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Pictures Zwaardvis(2) CO poisoning

Photos by LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN

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12 Sep 1994: While on a mission in the Adriatic (NATO operations) a serious accident happens on board the Zwaardvis (2). After malfunctioning of the exhaust system the crew members have so called 'CO poisoning' Four crew members are evacuated to a hospital in Taranto (Italy) for observation. The submarine sails to Brindisi where the malfunction is investigated.

 

Willem Korving coming out of the hatch, as we evacuated, Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN was on board during the incident. He writes: "I was a Petty Officer First Class at the time, assigned to Rota, Spain.  I was on board Zwaardvis to provide some support for the area we were operating in.  My duties were pretty much as an advisor to the commanding officer. . . . .

 

Shot of the loading of four Zwaardvis (2) sailors on board a Spanish RHIB, on which they were transported to a Spanish naval vessel, and from their, flown to a hospital in Italy. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

 . . . . . my understanding of what happened was that sea water got into the exhaust line, blocking it.  We then took on a large amount of CO and diesel particulates . . . . .. 

 

Shot of the loading of four Zwaardvis (2) sailors on board a Spanish RHIB, on which they were transported to a Spanish naval vessel, and from their, flown to a hospital in Italy. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

. . . . . because there was no centralized air monitoring system on the boat, we were unaware of the problem for quite some time . . . . .

 

Shot of (probably) the Spanish ship which provided the medical care and medivac services. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

. . . . .we were operating in a spot where it was unsafe to come to the surface immediately, so we had to clear the area before we could take the express elevator to the penthouse . . . . .

 

Shot of Zwaardvis (2) taken while getting some fresh air. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

. . . . . it took some time, and to complicate things, we were first directed to an area which was filled with fishing vessels . . . . .

 

Shot of Zwaardvis (2) taken while getting some fresh air. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

. . . . . once we finally surfaced, we all had to evacuate the boat, and stay topside for several hours.  Thankfully, the weather was favourable, so things weren't too bad. Four of the crew were medivac'd to a hospital.  And we headed into port, arriving the next morning. . . . .

 

Crew getting some fresh air. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

. . . . . the evacuated crewmembers returned to the ship the same day we pulled in.  They were fully recovered.  The smoking lamp was out for the rest of the ship, much to the consternation of the crew. . . . .

 

Crew getting some fresh air. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

 

. . . . . despite that incident, I still rate my three deployments on Dutch submarines (Tijgerhaai, Zwaardvis, Walrus) as my favourite trips.  Dutch submariners are extremely professional, and the hospitality shown me was tremendous. . . . ."

 

Ed Schulte (left) and Willem Korving relaxing topside. Adriatic 12 Sep 1994 (Photo: © LTJG Gary E. Coleman, USN).

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