The following "Story" was provided by Charles E. Johnson ET3(SS) / LT(SS).

  He served two tours on the Atule. As you can see, one as Enlisted and one as an Officer. (50-54 & 60-62) We were on daily ops out of Key West and running to get on station for our next event. The Conning Officer got a bit of "bum dope" from the QM (we'll just call him Small) on a bearing cut to determine our posit - when this was discovered we hand to bend on four engines at standard speed to make station. The Conning Officer was unhappy.

Later while submerged, the same Conning Officer was on the number one scope checking for shipping in the area when the same QM raised the number two scope to get a bearing for position. The cutoff horn on the Scope hooked The Conning Officer by the seat of his pants and two-blocked him in the overhead (until his trousers tore). THE VERY AIR TURNED BLUE from his comments to Small.

At the evening meal our CO who never cursed ( so we were careful in our speech in his presence ) casually mentioned to this officer that he'd heard of a "Small" problem he'd encountered during his last watch. The response was a rather subdued, "Yes'r Cap'n". The Captain rather enjoyed a good-natured chance to put us in awkward situations and said, "What did you say to Small?" Looking very thoughtful at this point the reply was given, "Well Cap'n , I said " Small - you really must be more careful."

Our evening meal was somewhat a shambles for some time after.