
submerged for long periods. They fall into two categories, one
being the fast-attack subs, the other types being strategic ballistic
missile subs (“boomers”)” whose inter-continental missiles have ranges of 5,000 miles.

Mike Hewitt’s discussion led to the feature movie of the evening,
“Hunter-Killer,” a military adventure about an American nuclear
submarine on the hunt for another U.S. sub in the Arctic
Ocean. The plot involved a secret coup that threatens to
dismantle the world order, with Navy SEALs sneaking through
to rescue the kidnapped Russian president and prevent World War III.
It was a complicated, enjoyable film, especially the depiction of life and activities on board a modern submarine.

My only active experience with submarines consisted of banging my head while walking around inside the Nautilus floating museum at the local U.S. Naval Submarine Base. It was not good
to be 6 feet, 6 inches tall. So I take my hat off to those who bravely serve on those ships.

My hat is off also to the management and staff of the No Anchor Market for a
great meal and a fine program. I’m told they will be hosting similar events this season.

Ed Johnson lives in Noank.