Around the World Submerged (22 page)

Photo by J. Baylor Roberts, © National Geographic Society

The ceremony initiation included a visit to the Royal Barbers, whose clippers shaved an erratic path across the pollywogs’ scalps. Shortly after this photograph was taken, the Barbers clipped their own heads in self-defense. (
Left to right,
Chief Engineman Alfred E. Abel; Quartermaster Third Class Carl C. Hall; Lieutenant Tom B. Thamm; Gunners Mate First Class Peter P.J. Kollar; Photographer First Class Earnest R. Meadows.)

Photo by J. Baylor Roberts, © National Geographic Society

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Rocks, looming starkly in the mid-Atlantic, marked the official departing and terminating point of the
Triton’s
circumnavigation of the earth.

Official U.S. Navy Photo

If we were to complete our voyage within the allotted time, keeping on course was essential, and I had frequent navigation conferences with Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Bulmer, Operations Officer (
left
), and Lieutenant Commander Will M. Adams, Jr., Executive Officer (
right
).

Photo by J. Baylor Roberts, © National Geographic Society

While galelike winds and twelve-foot waves boiled the waters at Cape Horn, we sat safely sixty-five feet below the surface with a barely perceptible roll to hint at the strong currents and high seas.

Photo by J. Baylor Roberts, © National Geographic Society

The radar in the Combat Information Center, operated by Chief Radar-man Bernard E. Pile, clearly outlines the nodule shape of Cape Horn.

Photo by J. Baylor Roberts, © National Geographic Society

Hospitalman First Class “J” “C” Meaders checked the film badges of each crewman regularly to determine if anyone had endured excess radiation.

Photo by J. Baylor Roberts, © National Geographic Society

Part of our mission was a study of ocean currents, so Torpedoman First Class Robert R. Tambling ejected brightly colored bottles along our route. Within each bottle was a message asking the finder to report his discovery to the United States Navy Hydrographic Office in Washington, D.C., indicating the position and date of his find.

Official U.S. Navy Photo

Lieutenant Milton R. (“Whitey”) Rubb was our custodian of sea water. From each of the seven seas we gathered separate samples, and in one bottle we combined waters from each of the seas to present to the superintendent of the United States Naval Academy for use at the annual midshipmen’s Ring Dance.

Official U.S. Navy Photo

The nerve center of any ship is its Combat Information Center. Here is where we maintained our contact with the outside world and plotted the track of the
Triton
.

Photo by J. Baylor Roberts, © National Geographic Society

With this newly designed control panel, Seaman David E. Boe guides the ship in a manner similar to a pilot flying an airplane, while Chief Radarman Bernard E. Pile observes.