J.V. (Jim) Freeman

DOB:
Service Dates: 1948-1950
Boats Served On:
USS Remora (SS-487)


At the time of the following incident in 1949, I was a RMSN(SS) and had just recently qualified and was proudly wearing my first set of twin dolphins. Remora was in her 1st Guppy Snorkel Conversion profile at the time. Remora and tender Sperry were on a refueling exercise in the area of San Clementie Island off the coast of southern California. Remora was to surface near the Sperry, come alongside. take on refueling lines and load the fuel tanks.

I was a member of Remora's deck crew to assist with fuel lines. We surfaced about 150 yards off Sperry's starboard side and closed on the Sperry at about a 15- degree angle. The tender was making slow headway, maybe 5 knots max. The boat was to come along side, speeds to coincide, and separation 25 yards and pass refueling lines. I don't recall what happened or who was at fault, but remora did not turn soon enough to match Sperry's course. The boat hit Sperry at about a 5- degree angle, started climbing up the side of the Sperry and before the two vessels separated, Remora ripped off several scuppert drains and one of the starboard side cargo doors off.

There was no major damage to either vessel and no injuries. Almost all hands on deck of the Remora (including yours truly) had jumped overboard when we saw that we were about to collide. Those on deck that didn't jump, slid off the deck when we climbed the side of the Sperry and rolled over on her side before recovering. Would you believe, the next day, the exercise was completed without a hitch! A day later, we did an exercise to pass a man from Remora to Sperry while underway. Guess who was the nervous nelly in the brechess buoy. I'll give you 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count. I was sure relieved when they decided the sea was too rough to return me to Remora the same way.