James Madison in Rising Tide**

I swear this actually happened
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James Madison in Rising Tide**

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From: "gradyh627" <gharrison@...>
Date: Wed Feb 4, 2004 7:21 pm
Subject: James Madison in Rising Tide

Gents,
just put down "Rising Tide" authored by Weir and Boyne. In the book
soviet boat drivers give their version of the cold war sub ops and
there is an interesting chapter on the Madison. The soviets had a
trawler posted off Charleston to monitor the first A-3 missile
launch in 1970 from the Madison. There is a picture taken by the
soviets of the Madison diving with the missile launch mast fitted.
The chapter describes the efforts the soviets went through to
collect the launch debris (missile hatch membrane, telemetry
buoy...) and the efforts U.S. navy surface ships went through to
deny them the debris...
The debris were proudly displayed on the deck of the trawler...
Apparently the egress was difficult as well with the trawler
harassing the escort ships.
Finding and trailing a patrolling SBBN was considered the "ultimate
prize" to the Victor SSN drivers who complained that the radiated
noise from a U.S. SSBN was one tenth of theirs. Although it felt we
were snorkeling through bullshit 99% of the time, we were doing
something right!
Nice read,
Anyone out there could corroborate?
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627 missile launch**

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From: Atwell Suman <stwip@...>
Date: Thu Feb 5, 2004 10:34 am
Subject: 627 missile launch

You posted a message on the Madison Yahoo page inquiring about the 1970 missile launch.

The launch in question occurred on 3 August 1970 off Cape Kennedy. It was the first submerged launch of the POSEIDON C3 missile not the A3 Polaris. The 627 was first of class following C3 conversion and refueling at EB which took 22 months. The Soviet "trawler" was the LAPTEV. The LAPTEV delayed the launch by one day due to her interference and crossing in the launch area. Onboard there was some talk of testing one of our torpedoes but the CO would have none of that.

The launch was successful with the Fire Control computers firing the missile several hundredths of a second early. On the surface the LAPTEV was scurrying to pick up debris from the launch. The Dolly was submerged but had the very large telemetry mast installed which, if hit by the LAPTEV, could have caused significant damage. The LAPTEV did succeed in picking up some of the debris but the Navy didn't care because it was unclassified and the Soviets were cleaning up the ocean for us. The media , as usual, made it appear as WWIII was about to break out but it wasn't even close.


TM1(SS) A.I. Skip Suman
Launch Team (System Casualty Troubleshooter)
C3 first Submerged launch
Raleigh B. Miller, Commanding
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Re: 627 missile launch**

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From: jjoh781262@...
Date: Thu Feb 5, 2004 6:21 pm
Subject: Re: [USS_James_Madison_SSBN627] 627 missile launch

yes and it was on my birthday i still use zippo lighter recieved with
info on it.
james johnson mm1(ss)(ret)
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Re: 627 missile launch**

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From: "ghouser77" <littlemen@...>
Date: Fri Feb 6, 2004 1:09 am
Subject: Re: 627 missile launch

I have pictures from the tender. I was off crew for the first launch.
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