The Frogman

[oneighty]

Concerning a brave man I met years ago. An Italian Navy Frogman.

US Navy ships are anchored in the Mediterranean Sea off Italy. The ships are to be attacked that evening by Italian Navy Frogmen. War games we are playing. Each of we five EODs were assigned a few US Navy Frogmen to assits us in defending our ships. I and my team were assigned to a large supply ship.

Darkness falls, it is time to start "defending". The only way to defend against enemy Frogmen in those days was to get into the water and search the ship bottom for mines. So I go to my US Navy Frogmen and say "Lets get suited up." They refuse. So I go it alone. The ship is huge. A stairway with a small platform at the water's surface is in place on the ship's side. I walk down the steps carrying my eighty pound double tank aluminum anti-magnetic Aqua Lung. The water is warm so I am wearing only the the US Navy issue swim trunks, US Army cartridge belt with home made lead weights in the belt pockets designed for ammunition clips. The belt also carries a Mk. five Knife, very rusty, but sharp. I put on my fins and my Squale face mask. This is scary, there are no lights. In the early days of military SCUBA diving, underwater lights, depth gauges, watches etc. are
rare. We get the tanks,regulators and that is all. The rest we must buy ourselves.

Just as I am (Reluctantly) ready to slip into the water there is a great splashing of the water nearby, I can see the floursecent flashes in the disturbed water. I swim to the disturbance. Yes! It is a swimmer, a human, an Italian Frogman and he is in trouble. I grab him. swim with him to the ship's platform. I struggle him up onto the platform. He is clawing at his full face mask, together we rip it from his face and head. He collapses on the platform. As the ship risses and falls on the gentle swells we are sometimes immersed into the sea. His "Mine" is still attached to his weight belt by a strong cord. It is a cylinder about ten inches in diameter and four feet long. I tie it off to the platform. Together we slowly climb the steps. I leave him laying on the deck and go to locate the ship's doctor. We finally get the Frogman to sick bay. I explain to the doctor that the Frogman's breathing apparatus had failed and that he most certainly has carbon dioxied poisoning. The as I have been instructed I report to the ship's Captain. I find him in the war room. I report to him that the Italian Frogman has been captured and that his ship is safe. The Captain asks me; "How do I know you are not the enemy Frogman." I am standing in swim trunks still wet and dripping, cartridge belt and knife. Good question I think. I say "I guess you don't." He dismisses me.

I hurry back to sick bay to check on my prisonor. He is suffering a tremendous headache from the carbon dioxide. He does not speak English, I do not speak Italian, but for a little while we are the very best friends in the whole wide world.

Note. He was swimming a closed circuit oxygen apparatus. His soda lime CO2 absorbant had gotten wet, failed, causing the CO2 buildup. He had what is known in the trade "A Soda Lime Cocktail"

ED

[Cheswick2.0]

1. great story

you were an interesting an unique person even all those years ago and you have only gotten better. I am so happy that you tell these stories for us.

[oneighty]

2. Thank you

Cheswick. This event has stuc

180k with me through the years. I wanted to share it!

[foxy]

3. As always great story 180 thanks for sharing

:hi:

[short bus president]

4. ah, the early-model rebreathers...

innit fun the stuff that can happen to ya underwater when you breathe canned (and/or recirculated) "air?" I just wish I could get the nitrogen narcosis while safely seated upon my sofa.

[oneighty]

5. Nitrous oxide

With oxygen of course will do you happy short bus president. He was using the Pirelli, pendulum, oxygen re-breather. US Navy UDTs also used it at the time. A very dangerous rig!

180