Call from the depths of the ocean, with a length of two days and cost 28 lives

This story is about a very long phone call. What you call is when the handset emits a ringing sound "Dr-R-R-R-R-ring". Perhaps, it was the longest phone call in the world but, unfortunately, representatives of the Guinness Book of records wasn't there to fix it.

Now imagine the scene: North Atlantic, the vast ocean is calm and lazy, and among the icy waves floating buoy, which is an old phone endlessly ringing. Crystal clear air carries on a few cables this chilling trill, this plea for help. On the other end... at a depth of 60 meters... 28 people I really hope that someone will hear the call, pick up the phone and save them. It was a call length of two days. And cost 28 lives. Are you interested? So, everything in order.

In the early twentieth century in the United States built submarines series S. They were released 36 pieces. For its time it was quite a successful project. Some of the submarine S-series have lived up to 40 years and even took part in the Second world war hovered in the Aleutian and Solomon Islands in the Pacific ocean.

That is very interesting, American designers have even tried to design a mount "S"-OK reconnaissance aircraft. Here's a rare photo that confirm this. Pictures, you know, not IOS. Surprisingly, they all survived. Found these photos on the website of the American submariners.

On the deck of the submarine under the number S-1 was equipped with a cylindrical hangar. It housed a collapsible biplane Martin MS-1. But further tests showed no advantages of the submarine, complete with seaplane and experiments in this direction ceased. The sailors posed for pictures in the background for posterity, and sent it to the scrap.

Submarine — the hero of the story wore the S-5. She was launched in 1919, and in August 20th began sea trials. Verification of all systems and mechanisms took place in the North Atlantic, near the Cape of Delaware. Everything went on as usual, the crew was getting used to his combat ship and clearly fulfilled the captain's orders. All the tasks have been completed and only final exam — emergency dive.

Captain Charles cook gave the command to dive. When this command most importantly — do not forget to close the valve main vent line that supplies the sub outside air. But the foreman, who was in charge of this valve, or hesitated, or confused, or thought about something and pleasant land.

And he did not have time to close it. A terrible thing happened: simultaneously in all compartments of the boat through the ventilation system powerful stream of gushing water. Until all desired valves are not blocked, the boat scored a lot of tons of water and lay on the bottom. Most affected bow section with torpedo tubes — it was completely flooded. Depth in that place was small — only 60 meters, but it is a little added optimism. Because how to make a radio signal of distress through the water column then was technically impossible. The crew knew that no one will ever find on this God-forsaken day at the Cape of Delaware.

You don't know if the English counterpart names the difference? In General, the crew of the submarine S-5 was your Coolibeen. I suspect that it was either a radio operator or an electrician. He found a long cable, connected it to the ship's phone, attached the phone to the signal buoy and sent it to the surface. So in the open ocean heard ordinary phone call. Icy crystal waves, and over them the chilling "Dr-R-R-R-ring!".

Phone signal "save our souls!" was heard for a long time. A very long time. Ten hours. For people trapped in the depth, each minute lasts as eternity. The problem was compounded by the fact that the area was malacothamnus, and telephone SOS could hear only the seagulls Yes albatrosses. And then the captain, wearing wonderful sea name cook, made a very important decision. Speaking in Russian, he decided to put his ship "in the ass". Depth — 60 meters, and the length of the submarine is 70, which means if you can put it vertically, nose to the ground, the aft will be issued over the water. And this is something — this "float" is hard to miss.

The idea, of course, very risky. The main danger in this maneuver is an acid electrolyte from the batteries, which can spread and their toxic fumes to poison people. But the crew believe the captain. Together the officers and mechanics, has developed a detailed procedure for each sailor, and could only hope for the exact calculation and the coherence of the whole team.

And there came unheard of until now in Maritime practice the command: "Prepare to surface the stern!" Steel cigar submarine gently lifted the stern, she began to rise... and after a few minutes the submarine was already standing almost vertically, with a slight slope, gently resting his nose on the ground. Can you imagine what was going on inside? Tons of water poured into the nasal compartments, sweeping away everything in its path. Standing at the ready sailors pulled for his minder and barely had time to batten down the hatch down now. The crew gathered in the aft compartment of the float. Alive was everything. And over the ocean we continue to give lonely and sad phone call... He frightened by flying seagulls and a passing orca for almost two days.

And then the divers were in luck — for a good accident took place nearby a military transport "Alantos".

First, the lookout saw on the surface of a huge buoy is an amazing design with protruding screws, and then heard the phone ring. Then the sailor decided that going crazy.

When the sailors of the "Lantus" came on the boat, one of them picked it up and said, "Hello, what is this ship?"

He said: "the U.S. submarine S-5"...

Sailor with a pipe was extremely surprised, confused, and discouraged, but said aloud a different word (obscene-sea), and then with nothing better to do, like asking: "Where are you going?"

Received a gorgeous American response: "Straight to hell!"

On this day, nor all the devils in hell nor the angels in heaven did not wait for 28 people already in their lists. The commander of the submarine and sailors "of Alantos" broke all their plans. The submarine was saved. His last ship left captain cook. This plucky and witty officer after 20 years will be the commander of the battleship "Pennsylvania" and with him will survive an air attack by Japanese bombers at pearl Harbor. After the war, Charles Maynard Cooke, Jr. rose to the rank of Admiral and was appointed commander of the 7th American fleet in the Pacific.

Captain Charles Maynard Cooke, Jr.

And his sunken submarine S-5 in 1921, struck from the naval list and completely forgot about it. Certainly in our day, somewhere in America, in some small town, in someone's house is kept an old family relic — ship telephone, a cry for help for two days.

How you pulled the crew? The sailors from the "Lantus" quickly produced the work all had their instruments and did in the boat hole of the required diameter. Divers had difficulty out and literally fell to the bottom of the boat. By tradition the last to leave the submarine captain.

Later the battleship "Ohio" attempted to tow the semiflooded u-boat repair docks. But, apparently, during this time, the holes accumulated even more water halfway up the tow rope broke, and the ill-fated submarine S-5 still went to the bottom.